Texas Vacation - Day Five - Big Bend National Park - Part 1 Santa Elena Canyon

 Yay!!!!  We are heading back to Big Bend this morning for some hiking and nature observation.  I am super excited to get out and really stretch the legs.  But first --- a view for you of my attacker last night.  It has been found guilty of assault and battery and has been sentenced to solitary confinement --- I will give it a REALLY wide berth.  Dang devil.  I can't believe it doesn't even really appear to have suffered from a human falling into it.

As we leave the cabin -- it's a wee bit chilly.  It took Mister a bit to get me out of the warm bed and make the trek across to the restroom.  However, it is supposed to be a beautiful day and for that, I'm thankful.

This post will be mostly pictorial.  I mean, truly, what is there to really say about nature as we go.  Just enjoy and if there is information, I'll happily share.  On the road --- not so flat down here.

 

Hello Terlingua, once again.  The town's humor and attitude shines brightly everywhere you look.

South Mister --- further south.  Into the park and watching the terrain changes.

So, right here I am fascinated with the colors.  

Do you see the little break in the butte?  That is our destination first thing today.

The Santa Elena Canyon Trail is 1.6 miles round trip with an 80 foot elevation gain.  Now, what that doesn't say is that the elevation gain is overall, not the ups and downs of the hike.  I learned that quick.  "This trail enters between the walls of Santa Elena Canyon, and ends where the cliffs meet the Rio Grande.  The walls of this canyon rise 1,500 feet from the banks of the Rio Grande, making this one of the most dramatic and popular places to view the river.  The sheer face of this canyon was formed by the Terlingua Fault, which is mostly covered in gravel.  The deepest channel of the Rio Grande is the international boundary, with each half of this canyon protected by a national park.  The southern side belongs to the Area Protegida del Canon de Santa Elena (Mexico), and the norther side is within Big Bend National Park."

There is one warning to "always watch for distant rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and becoming stranded within the canyon."  Okay, let's get going.

The first views when we come to the river bed are simply mind-boggling.

Mister is off to get pictures right away.

Realize just how dwarfed we are and that no pictures are going to truly let you know how small we feel.

THIS is where we are heading.  At the back it looks as though the walls run into each other, but a thin canyon awaits.

River bed fun - 

The first task we fun into is how to get across the river.  The little bridge is gone and so I'm on the hunt for a way over.  It seems like hopping the rocks off to the left might work.  I'm off to see.

It works and we have another wet area to cross by walking on downed trees/branches and rocks once again.  I make all the way until the very last step and into the water I go.  Drat.  At least it didn't go deep enough to come over boot tops and into my socks.  The outside will dry quick as we walk.  Onward we go.  Up, up, and up somemore.

Our ever-changing view as we move forward.

As we gain elevation, we also gain a new view.  

Looking back at where we entered this adventure.   Pretty magnificent, I gotta say.  There is a beauty to the desert that some just can't see.  I can, and I do like it.

On the other side of the river -- over in Mexico - there are goats on the mountain.  At first, they just look like white rocks, but the rocks were moving.  They are not typical mountain goats, nor do I believe they are Barbary Sheep.  They truly look like a herd of domesticated goats wandering the side of a mountain in Mexico.

Can't even hardly see them now --- see why we were surprised.

The grasses along the path as about twice as tall as me.

Come on, Mister.

Ooooh, light at the end of the tunnel.

Boulders on the ground and evidence of where they once were above.

Look at the massive rock in front of me.  OMG.

Second picture - me looking up by the tree - look how close the cliffs are now.

We have to laugh at these kayakers.  We have walked almost as fast as they have paddled.  The water is not very high and they keep getting grounded.

The end of the trail.  This is most we can see without a water vehicle or going swimming in the river.

Taking up a spot on a rock for a snack and some water.  A bit of just basking in the glory of it all goes along with the moment, as well.

This rock fits like a glove.  Pretty comfy.

Evidence of a beaver at work.

After a nice rest --- the return trip begins.

Back up again --- 

Getting close to the end --- we've come to the "goats" again, but didn't get any better pics than the first time.  We DID use binoculars this time, however, and honestly do think they are just goats.

I'm ahead and stop for a bit to wait for my sweetheart - here he comes.

Back at the beginning.

On the return trip, our river crossings go better than before, but NOW there are a lot more people in the area.  Glad we went early and pretty much had the canyon to ourselves.  A glance back at the second crossing so you can see it's really not much, but enough to get the feet soaked. 

 Onto the next adventure.  I'm breaking today into multiple posts - each one a winner in its own right.  Santa Elena Canyon was WONDERFUL.  So glad we went this morning and enjoyed some amazing eye candy.  As we drive away --- memories are held onto.