Texas - The Big Bend – Early Spring

Day 5 - March 7^th, 2004

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Today, Sunday, we planned to do the South Rim. The earlier hikes had been good, and had helped get ready for this one, but even so, the thought of hiking a good couple to three thousand feet higher, and with greater ups and down did give rise to some trepidation.

So it was perhaps not surprising that an early start was made, and after settling on the route – up Laguna Meadow and back down the Pinnacles – I set off at about 8:15am. The sun was up, of course, and it looked like a beautiful fine day was in store. This hike is difficult to describe – so many great views, - so many things of interest, - so many contrasts. Totally mind blowing. I can only hope my pictures say enough about it, from the pleasure of coming across a group of deer, to the switchbacks that seemed to go on forever, to the peace and calm of Laguna Meadow, the trees, the grasses, and of course still the cacti. Then further still, up past Blue Creek Canyon, getting ever closer to the Rim itself, until finally there is nothing in front of you but the view, far and wide, across the silver strip of water that is the Rio Grande, across range after range of hills into Mexico.

It was lunchtime by the time I reached the Rim, and sitting on an old tree stump, watching the birds circle around the cliff edges it seemed that the modern world was very far away indeed. I wandered along the Rim path, stopping to take yet another photo opportunity, until it came time to decide to go back down. But which way? – down the east side of Boot Canyon, the shorter route, - or the west side, and cross over on the Colima Trail to the Pinnacles. As it was still early, and I was suitably refreshed by food, drink, and the views, I opted for the latter, and wasn’t disappointed. The views down were as good as on the way up, and the different perspective of view reinforced the images in my mind. Soon the Colima trail signs were in focus, and though it would have been simpler to carry on back to Laguna Meadow, I stuck to my guns and turned right. It was the right decision as the views across the canyon that emerged were spectacular, and the variety of trees and plants, as well as some brightly coloured butterflies enriched the hike.

Rejoining the trail after the corral, the views of the Boot itself were great, and as the trail led past the Emory Peak turnoff, I met a family with young children intent on getting to the top of that peak. I wished them well, and carried on upwards to the ridge by the Pinnacles and the main descent. I remembered it being steep from my snowy attempt 2000, and it was clear that I was quite close to the top of the ridge on that occasion. But not knowing what the weather had in store that day was sufficient to make me turn back, and at least now I was glad to have seen the other side of the mountain!

Finally at about 4:40 pm I was back in the Basin, and celebrated with a cold beer from the store, sadly only the one, as I still had to drive back to Study Butte. But just sitting there on the bench, watching the comings and goings was relaxation par excellence, with the buzz that comes from accomplishment and the gentle ache in your limbs that signifies a trail well hiked.

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