![]() In this modern world, where National Park overcrowding has become a regular topic, it’s nice to find a place where one can truly escape to the wilderness for peace and quiet. ![]() Here numerous springs pour down the walls of the Snake River Gorge, creating an oasis in the desert. We were even here for the eclipse which was supposedly the largest swell in population during the State’s history. Despite possessing so many wonderful places, the state never never feels crowded. Many of these are sights that you can’t see anywhere else. Idaho is beautiful state with so many incredible natural sights peppered throughout its vast landscape. Some of these plants (agaves, ocotillos, and cacti) along with unique animals (tarantulas!) can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. Beautiful views could be seen everywhere and interesting foreground plants abounded. Of all the places I’ve photographed, I found Big Bend NP the easiest. When you couple that visibility with unique rock formations and beautiful plants, you have the ingredients for incredible photographic material. Standing in the middle of the desert, it’s easy to see Mountain Ranges from over 100 miles away. In addition to incredibly unique flora & fauna (more on that later), the vast views make these places what they are. Pure white Gypsum sand dunes in Guadalupe Mountains National ParkĪs previously alluded to, Texas is vast and this vastness is best expressed in it’s 2 phenomenal National Parks. Given the option, I’d rather drive 10 hours across West Tex versus 1 hour on I-95. Low traffic volumes, friendly fellow motorists, and 75-80 MPH speed limits made the drive a breeze. What would be a “pull your hair out in frustration” drive on the East coast was a very relaxing and relatively scenic drive across the Texas Hill Country and into the Chihuahuan Desert. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this drive was though. So, my wife set out on an 8+ hour drive from the DFW metroplex. Like so many other things in life though, great things come to those who are willing to put in the effort to achieve them. The reason: the distance and travel time to get there are too great. However, I’d never been able to make it out to this sparsely visited gem of the National Park System. I’ve dreamt about exploring Big Bend National Park since I was a child. With blue and purple mountains off in the distance, the scene seemed like a verse from “America the Beautiful.” This coupled with the vastness of the space, made it feel like I was in the right place to celebrate our freedom on the morning of July 4th. Coupled with that, I had the view all to myself. However, once I arrived at the summit, I felt like I was awarded with one of the most awe inspiring views on the East Coast. The drive wasn’t easy, navigating numerous unsigned ‘lightly maintained’ bumpy dirt roads in the dark. ![]() Wanting to take advantage of this, instead of sleeping in, I awoke at 1:00am and made the trek Westward deep into the Alleghenies for sunrise. This July 4th I was given access to one of the unique sites by a private land owner. One of the “better” sections of road atop the mountain. If there is road access, then it is often a bumpy dirt track on private property. Many of the most unique sites are located 1500′ to 2500′ above the valley floor with little to no road access. Winds here regularly exceed 50 mph in the fall, winter, and spring.įor the past couple of years, I have been attempting to capture the beauty of these incredible sites, but it hasn’t been easy. ![]() A table mountain pine clings to the mountaintop. ![]()
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