Author Archives: PeterFlorczak

Davy Crocket National Forest

Posted by PeterFlorczak on

I had been here about 15 years ago. In fact my van was caught in a high water rescue. It took 8 hours and about $900 to get me out of the Big Slough Wilderness Area, which is inside the Davy Crocket National Forest. I have been wanting to come back and photograph this area. Hopefully, this time I could get out of here a little cheaper.

My base camp was in a nice park on Ratliff Lake. It is about a half an hour drive from the trail onto the Big Slough Wilderness.

Ratliff Lake in the morning.

 

I had quite a it if trouble finding the Wilderness . It looks to me that funding had been cut tremendously for the park system. There was no signage, bridges were falling apart and the trails were just not well marked.

One of the better walkways across the swamp

 

Even that one was not without it challenges!

In the end I got very lost, but wound up doing the trail through the swamp backwards, so every turn was new to me. I think I could have taken better photos were it not for the 1000’s of mosquitoes that just wouldn’t leave me alone even though I had practically bathed in repellent before I left.

It just looks like it's filled with mosquitoes....and it is!

One of the lovelier spots.

 

What a great adventure AND it didn’t cost me this time an “arm and a leg”, just about a pint of blood.

The Last Hurrah in Guadelupe National Park

Posted by PeterFlorczak on

Coming home from a fabulous vacation/adventure is always a sad event. I wanted to lessen the blow by stopping at one of my favorite Texas parks, Guadelupe National Park. I had worries about finding a campsite, but the park was nowhere filled to capacity.

Also, after the other-worldly views of Utah, it was just a little disappointing. I think that you will see that reflected in my images, but they were the best I could get. Still it is a great place for a hike, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

 

It was a lot greener than Utah.

 

This dry creek bed made for some interesting shots.

 

This little dove insisted on posing for me.

 

Would a trip to Guadelupe be complete without a black and white shot?

And now, all that is left to do, is the grueling 10 hour drive back to Pipe Creek.

Southern entrance to Canyonlands National Park

Posted by PeterFlorczak on

On the 22nd (yes I know it's the 26th, but I have not had internet access) Jack and I entered the Canyonlands National Park on the southern entrance. I thought that it would look a lot like the northern part of the park, and upon first viewing it I was even a little disappointed in what I was seeing, but boy oh boy, did that change as we got deeper into the park. What a wonderful treat! We took a nice long hike, and although it was hot and we bitched like crazy while doing it, I sure did come back with some very nice shots. It was mostly cloudy, so the dark clouds made for a beautiful and dramatic backdrop. Hopefully you will agree?

 

You just know it is going to be a great day when there is a rainbow!

 

The trees and rocks just seem to say, Take my picture.

 

A Trip to Canyonlands National Park

Posted by PeterFlorczak on

Yesterday,mthe 21st of September, Jack and I took a trip to visit Canyonlands National Park. It is less than 60 miles from Arches. It is supposed to be the most visited park in Utah, but arriving early meant we had some alone time in the park. It is quite a bit different from Arches National Park, which I think you will see reflected in the photographs below.

 

Jack getting the perfect shot of the Canyon

 

The is also a baby arch in Canyonlands!

I don't know why I like this photo, I just do.

 

And of course there has to be a black and white

We had such a good time hiking and photographing that we are going to return tomorrow to do it all over again. Perhaps this time we will try the south entrance?