 |
| The rising sun casts interesting shadows on the stone formations. |
 |
| As we turned off the paved road, the sign announced six miles to the hiking trail. |
 |
| Looking back the road to the Chisos Mountains with their morning shadows. |
 |
| Looking back the gravel road again. |
 |
| The area west of the road is filled with canyons. |
The sign reads: "Grapevine Hills Trail. This trail enters a realm of petrified fire. Here, under enormous pressure, molten rock ballooned up beneath the earth's surface. As erosion stripped away overlaying layers, the exposed dome fractured into a moonscape of giant boulders."
 |
| Starting up the trail. |
 |
| Leaving the truck behind. |
 |
| A view to the right of the trail. |
 |
| Looking back the trail to enjoy the view! |
 |
| Desert flowers along the path. |
 |
| MarySue pauses to enjoy the view. |
 |
| Delicate desert flowers along the path. |
 |
| Close-up of colored rock. |
 |
| Looking back the trail yet again. |
 |
| After we climbed a lot, we looked back again! |
 |
| The object of our climb: the balanced rock. |
 |
| A lizard enjoys the warmth of the sun way up high in the rocks. |
 |
| Bruce pauses at the top. |
 |
| By the time we were nearly back to the truck the sun had warmed the Prickly Pear Cactus and the blooms were open. |
