Big Bend National Park, Texas, New Year’s, 2011

Big Bend National Park, Texas, New Year’s, 2011

Big Bend has widely different terrain and ecosystems.  We camped near the Rio Grande where we hiked a bit on the bluffs, caught sunset over the river, and soaked our feet in the hot springs.  In the valley are trees, bamboo and bushes along the river.

 We drove through the desert hills marveling at the ancient volcanic “dikes” of rock that poke out of the hills like stone walls holding up the hill.  The differences in how the various rock erodes was fascinating.

Desert plants include lovely pink prickly pear cactus among the typical green ones, creosote bushes and others. 

Javelinas roam the park looking like ugly black hairy pigs. 

The Chisos Mountains are the southernmost mountains in the US, rising out of the desert at 5400 to 7800 feet altitude with twice the rainfall as the rest of the park gets.  Dramatic peaks and spires mountain trees such as juniper, oak and pinyon pine.  A stunningly beautiful drive.

The border with Mexico is closed here, but a few Mexicans cross anyway to sell hiking sticks and trinkets.  The Santa Elena Canyon cuts through a 1500 foot high rock wall.  The little river that is the mighty Rio Grande these days after serving to irrigate countless places upstream flows swiftly.

For a couple of Wisconsinites used to forests everywhere, we can’t imagine how people ranched here, living in this barren, desolate place.  After driving around for a while though, we began to appreciate the stark beauty of the rock formations and the desert plants.