Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, TX, Oct. 19, 2014

We left Santa Elena Canyon and took the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive with a few roadside stops at places like Castalon and Tuff Canyon. We found Mule Ears Peaks worth a photo stop.

Farther along on the road Liz is by some Chihuahuan desert vegetation with the Chisos Mountains in the background.

Eventually we made it to Chisos Basin at 5,400 feet and started our hike to Emory Peak, the highest point in Big Bend at 7,832 feet. This was about 2PM, so a close call to get up the 5.6 mile trail and back before dark.
There is a long approach through pinon and juniper forest before much climbing. So we see some rock formations.

The peeling red bark here is the Texas Madrone tree.

Eventually we get to Toll Mountain Pass at 7,000 and start climbing toward the peak.

The final approach is very rocky.

There are 2 rock outcroppings and we noticed we were on the slightly shorter southern peak, even with the solar panel at left.

The northern peak is across the gap in the above picture.

As it was already past 5PM, we decided not to try to get over there, so this is as high as we got.

Light for pics was better on the way down than the way up. SE view.

NE view

Zoom view of Liz' favorite rock formation.

Prickly pear is still abundant up here.

Liz by overhanging rock.

View into Chisos Basin.

Zoom of Chisos Mountain Lodge

Century and other plants growing out of the rocks

Post sunset view out The Window.

This was about 7:30PM. We had dinner at the Chisos Mountain Lodge before heading back to Terlingua.