day 02
waking up the first morning in the crevices of caprock canyons state park.
this series of canyons, palo duro canyon to the north of the lower caprock canyons, is one of the more dramatic geologic breaks between the rolling plains that lead to the mississippi river valley and the high desert that goes on for hundreds of miles westward.
these pink and orange hills are the 250 million year old coral reefs of the shallow seas that once covered texas, emptied by an uplifting of the rocky mountains 10 million years ago.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2340,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/c82a635b-077c-463b-ac5c-2da89fe24f88/1/1/20160127-Screen_Shot_2016-01-27_at_3.42.10_PM_hz57yd.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=655ba602fda062f2098583d73f8023f0a54ac4a488993753d0c990aae6d0c03e)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1697,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/10211397-5fe3-4695-972b-2c35cb6aeea1/1/1/20160120-PaloDuroSP_SCAN_02_ezoa8j.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=f647eb37f88374e3d6637ae651936c3bb8e4c4919c18d8b2e54cf8b3fbbbe0e2)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/dc66efa2-2dc7-4829-a8d3-c18a700f0303/1/1/20150628-0459_tr64xa.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2531,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/309bf434-43b5-437a-937a-2055cef3e468/1/1/20150629-0519_g38nyh.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=66446f7c11b42f8ef6506802e3675a3904f5a04174d6bede6d2040e7d23fe1e2)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/c1b6abbd-5080-405b-a050-e1d9d2bfb3e2/1/1/20150629-0537_feqpis.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/19ee967c-c27d-4fab-aeae-55164be8ba7b/1/1/20150629-0555_ptv3cr.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,3113,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/ec12dca8-0e8a-4a23-a1d1-149c90a9f540/1/1/20150629-0571_e7asdn.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=0a0f16e6484322710143bacdd66a32dd14590f3a2b0795221ec886a1eb0131bd)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2917,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/17752555-6cfc-4708-a8f8-5dcef9e3c41b/1/1/20150629-0658_xhvpdn.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=a04b9b27b92c84c164c6de818b15bf25091ca4476283ba13a69b8008c8e9387d)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2938,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/9f14e27a-d50b-4961-a9a6-4a9f81373656/1/1/20150629-0684_uqlto4.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=222f5dc88867530a6971c77081b8d531b1a7187a9dd02d6cddc40842769b01cb)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,738,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/fb07678b-81ae-45d3-8063-12922e8777c8/1/1/20150629-0676_c04kcr.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=73b05fc728d00e7f121a82f70a57ce0e19ae5072c63b12c002010a537a87adb4)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2810,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/b6b52672-2f07-4ec4-96a4-ce7e22802132/1/1/20150629-0682_tfzrun.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=635436d1767d3007b8e09953aed27dce71711a674937b3d6fff1c1b1a4bdee3b)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,3110,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/368de7ca-68c6-4714-9db6-fdba678aea33/1/1/20150629-0691_y3bj7k.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=9d0b6f97bb06ccc8771083e095d610babf295861bcd13584049a3066087a3671)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2208,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/e19e3334-e8c9-43af-83f5-71be7406e544/1/1/20150629-0660_lvk2hw.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=37eabfca98670bcb80e85dd51b3322a05c21a0ea0ecbb388d2d08b61343d8d76)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2295,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/0a4741bb-3f46-4048-86ff-b807f632728f/1/1/20150629-0661_sdjn5s.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=4084e6dc33f5bb1ddda6453a4aef51b343f8ff8e8417c929b45dc118d0cc5041)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2735,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/623d2b75-04b2-405d-85c7-a7fb2ca7aeac/1/1/20150629-0664_sdjosv.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=749405ba06a82207768aee66a2c9ab9f56789d79ed63d90ba4ad938528c3c4c9)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/e4597e04-d479-4802-bca1-7d143304754c/1/1/20150629-0701_khhru6.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
