Sunset at ICP

— It has now been seven years since I first experienced the pristine beauty and quietness of the Texas Nature Conservancy’s Independence Creek Preserve. Not much has changed since that first visit. The preserve still has 3-4 Friday open days a year and a couple open weekends a year. It is very limited, one might argue, but when you consider the impact that humans may have on a preserve, it is understandable to limit the number of people who visit the preserve. While during that visit my friends and I were able to camp near the pond, I hear that camping close to the pond is no longer possible — at least not as close as we were. The preserve is 19,740 acres in West Texas and provides a very important role in the area, particularly to the Pecos River and the wildlife downstream on Independence Creek. On this particular weekend, we did some hiking and biking in the area, but most of all, we enjoyed the beauty and tranquility the preserve offered, including gorgeous sunsets.