Howdee all,
March 28
While at the RV campground Social and Pot-luck dinner a fellow Rver told us of a trail that led to a hill of sparkling crystals.
We were intrigued and decided to see if he was exaggerating or not..
Big Bend Ranch State Park
East Main trail to the Crystal trail
Round trip-approx, 8 miles
Difficulty- easy
…………………………………….
The trail follows a dirt road..
Past what used to be an old Candillia Wax processing plant.
The wax was used to waterproof canvas and ammunition.
A by product is also used in lip balm and chewing gum.
After the main wax making company closed in the 1920s displaced workers made temporary wax camps in this area.
Remember this plant from a past post..i was wondering what it was
Candelilla The name candelilla (cahn-de-Lee-uh) meaning “little candle” in Spanish, comes from the slender was-covered stems. The waxy coating seals in the moisture that is vital to the desert surivial.
Jeff and I didn't have much time to linger here, we had to be back to the RV at 5.
I was looking around for any sign of crystals..I do see a few here and there..
Finally we reach the cut-off to Crystal trail..
I find an embankment..with assorted crystals
but nothing like the Rver described
We continued on..I wanted to explore the areas around ..hoping not to miss the hill he had told us about..but Jeff felt it best to continue on.
I went off trail again,looking for the hill, Jeff continued on the path..
i found areas that had a few crystals scattered about..
Do you see the one below?
Still not in the right area..or this was just an exaggeration…
I start to see a few more..
Still no hill of crystals…I was beginning to think this place didn't exist ..until…..Jeff shouted for me …
and then..I saw it…
I was on the opposite side of the hill…above the path..
The picture below is looking from below the hill…the grayish blue color is all crystal.
The photos don't do it justice. A path of crystals… Crystals everywhere.. and as I look around its only this hill that is loaded with them.. I just walked around..and picked up a few to admire…I thought it was so amazing… I imagine the crystals were imbedded in sandstone.. and when the sandstone was worn away..all that was left
were the crystals…
We had at least four miles to hike out..
So we headed back…happy that we saw this very cool site.
Hope you enjoyed the Crystal Hill…
If you are ever in the area..it is well worth the eight mile RT to see it!
Very cool--"The Quest for Hill of Crystals"--sounds like it should be a science-fiction novel! The flower at the end caps off the story beautifully!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a sight! I loved all the gorgeous photographs.
ReplyDeleteVery Cool indeed!
ReplyDeleteCrystal Heaven!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDawn that place is amazing! Your story is well told! I have to laugh at the picture of Jeff with the backpack ahead of you. That is how all my photos of him look and that is how I remember him! LOVE the flower photo!
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ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing sight Dawn.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an experience. Beautiful pictures depicting it. Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos great,
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter
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