Here are the shots of Enchanted Rock, as promised.

First, let me remind you to click on any of these immages to see the larger shot.


This is the parking lot looking up at the lesser of the two large domes. Our camp sites were across a little creek, under the trees, right at the base of the rock, looking strait ahead from this viewpoint. The showers and heads were right behind me as I took this. Very handy.


This is a shot of a few of our group climbing the dome next to our camp site. Lots of jumping from one rock to another and going up and down ledges. Lots of fun for the kids.


My two man tent. Bought it off the floor at REI in Austin. Got it cheap because it was the last one, and the display model. Very cozy on trips like this when I think it might rain. It didn't though. Lucky. I have another one, a 4 man, for when it's hot and rain isn't expected. Much roomier. Another REI buy. Can't have too many. It all about the gear.


My other gear at the camp site. I ended up having one site to myself. A buddy who was supposed to come didn't show up, and many of these folks are aware of the fact that I snore like a large mammal. As a result, whenever possible, they camp a distance away. I get shunned, but it's no skin of my ass. I like the solitude.


here's a shot of the big rock from the little one we were climbing Saturday. Typical underbrush on the rock. Lots of cactus and scrub. Deer all over the place, and lizards scampering under the rocks. Didn't see any snakes, but had evil thoughts about getting a rattle so I can play tricks on folks next year. Nothing like hearing that noise as you reach up to grab a hand hold.


More scrub on the top of the smaller dome.


Climbing down the side of the smaller rock, looking over at the big "Enchanted" one. The people at the left of the shot are waiting to shimmy up into a crevice. You have to crawl in or slide on your ass to get into it, but then it opens up into a chimney. You climb up that thing by sticking your foot on one side, leaning your back onto the other, and then walking up, pushing and taking hand holds as you go. The kids always want to do it, but I'm not built for tight spaces. Not claustrophobic at all. Just big as a house and tired of bumping my head into stuff. Anyway, I've seen the elephant. The valley between the two domes is stretched out before you here, and you can see something of the rocky terrain around the park where primitive camping is allowed.


Here's the tree filled "valley" between the two domes. You are looking Northwest with the smaller dome to your left and the big one to the right. There's a trail that goes down into those trees, where they've set up another restroom, or back to the parking lot. The trail heading into these tall nice trees connects to the larger one that goes around the whole site.


This is the look up at the main dome from the trail back to the parking lot. Note the size of the people walking up to the top (click on these to enlarge). We did that rip the next day.


Here's the view going up. Lots of folks resting. Lots of friggin' resting. Lets just say it's been a LONG time since I regularly did the stair machine, and I pay for it every year at this time.


And here's the view looking down and North from about the same place. It's an amazing view from the top, bit somehow I failed to get a shot if it this time. Look at the previous post for last years shot. I found a cool site where you can take a virtual tour of the rock. Click here to visit. It's pretty cool. Enjoy.