Wyatt, Colter and I left Dimmitt around 6:45 bound for the Guadalupe Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest. Finally, around midnight, we had camp set up. We awoke Saturday morning to clear skies and a temperature in the mid 30's. We went for a short hike throught the 
upper reaches of Big Canyon before breakfast. After a breakfast of oatmeal I loaded the boys up in the truck and we drove the remaining quarter mile to the trailh
ead.
Big Canyon Ridge Trail is actually an old jeep track following its namesake ridge between the Middle and South Forks of Big Canyon. We started walking around 11:30.
Our pattern for the next 2 hours was to walk for a few minutes, stop and rest, then repeat. Needless to say, the boys were not setting any land speed records.
We set up camp on a shelf with a fantastic view down into the Midddle Fork of Big Canyon. A mixed canopy of ponderosa, Alligator Juniper and occ
asional Douglas Fir shaded us. We spent the afternoon exploring and playing.
I took advantage of the calm winds and low fire danger to build a fire. I took two large
pieces of limestone and joined them together. I propped both of them up on "legs" of small rocks so that each was elevated a few inches off the ground. Subsequently I built a small windbreak of rocks 
around on three sides. We were thus able to have a nice fire without even browning the grass beneath the rocks.
We cooked beef stew for dinner and spent the reaminder of the evening around the campfire. Colter actually fell asleep sitting up as I read to he and Wyatt. Soon after Colter fell asleep Wyatt announced he was tired and climbed into the tent. I read by the fire for another hour before turning in.
In typical form, Wyatt and Colter were up around 6:00
the next morning. We got up, lit the frire and watched the sun rise as the temperature warmed from the balmy 
upper 30's.
After breakfast I took down camp and we walked the 0.7 miles back to the truck. We folowed FR 307 through the upper reaches of Dark Canyon. It was very rough and a lot of fun. After some additional exploring aroun
d the area we turned north to head home.
upper reaches of Big Canyon before breakfast. After a breakfast of oatmeal I loaded the boys up in the truck and we drove the remaining quarter mile to the trailh
ead.Big Canyon Ridge Trail is actually an old jeep track following its namesake ridge between the Middle and South Forks of Big Canyon. We started walking around 11:30.
Our pattern for the next 2 hours was to walk for a few minutes, stop and rest, then repeat. Needless to say, the boys were not setting any land speed records.We set up camp on a shelf with a fantastic view down into the Midddle Fork of Big Canyon. A mixed canopy of ponderosa, Alligator Juniper and occ
asional Douglas Fir shaded us. We spent the afternoon exploring and playing.I took advantage of the calm winds and low fire danger to build a fire. I took two large
pieces of limestone and joined them together. I propped both of them up on "legs" of small rocks so that each was elevated a few inches off the ground. Subsequently I built a small windbreak of rocks 
around on three sides. We were thus able to have a nice fire without even browning the grass beneath the rocks.
In typical form, Wyatt and Colter were up around 6:00
the next morning. We got up, lit the frire and watched the sun rise as the temperature warmed from the balmy 
upper 30's. After breakfast I took down camp and we walked the 0.7 miles back to the truck. We folowed FR 307 through the upper reaches of Dark Canyon. It was very rough and a lot of fun. After some additional exploring aroun
d the area we turned north to head home.
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