NOTE: We are now at Big Bend. We have no cell phone service and spotty WIFI from the park store. Hope all is well in the outside world…lol
Wednesday, January 31 – After getting set up at Seminole Canyon Campground just outside Comstock, TX, we relaxed outside until about 3 p.m. It was then time to head to the Visitor's Center for the Fate Bell Shelter Pictograph guided tour. It is a ranger guided tour that departs twice daily, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The only way visitors are permitted to visit the floor of the canyon is by going on this tour. The cost is $5 per person, BUT the price increases to $8 per person on February 1, 2018. So by going today instead of tomorrow as we originally planned, we saved $6.
There were 12 people on the tour plus our ranger guide. We walked down about a mile's worth of switchback trail and steps to the canyon floor.
Tonya our ranger guide.
Lots of steps but not bad at all.
This area was used 4000 years ago by nomadic Indian tribes traveling and hunting in the area. The Fate Bell Shelter is thought to be one of the oldest cave dwellings in North America. There are four areas of pictograph figures that are simply amazing. Protecting these drawings is the reason for limiting visitors to guided tours. You do have to climb several sets of stairs and scramble over some rocky cliffs to see the pictographs up close.
The floor of the Canyon is beautiful. Solid Texas limestone.
We had to climb more steps to get to the Fate Bell Annex. The first of the pictographs. Over 35 researchers have tried to find the meanings of these drawings. No one to this day knows exactly what they mean.
Once we entered Fate Bell Shelter, we noticed mats on the floor. The ranger explained that the rubber mats helped control dust which effects the breakdown of the pictographs.
Up more steps to the Shelter.
Mats for protection.
Looking out of the Shelter into the canyon.
Of course, the return up the 200 foot cliff to the Visitor's Center involves climbing many stairs and uphill switchbacks, but everyone in our group completed the hike without any problems.
Be aware that almost everything in this environment bites, stings, or scratches. All the bushes have thorns. On our hike, we hurried past several very active bee colonies. Fortunately, we didn't see anything that bites, but were warned the javelinas in the area are pretty aggressive.
Active bee’s hive.
We had a beautiful sunset tonight. The night sky was DARK! This area is known for it's dark night skies.
We had a great time on the very informative Fate Bell Shelter tour. We highly recommend it to any visitor. We have several days of hiking planned during our five days at Seminole Canyon, so y’all come back and see what interesting things we find in the area.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.
We really enjoyed that tour, too. In fact it was our first time ever seeing ancient rock art.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having fun in Big Bend!
One of my favorite areas of Texas. Virtually unlimited bike riding in that area all the way up to Guadalupe Mountains NP.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about interpreting the pictographs made me think of the white man's hunt for the elusive headwaters of the Mississippi River. They finally asked the natives who led them right to it. Made me wonder if anyone has asked the native people about the pictographs.
ReplyDeleteI remember we really enjoyed the tour as well. Interesting about the mats on the cave floor. I assumed they were to keep us from slipping, never thought to ask if they serve a different purpose.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. We loved the tour when we took it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful tour and some great exercise. Nice pictures too.
ReplyDeleteAll the traveling we've done in Texas and have never visited Big Bend. Our loss for sure.
ReplyDeleteLooks to have been a very interesting tour and dating way back in history..how neat. Congratulations on a very active hike full of a lot of steps...but sure was worth what you saw at the end.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful way to top off the day with such a beautiful sunset that God provided.
Thank you for sharing this blog.
Thanks for sharing your hike -- this park is definitely on our agenda for next year. Very cool pictographs! You guys would enjoy Hueco Tanks near El Paso if you haven't been there. The pictographs there are also highly protected, and are quite unusual.
ReplyDeleteI like the hat ;). Such a great place to visit. Hope your dad is all better.
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog post. The views are wonderful and wow---those sunsets are stunning! Being in an area with just nature's lighting at night must be amazing.
ReplyDeleteGreat sunsets!!!
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