More from Caprock Canyons

[ahightower]

I posted a couple weeks ago on our plans to visit Palo Duro Canyon for Mothers Day weekend. We ended up at Caprock Canyons instead, as we got delayed by some unforeseen challenges... it's a long story! But we had a lot of fun. We rented a travel trailer, and these hard core tent campers are spoiled now. The weather was glorious. The kids ran and ran and ran, and then slept like logs. The wildflowers were not nearly as abundant as they were last year, but there were still plenty to be found. Here are a few of my favorite shots, and many more can be found on my flickr page.

This is a view from the new visitors center. It is very nice, with binoculars to look for the buffalo in their enclosure. And there are plans to add to the interpretive area as well. They have a number of guided hikes and such as well. This park is a little known treasure.


I've been a Texan my whole life, and never knew that the Mesquite in bloom was so pretty.


One evening there was slide show at the amphitheater wherein a park ranger showed us where to find, and how to identify, many of the dozens of wildflowers that grow there. If we recall correctly, these are Larkspur. It always amazes me to see such brilliant flowers growing out of the rocks.




The children are now begging us to buy some of the prickly pear jelly that we were taught is sold in that area. We were all fascinated to learn how many of the flowers out there are edible.


I know this is not the best photo. This guy was relentless in attacking the mirrors on our truck as he thought he had found a rival male...


Again, my whole life in Texas, and this is the first horned frog I've ever seen in the wild. We almost stepped on him! He was not too shy or aggressive, he posed for dozens of photos and allowed us to touch him without scampering away. I wish I could have brought it home!


The obligatory rock formation photo from the Canyon Loop Trail.


Our budding photographer with the Spongebob camera he received for his 7th birthday. He needs a better camera, as he has quite a good eye, and gets some very interesting shots from his lower perspective!


We've been to the park three times and never ventured far enough off the Eagle Point Trail to see straight through the natural bridge. I suppose I have a lot to learn about photography as none of my photos were very impressive. (I won't blame the camera for having poor dynamic range - I'll be better prepared for this scene on our next visit.)


Finally, a view from the Canyon Rim Trail. This was a very easy hike, and we had never seen down into the canyon from this perspective before.


Thanks for looking!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahighto...7602753189695/

[wondershots]

Nice! Thanks for posting these. Caprock and Palo Duro are both places I want to go in the near future. These are just more inspiration.

[iCe]

Nice work on the images. Technically speaking it's a toad not a frog and I am completely jealous that you have a shot of it. I haven't seen one in the wild in 20 years or more. Don't beat yourself up on the dynamic range thing. That was a hard shot to get right. Fill flash would have balanced the darker foreground wit the lighter background.

[ahightower]

Thanks, Michael. I figured it must have been a lizard, technically. I only called it a frog because of TCU!

Good tip on the fill flash. I guess we'll just have to go back again! I did briefly play around with the shadow slider in PE5 but wasn't impressed with my results, the color was just not right. Anyone who is good with post processing is more than welcome to have a crack at it. Maybe some of the details can be recovered from the shadows.

[iCe]

Good point!

Fill is hard to master (Lord knows I haven't mastered iit yet) but its soooo worth it to practice and perfect using.

Heck yeah... I think we should all pick a shot that we don't like no matter when or where we go and call it a dud so that we have to go back to all of the wonderful places that we have available for us to visit. I can think of a couple of shots that I took at Big Bend that just plain stink so I had better get back there ASAP

[Orogeny]

We used to catch horney toads (that's the official Texas name for the horned lizard!) when I was a kid in Amarillo. Palo Duro Canyon was only ~20 minutes from my front door, so I spent lots of time there. Caprock Canyons didn't get visited as much only because it was farther away.

Tim

[Shane Jennings]

When I was a kid in Tulia, Caprock Canyons was a private ranch. My dad used to go fishing and frog gigging in Lake Theo, the little lake in Caprock Canyons. The owners back then charged a day fee to fish. That was the '70s. I can't remember the year that it became a state park, but it's a treasure.

If people keep posting such good pictures and write-ups, it may not remain such a HIDDEN treasure though. Great pics, ahightower. Looks like y'all had a blast.

[amadjuster]

You should go back over the 4th of July. That's when all the Tarantulas come out to say " HI". You sure don't want to be in a tent then.

[Cam]

That picture from Canyon loop trail is just fabulous. That horned frog is really cool looking.
Great shots.

[110240]

great pix

[DeLeon]

Wow, beautiful shots! PD Canyon is so close to me, but I haven't been down there in at least 9 years. You have inspired me!!!!!!

[amadjuster]

Originally Posted by DeLeon

Wow, beautiful shots! PD Canyon is so close to me, but I haven't been down there in at least 9 years. You have inspired me!!!!!!

Chris, be sure and go by way of Claude and Hwy 207. You'll take one of the best kept scenic routes around here when you go through the east end of Palo Duro Canyon and be sure and stop at the rest stop on the south side of the canyon - the view will blow you away! I think you spend too much time on Polk Street

[DeLeon]

I spend WAY to much time downtown!
Its sad that I have a 4 yr old that has never been down there. I don't remember last time I was there. I say at least 9 years because I don't recall ever being there with my wife.

[DeLeon]

Can you explain to me ow to get there the way you are talking about? I live around the Hollywood and Western area. (High Plains Children's Home). Whats the best route from there?

[Orogeny]

Originally Posted by DeLeon

Can you explain to me ow to get there the way you are talking about? I live around the Hollywood and Western area. (High Plains Children's Home). Whats the best route from there?

It's actually pretty easy. Take I-40 East and exit Hwy 287 toward Dallas/Ft. Worth. When you get to Claude, you will turn south (right) on Hwy 207. It is a beautiful drive!

Tim