Sunrise on the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park was a shocking surprise. We'd started the hike when it was still dark and were hiking as the sky lightened, but we were in a wooded area during the beginning of the trail. We came into a clearing and began ascending. I felt an immediate sense that something special was coming when we rounded the top step of the climb. The whole juniper valley glowed before us surrounded by the sunlit Chisos Mountains. It was absolutely stunning, probably one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever witnessed. I like to think we discovered the gold that morning.

The Lost Mine Trail lore is that a gold mine discovered by Spanish explorers in the Southwest was a guarded secret. According to legend, Native Americans of the Comanche tribe resented this Spanish invasion, so they killed the explorers and sealed the entrance to prevent further exploitation.

Available March 7 at the opening of Lost and Found, Dare Gallery, Charleston SC