G.A.S.P.

(Great Adventures to Scenic Places)

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January 16, 2000

I left Big Bend the next morning (1-16), but only after conquering the most difficult climb of my 13,000 mile (to date) journey. It was only about a mile and a half from the campground to Panther Pass, but it was a legitimate 15 percent (the sign says so) from the campground to the main road and 12 to 15 percent on the main road to the pass. I think I stopped to catch my breath about 8 times. After that, the day was very pleasant – an eighty mile ride through parkland and near parkland to Marathon, Texas.

Click on thumbnail to see full photograph.

Near Marathon, I stopped at a picnic site with an “Historic Marker,” and learned something about the local mountains. The Ouachita Fold Belt (photo 130) uplifted about 275 to 290 million years ago (about the same time as the Appalachians) and is characterized by the undulating rock layer called Los Caballos. Just beyond is the Del Norte – Santiago Range, the southernmost extension of the Rockies, which are much younger, having uplifted “only” 40 to 60 million years

ago. This is the only site in North America where both young and old