Big Bend NP - Part 1

We have been looking forward to some hiking, but wish the park was not 7.5 hours away. For that reason, our four days off included two day of hiking and two of driving. 
We drove through misty rain for the first hour of our trip before the clouds disappeared giving us beautiful weather for the rest of our trip.

This park is huge and includes three distinct regions, the desert, the river and the Chisos Mountain region. After entering the park, we traveled thirty miles through the Chihuahuan Desert before turning onto the road leading into the Chisos Mountains. The Chisos are actually the remnants of an extinct volcano and its attending vents. A ten mile climb brought us to the lip of the Chisos Basin, formed from the ancient, volcanic caldera. A series of hairpin turns brought us to the floor of the crater where we proceeded to our destination, the Chisos Mountain Lodge.
After checking in, we had time to enjoy our own, personal patio before the sun disappeared for the day.

 The morning was crisp and beautiful and we set out to hike the Window trail. This is a view of our destination from the Lodge, three miles away.

 

The trail descended through a varied terrain, the arid soil of the higher elevation,

 then through a region where prickley pear cactus mingled with wind-blown grasses and low brush. 
"No, Larry. This is not a place to take a break!"

 The descent soon took us on a tree-sheltered path along a dry, creek bed. We were hoping to see some javelinas here, but had no luck.

 

 The smooth trail abruptly ended at a narrow, windy passage through the high, rocky walls of a break in the volcanic wall. This was formed when magma poured out from the heart of the volcano. 

A series of stairs are necessary to navigate through the rugged canyon.

 

 And finally we came to the end of the trail and the dizzy height of the drop off. The high wind velocity kept a number of hikers, including us, a safe distance from the edge.

 On a future visit, we hope to hike to the bottom of the drop-off. When it rains, this passage is flooded with water that pours to the valley below. We hope we will be able to see the waterfall created on our next visit.


Next time, some shots from our hike on the Lost Mine trail.
Thanks to our friend, John S., for his trail suggestions! We enjoyed the time here very much.