In March of 1999 I joined a Smithsonian Study Tours hiking trip to Big Bend National Park It was all I'd expected, traveling with interesting companions, enjoying the outdoors.

Leaving most of the group at the halfway point four of us continued to the top of Lost Mine Peak. The view from 6850' is spectacular! We remained on the peak for an hour. This view reinforces how BIG southwest Texas is.

Meeting in El Paso before traveling on to Fort Davis State Park we began with a welcome dinner and orientation, meeting staff and traveling companions. As I'd hoped there was a wider range of ages, late 30's to mid 80's, than the more sedentary Smithsonian tours I'd taken before. It was nice not to be the baby for a change. Three staff, a naturalist, geologist and Smithsonian representative who handled logistics, ten couples and 13 traveling alone made up the company.