December, 2018
While I don't generally like repeating my trips, Big Bend is large enough and varied enough that you're not likely to see the same things with repeat visits. I'll be walking three new trails.
Texas
This is my sixth time here. I'll spend three nights at the Chisos Mountain Lodge, which is right in the center of things within the Chisos Basin. Of course, it is also the only place to stay within the park boundaries.
This is the first view after passing through the north entrance station. Those mountains are not the Chisos; it's a big park and there are still miles to go.
Dog Canyon Trail is just south of the entrance station, and I imagine that most folks will pass it by as they're in a hurry to get to the more famous parts--that's what I used to do.
The trail begins with a fair amount of level walking across the hard desert floor. It's almost always the case that you'll see far more trail cairns where you don't need them, and almost none where you do.
I'm sure if I were to dig down several feet I'd come to some water; but, there's no water in Dog Canyon today.
It's a beautiful area. It's not likely that you'll ever see anybody else on this trail.
The road to the Chisos Basin.
All the native Black Bears of Texas were exterminated, but in time Mexican Black Bears crossed the Rio Grande and settled in the park area. I've never read anything that says they're dangerous, but it's only prudent to not give them the opportunity. This one looks young.
The view looking west from the Basin. This is "The Window."
Oak Creek starts near Emory Peak and drains the entire Basin, running through The Window before dropping to the valley floor. Ultimately, it joins with Terlingua Creek, which reaches the Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo, depending on which side of the river you're on).
I'll be walking the Window Trail, which is one of the more popular basin trails.
Naturally, it's all downhill from here.
There are quite a few steps in the beginning, but then things level out before the trail reaches the narrow window.
At times of the year, Oak Creek will be running full; not today.
The trail is in the creek bed. At this point, there's running water.
Not far from here, the creek reaches the pour-off ledge, and drops out of the basin.
Oak Springs Trail. There's another trail, which joins the Window Trail, that continues following down to desert floor. I'll take it just far enough to reach the summit.
The view looking towards the northwest.
It's a pretty steep trail; nothing insurmountable, but take care of the loose rocks that can have you rolling downhill with each step.
The return back to the trail head. It's the same trail up as you took down--it only seems steeper.
The Blue Creek Trail takes you towards the Chisos Mountains and up to the top of the south rim. From there you could (but, I didn't) drop down to the Lodge.
That's the Homer Wilson ranch house alongside Blue Creek.
The building was abandoned in the late 1940s but still looks in pretty good shape.
Much of the Blue Creek Trail follows the bed of the Blue Creek, so there's a fair amount of sand and gravel, which can make walking more of a chore.
As is the case, you'll find lots of cairns where they're of no real help--it's not hard to follow a creek bed.
That big rock, below? Squint your eyes and you'll see a husky elephant looking back at you. At least, that's what I see.
Lots of interesting rock formations to walk through. It's a more scenic trail than I expected.
The trail runs to the bottom of this mountain and then turns right.
Looking back.
I'm only about two miles from the rim, but that would be two really steep miles. I'm not going that far. And, in any case, I'm down about half my water, so it's time to turn back.
The walk back follows the same trail, but the sun is lower and everything looks a little differently in the new light.
That's a heavy boulder that is held up by a few smaller rocks on top of that even larger boulder. It's a curious thing.
Back at the trailhead, looking onward to the west.
Looking back at the Chisos Mountains. The Window (where I was yesterday) is the first V-notch on the left.
