Skip to main content
The Hike: Part 1 - The Stage Is Set
This time of year the days are pretty darn short. The photo above was taken in Big Bend National Park during twilight. If you are not familiar with the predawn or post-sunset light, it goes something like this. There is the Astronomical Dawn which is the moment after which the sky is no longer completely dark; this happens about 90 minutes before sunrise. The period between the Astronomical Dawn and sunrise has 2 parts Nautical and Civil Dawn; both have increasing light and end when the sun breaks the horizon. The same kind of thing happens in the evening after sunset. First there are the Civil and Nautical Twilight; this is where the light is decreasing. The last light is Astronomical Twilight about 90 minutes after sunset. If there is no moon or some other man-made illumination, it is almost impossible to see your hand before your face.
Why am I delivering this earth science lesson? It is integral to my story. I recently returned from a trip to Big Bend National Park. My wife and I took the trip as her birthday present. She wanted to go hiking and this was the destination that she picked. It is just a 450 or so mile drive over to west Texas, but it is usually worth the trip. The short days mean the sun rises in Big Bend around 8:30 AM and it sets in the vicinity of 5:30 PM.
We arrived late in the afternoon and had time for a 2 mile hike prior to loosing the evening light. The next morning we were off to Balanced Rock (above) before sunrise. This resulted in a 2 mile hike.
We went to Cattail Falls (above) and the Homer Wilson Ranch to see the hoodoos. By days end, we had hiked 9 miles. Randeen, my wife, needed a more challenging hike for the next day. We stopped at the range station where she inquired about 10 to 15 mile hikes. The ranger offered several in the 6 to 8 mile range, but my wife needed more. We settled on a 14 mile hike, the Marufo Vega Trail, located near the Boquillas Canyon Overlook. The ranger assured us that if we hiked at a moderate pace, we could complete it in 8 hours. This was just the sort of hike Randeen had in mind. We had done the South Rim Trail in the past; it was a similar distance. We completed that hike in approximately 8 hours. So, the decision was made, and it was off to dinner and a good night's sleep.
Stay tuned for Part 2 - On The Trail coming soon.
This time of year the days are pretty darn short. The photo above was taken in Big Bend National Park during twilight. If you are not familiar with the predawn or post-sunset light, it goes something like this. There is the Astronomical Dawn which is the moment after which the sky is no longer completely dark; this happens about 90 minutes before sunrise. The period between the Astronomical Dawn and sunrise has 2 parts Nautical and Civil Dawn; both have increasing light and end when the sun breaks the horizon. The same kind of thing happens in the evening after sunset. First there are the Civil and Nautical Twilight; this is where the light is decreasing. The last light is Astronomical Twilight about 90 minutes after sunset. If there is no moon or some other man-made illumination, it is almost impossible to see your hand before your face.
Why am I delivering this earth science lesson? It is integral to my story. I recently returned from a trip to Big Bend National Park. My wife and I took the trip as her birthday present. She wanted to go hiking and this was the destination that she picked. It is just a 450 or so mile drive over to west Texas, but it is usually worth the trip. The short days mean the sun rises in Big Bend around 8:30 AM and it sets in the vicinity of 5:30 PM.
We arrived late in the afternoon and had time for a 2 mile hike prior to loosing the evening light. The next morning we were off to Balanced Rock (above) before sunrise. This resulted in a 2 mile hike.
We went to Cattail Falls (above) and the Homer Wilson Ranch to see the hoodoos. By days end, we had hiked 9 miles. Randeen, my wife, needed a more challenging hike for the next day. We stopped at the range station where she inquired about 10 to 15 mile hikes. The ranger offered several in the 6 to 8 mile range, but my wife needed more. We settled on a 14 mile hike, the Marufo Vega Trail, located near the Boquillas Canyon Overlook. The ranger assured us that if we hiked at a moderate pace, we could complete it in 8 hours. This was just the sort of hike Randeen had in mind. We had done the South Rim Trail in the past; it was a similar distance. We completed that hike in approximately 8 hours. So, the decision was made, and it was off to dinner and a good night's sleep.
Stay tuned for Part 2 - On The Trail coming soon.
Comments
Post a Comment