after lunching in amarillo i returned to the canyons of nearby palo duro state park at the western-most point of the canyon system.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/7b7a1b89-5dfd-4a36-b41c-22e4906d0b75/1/1/20150629-0730_mrl0it.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/e2a82192-b85e-45b6-9e51-61c63485f308/1/1/20150629-0750_xlwqlx.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/159a3b2a-5f45-47b7-b2ed-f64a91561bdc/1/1/20150629-0728_dal98k.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,724,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/068c55c9-c811-478d-9dd1-2697042c9e27/1/1/20150629-0738_bph5oh.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=c457e8e2eedd21c2d8f72fa9682e47ae28a0fdfcae4a92e79c5f5564ceb2dbd6)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/ae7b34c6-aeba-449e-a629-6c43941f6460/1/1/20150629-0735_trgid8.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2656,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/b853dd78-f3f2-470f-b851-2a7776872c3c/1/1/20150629-0753_gt2uat.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=b0c954211e58e567648a5863c4fa43fa456e8c57495042b1acd6e1cd74bb2ae2)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/be242463-d862-488d-919c-cadc0a587fe7/1/1/20150629-0782_rjiuyh.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2510,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/7983bab6-fca7-45e1-885a-30e878e01eae/1/1/20150629-0793_cervcx.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=a224d1dc272615aabce4b4fd9359f019c1aa34385e35e287b8fb78c63a96fe94)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/aff4e477-ef6a-419f-aa7e-281bb66ca0d4/1/1/20150629-0788_dw1hpe.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/e21b8eae-ac80-4477-9122-8f42048b35f2/1/1/20150629-0794_optrtu.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/309eef5f-0bdc-4ec4-a23b-c4354b22cb20/1/1/20150629-0795_ccjqih.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/0f360a69-ee30-47dc-821d-ab8ab2f1da98/1/1/20150629-0784_pzrn16.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/7792ac01-39be-43db-8841-40e2f90a79c4/1/1/20150629-0844_t9z8is.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/c81d92dd-4995-4a4f-8986-326341b5df50/1/1/20150629-0925_wrx2ss.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2450,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/72be9ac1-ea58-44c4-a379-68e93cb56875/1/1/20150629-0961_uklh6o.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=1270ccbb0396d6ce954074c2367b869806500c550de13017524937ec2c278cca)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,2584,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/a475f64a-effd-4d67-a554-2cd140cf9721/1/1/20150629-0976_fafif5.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=2ca89a308a2091d25023653cac8f5b7f518bcfb34159cf745c5179d5d23aaae8)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/2382b1a5-7faa-4e4c-a350-5a642f2c5cf8/1/1/20150629-1007_rc3177.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/58cb917d-9542-40e4-8649-8097b2f41bf0/1/1/20150629-0907_pkil42.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,526,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/98352763-1cba-404a-b667-b23b470951be/1/1/20150629-0964_kogbcp.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=51a1485458a2d84887b064c22330fc47d42d615572ebdebaf0494b8c2e380c2f)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/61e9a514-1b8a-40df-9ff0-f2fac25746a5/1/1/20150629-1016_opldo8.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/13e24f0e-1d10-4d84-b9c2-9e2504c29214/1/1/20150629-0988_fkmddi.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/e12ebb00-3b0a-4a8d-bff3-50f2fe749edc/1/1/20150629-0991_tygu3a.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=a8593aea72f84acde6bc756f81449758ef9dd0c9d7e2f931e3a11c8f7a5d35c3)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/f4923433-ef08-4b63-86d4-b7c93fa0c733/1/1/20150629-0992_db1pqq.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/e684f58f-b4b6-4d72-a25c-10977f9a4023/1/1/20150629-0994_svmgpd.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,1950,1300,700,1300/0-0-0/eaa9291e-e80f-4167-9e70-3944522bc56b/1/1/20150629-1020_zlx4kg.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=ade2080ba7aaa242e115948d5122a60cc22e8a91f1c5dc69858074eb463f8a49)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/6c4581e2-4615-4c85-8e8b-2ebccbb8eb95/1/1/20150629-1026_tfxcw4.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/fd82489c-64a1-40fe-a740-9a9b09152a14/0/0/0/0,0,867,1301,700,1301/0-0-0/80206aaf-80d3-4e6c-82f3-7bf30a05757e/1/1/20150629-0005_utsive.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037591462~hmac=8ee2dd6efabfd7051c3020dbf76e717be7e2a1b353ebd7f51171f73250631757)
day 03