Texas - The Big Bend – Early Spring

Day 2 - March 4^th, 2004

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I woke to the sound of rain and wind, and peering out of the door I found my worst suspicions confirmed. A gale was raging, and rain showering everything. How different from yesterday afternoon. So what now to do? Maybe the first thing was to get some idea of what the weather might be going to do, so a drive to the Visitors Centre at Panther Junction just seemed to worsten the weather. The Rangers hadn’t at that time received the updated forecast, so after browing in the shop, I headed back to Study Butte, but only got part way there, when the skies seemed miraculously to clear, and I could see clearly right over to St. Elena canyon. That seemed to be an omen for the day, and so after some cactus hunting and photographing, I collected my stuff from the motel and set out down Old Maverick Road. It appeared to be great condition, and followed an old car on a trailer, apparently going to be used by a film crew, as they passed my at my first cactus stop, and had set up cameras by the time I passed them again. What film I wonder?

Stops made at Luna’s jacal, and at a couple of places firther on were great cactus spots, and I located some Echinomastus plants in bud. I’m not certain of their species, as the fkowers seemed to be of E. mariposensis in size (they were closed unfortunately), but the spination more like warnockii. Anyway then on to Terlingua Abaja, and St. Elena Canyon. I had hiked this in 1997, but this time the trail was totally dry, across Terlingua Creek. The only problem was the wind which gusted mightily, and showed the hikers with dusty sand.

Next on my route up Maxwell Scenic Drive was Tuff Canyon, into which I ventured for the first time. Interesting rocks and some hardy plants there. But onwards to Mule Ears, and the first long hike of the day – by now it was about 2pm, and I set out under clear blue skies – but still windy. I found some plants that I had seen in 2000, when they were very wet, and tarried a short while to photograph them again. The hike was great, and passing Mule Ears spring, which was flowing pretty well, I reached the junction with the Smoky Creek trail. I’d done enough for the day, and taking my time to hunt for cacti beside the trail and on nearby hillocks, I started to make my way back to the overlook where I had parked my car. The wind started to sdrop as well, so it was somewhat easier to keep my hat foirmly on my head, protecting it from the strong Texas sun – unlike yesterday on which it had caught the sun and become a tad tender. About half way back I noticed a slim snake across the path, and stopping only to take a quick photo, I gave it a wide berth – probably totally harmless, but not knowing, I preferred to take the safe option.

A brief stop was made at the Ward Spring overlook, and the Homer Wilson ranch seen down in the valley. But I had walked enough for one day and decided not to do the trail up to the Red Rocks which would have looked great in the evening sun. But as I wanted to build up my hiking steadily, it was not to be today at least.

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