Random fact of the month

One of my colleagues showed me this totally cool and really random fact. There is a town called Echo, Texas and it is located in Coleman County! How cool is that?

Our Trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings

So this weekend, Echo, Austin and I went to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. As you will see in the pictures below, the weather and landscape are a lot different from El Paso and Albuquerque to the East. The drive alone was beautiful, and next spring, we're looking forward to going back to do some serious camping (thanks to Cheyenne, we've got a great camping book to give up pointers on which camping spot to pick. All the ones we passed were in there.).


This is a shot of the Gila National Wilderness area. You have to take small windy roads to get here and go slow. It keeps the whole world from doing this everyday and makes the view once you get there all the more worth it.












This is Echo and Austin on the trail up towards the cliffs. You can't see it but there's a beautiful cliff just to their right.












This is the cliff.














Here are Echo and Austin up on the shelf in front of the Cliff Dwellings. They are saying now that the "dwellings" are actually ceremonial chambers, and that no one really lived there year-round.











This is a look down into the valley from the Cliff Dwellings. They say that during the ceremonies, it filled with families dancing, chanting, singing, etc.









Here's a shot from inside the Cliff Dwellings. Apparently, the only way to get inside originally was a log ladder that you pulled up behind you.









Here's another shot from the inside. They called some of these rooms "Kivas."














A shot of Jesse in the Dwellings












So after a while up in the Dwellings, we head down to the Gila River where we cooled off a bit.














Going in for the kill!

Our Trip to Carlsbad Caverns

On August 30, Echo, Austin and I went to Carlbad Caverns. The following pictures in no way capture the unbelievable beauty and sheer awesome grandeur of these caves. Try watching Lord of the Rings as the Fellowship travels through the mines of Moria to get a feel. The "Big Room" was just unbelievable. We also did a tour of King's Palace.

We are talking of going back to Slaughter Canyon (which is right around the Corner from Carlsbad), where you have somewhat less tourist-friendly caves and you to take your own flashlight.





A descent into the nether regions of the world.











A picture of the ceiling in one of the rooms, covered in stalactites.















Random shot somewhere amongst the caves. There were stalagmites, stalactites, draperies, soda straws, all sorts of formations.













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A quick pic as we headed back out of the caves.

Our Hike to the Aztec Caves

Before our adventure out at the Gun Range, Echo, Austin, Kayla and I hiked up to the Aztec caves. I have made this hike a few times before. Most recently, I met a dust dragon snoozing above the cave on an outcropping of rock. I shared this experience with Austin, who became very excited to make the hike. (Un)fortunately, the dragon was not there when we returned. But we enjoyed the hike anyway.

Here is Austin at the beginning of the hike. You can see the cave up to his right.




Here is Kayla, who we managed to take more than half a dozen pictures of during this hike. She is just so photogenic.












Here, Austin and I have reached the mouth of the cave. Austin was somewhat disappointed to not meet the dragon. I reminded him that had the dragon been there, he would have likely eaten us (I had only gotten away last time because the dragon was sleeping and more interested in snoozing than eating), so it was really a good thing he wasn't there.








Here I am taking a break, and the Kayla is out and about exploring. As Austin began exploring the cave, Kayla would repeatedly "tell" on him, running up to him, and then us, and then turn back to him. We tried to assure her that we were aware of where he was.









Here is the valley below from the inside of the cave. You can see North Texas with the Rio Grande in the distance, and then it's New Mexico.
















Here is our Austin Boy scaling the heights of the cave. Kayla was amazing as she climbed right up with him (after telling on him, of course). She jumped the rocks like they were nothing.












And here we are once again at the end!

Shooting Out at The Fort Bliss Gun Range

These pics are from September 6, 2008, when we went shooting out at the Fort Bliss Gun Range. We've been back once since these shots were taken with Josh and Lexi.




I'd like to add that Echo is a wicked shot.
















I can't tell you how much fun it is to do this.












After a bit of hesitation, Austin jumped right in.















Here is Austin loading a .22 loaned to him by Echo's boss, Bill.