Big Bend and the surrounding area is one of the harshest and most isolated regions on the planet. I adore it. I can't get enough of it. It's about an 8 hour drive from my home in Austin, but I love every second of it. Watching the Texas geography go from rolling, mesquite covered hills to desert plains full of yucca and cacti is one of life's great pleasures.


Aside from the natural beauty I love the peace and quiet of being out in the middle of bum-fuh nowhere. The city is great and all, but I think every human should get away from all the society horse crap and cleanse their soul in the outskirts of the world.


Just make sure you know what you're getting into.

Shirtless young man sitting at outdoor picnic table with soda bottles and water in a rural setting.

Roughing IT


My brother and I drove out to stay just north of Terlingua, Texas off of highway 118. We stayed in the middle of nowhere at a little Air BnB campsite, sleeping in a one-person trailer and a tent. Everyone knows the best way to enjoy nature is to submit yourself to complete torture from the elements. This was, of course, due to the fact that we hadn't prepared for the kind of "roughing it" we ended up doing. We had a rental truck full of Vienna Sausages, M&Ms, and Doritos. The water in the giant reservoir next to the trailer was filled with non-potable rain water, specifically for the outdoor sink and toilet. (Yes, it was flushable...but BARELY). So, we had a whole case of bottled spring water and Powerade. Oh, and a 32 case of Busch!


We were set for the weekend.


Then, the 90 degree desert weather hit after our morning hike. We were not prepared for that. There was only one solution after realizing we didn't have sunscreen: drink more beer.

I would go into great detail about the rest of the trip and al of the great sights, but I will let my camera do the talking for me.

Silhouette of a yucca plant against a dramatic blue and red sunset sky in a desert landscape.
Person wearing red bandana headband working at computer in dimly lit room with red light overhead.
A young man in a white hoodie and sunglasses stands on a desert trail with rocky cliffs and shrubs in the background.
Arid desert landscape with sparse shrubs, sandy terrain, and a flat-topped mesa under a hazy blue sky.
A spiky cholla cactus silhouetted against a vivid blue desert sky with wispy clouds in an arid landscape.
Aerial view of a winding river through arid desert landscape with green vegetation and sandy banks under a hazy sky.
A lone hiker walks along a sunlit forest trail surrounded by lush green trees with a dreamy film photography effect.
Golden sunset over silhouetted desert mountains with vibrant orange sky and dramatic clouds in an arid landscape.
Rugged rocky mountain cliffs with towering stone formations under a clear blue sky in warm golden light.
Shirtless man sitting on wooden deck gazing at desert mountain landscape in arid wilderness.
People fishing and relaxing along a rocky river bank with lush green shrubs and rugged canyon walls.
Man in white tee and shorts standing in arid desert landscape with cacti and rocky mountains in background.
Dried dead palm tree lying on sandy ground with spiky fronds fanned out in arid desert landscape.
A shirtless person sits on a bench near rustic desert buildings with mountains in the background.
A yucca plant stands in sandy desert terrain with rugged mountains and blue sky in Big Bend, Texas.
Black and white desert landscape with tall yucca plant, sparse shrubs, and mountain range under a clear sky.
Black and white photo of a man standing in a field with hands on hips, silhouetted against a dramatic cloudy sky.
Golden sunset over desert landscape with scattered shrubs, mountains silhouetted against vibrant orange sky.
Black and white twilight photo of a campsite with tents and equipment casting long shadows under a cloudy sky.