People struggle to understand the remote nature of Big Bend.
In 2015 I flew a plane around the entire border of Texas and photographed it from the air. It took 6 days to complete the trip. Big Bend alone was one full day of flying and photographing.
Both sides of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, are hundreds of miles of the most inhospitable, yet beautiful desert landscape. The Chihuahuan Desert is unforgiving country. A place with massive rock cliffs and very little terrain you can traverse by foot safely.
The visitor rate in the park is on the lower end compared to more accessible parks like Yosemite and The Great Smoky Mountains, but its popularity among those who have actually visited is astounding.
In fact, this summer I was camped in the Smoky Mountains next to an older couple who travels the country in their RV.
Being from North Carolina they had spent a lot of time there as well as many of the parks in the West.
They saw my ¡Viva Terlingua! sticker and asked if I’d been. I told them that I’d spent about a week in Big Bend for the last 19 years and got out there any time I could.
They said they took the desolate drive along State Highway 90 through Sanderson on their way out. It was on the husband’s bucket list to visit and it was by far his favorite park now that he had.
The untouched, rugged, austere nature of that area is the feature that draws people in and leaves a lasting impression.
If you’re at a loss to understand why there’s such an uproar over construction of a road barrier through Big Bend Ranch State Park and BBNP, then it’s my belief that you’ve likely never been. Because if you had, you’d understand.
God already built a wall through Big Bend — it's called the Chisos Mountains.
We don't need to give billions of our tax dollars to out of state vendors.
We don't need to desecrate this sacred land.
We don't need this useless, disgraceful, corrupt Big Bend border wall.
Children die in school shootings and it’s “not the guns”.
Mass shootings claim lives multiple times a year and it’s “not the guns”.
Kyle Rittenhouse shot 3 people during a protest and it’s “not the guns”
ICE kills Alex Pretti, and suddenly it’s his fault because he “had a gun”
We’re being desensitized.
Don’t lose your empathy.
Watching people die on your phone isn’t normal.
Remember to take breaks, take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your community.