Emilio has lived in Comstock, Texas his entire life. It’s a small town, but he enjoys the pace it offers.
The Lower Pecos River meets the Rio Grande just a few miles west of town and–unknown to most–offers some of the best outdoor recreation in West Texas. Rattlesnakes, extreme temperature, cactus, and the remoteness all make this part of Texas a dangerous place to spend time.
Hidden springs bring the river to life to life after a large dry stint between here and New Mexico. White-water rapids and crystal-clear pools of water snake through the desert of West Texas, carving dramatic cliffs and iconic landscapes.
This makes for an amazing trip down the river. However, once your boat is in the water, you’re committed to over 60 river miles in remote West Texas, surrounded by private land. There are no campgrounds, park rangers, or restaurants.
Once you’re on the river, you can’t get off until you finish.
That’s where Emilio comes in. He offers the only Pecos River Shuttle service in the entire state. If you wanted to make this trip, you would meet Emilio at his house and he’d take you, your boats, and your buddies all the way to Pandale, Texas. This is the only public spot you can put your boat in between there and the Rio Grande.
After you’ve finished a grueling trip down the Pecos, Emilio has already brought your car to the boat ramp and you’re good to head into town for a hot meal and some aloe vera.
“I’m not getting rich out of it, I enjoy the people that I get to meet,” Emilio says. People from all over the country come to enjoy this river, and Emilio gets to know all of them.
Without Emilio’s hard work and dedication to this job over the last couple of decades, a trip down the Lower Pecos would be nearly impossible for most people.