April 21, 2008

April 21, 2008

Before leaving Chisos Basin Campground, we hiked the two-hour Window Trail. This trails follows a dry creek through high grass and trees to the edge of the Basin. Aimee is a nervous wreck because of the ranger talk on Mountain Lions we went to last night. She thinks every rustle of the brush is hiding a cougar. Unfortunately pumas are mostly nocturnal and they are rarely seen. At the edge of the basin, the dry creek bed becomes a small canyon and suddenly we run into the “window”. The window turns out to be where this dry creek tumbles through a gap in the rock to the Rio Grande valley below. If there was water we would be at the top of a high waterfall. The rock here is all polished smooth and I have to be careful I don’t slide off the top looking out the window.

On the hike back we come upon a couple making hand signals to be quiet because of a big animal. A mountain lion! Yes! Our first! We tip-toe up to them, pull out the camera and see a black bear. Darn! Nevertheless at the Visitor Center, Aimee fills out a sighting report and gets to proudly put a bear magnet on the trail map.

From Chisos, we head downhill to the Rio Grande Village on the east side of the park. We check out the amenities and than drive to nearby Boquillas Canyon. Boquillas Canyon is similar to Santa Elena Canyon on the west side. It is where the Rio Grande River cuts a gorge thru the escarpment. As we begin our hike into the canyon, we notice a sign about frequent theft to unattended cars. Later along the trail are Mexican trinkets for sale and a Mexican yodeler singing for donations. Worried about the RV, we cut the hike short at the mouth of the canyon. Apparently there is a small Mexican mining village on the other side of the river and enterprising crossers stay one step ahead of the border patrol. It is also over 103F and humid. Time to go back uphill where it is cooler.

From the Rio Grande Village we head north out of the park and stay at a private campground in Marathon, TX.