Day 13 - Alpine to Big Bend

17 January 2012

Annika and I at the entrance to Santa Elena Canyon
Annika and I at the entrance to Santa Elena Canyon

We started the day by driving south from Alpine to Big Bend National Park, and then to the Santa Elena Canyon Trail on a 14 mile jarring dirt track. We then did a short walk up the canyon which was incredibly peaceful.

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend.
Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend.
Some of the boulders that have fallen off the cliff face
Some of the boulders that have fallen off the cliff face
Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Skipping stones on the Rio Grande.
Skipping stones on the Rio Grande.
Skipping a stone all the way to Mexico (the right-hand bank)
Skipping a stone all the way to Mexico (the right-hand bank)
Straddling the border
Straddling the border

We then drove across the park the Chisos Basin where we did a couple of walks and stayed the night.

Protecting his perm from the wind.
Protecting his perm from the wind.
One of the rock formations in Big Bend.
One of the rock formations in Big Bend.
The autumn-like foliage on the drive to the Chisos Mountains.
The autumn-like foliage on the drive to the Chisos Mountains.
Looking south from the hotel.
Looking south from the hotel.

The first of the two walks was the 4 mile Window Trail.

The foliage on the Window Trail
The foliage on the Window Trail
Learning how well water polishes granite at the Window.
Learning how well water polishes granite at the Window.
Enjoying the view.
Enjoying the view.
Looking good.
Looking good.
Posing in front of the Window.
Posing in front of the Window.

Then we hiked up the Lost Mine Trail in the late afternoon sun.

The view north on the Lost Mine Trail
The view north on the Lost Mine Trail
The view from the top of the Lost Mine Trail.
The view from the top of the Lost Mine Trail.
The view from the top of the Lost Mine Trail.
The view from the top of the Lost Mine Trail.
The sun setting on the walk down
The sun setting on the walk down

We caught a great view of the sunset on the trip back from the hike.

The sun setting behind the Window
The sun setting behind the Window
Our car looking good in the evening light
Our car looking good in the evening light
One more sunset.
One more sunset.

After dinner we went out to see the stars. There was no moon and the number of stars visible was amazing but unfortunately difficult to capture on camera.

The stars
The stars