Our route from Las Cruces to Alpine:
must After a quiet night in Van Horn Esther by 8 Clock I wake from deep sleep. We had gone to bed at midnight and the temperature was comfortably cool. The train horn I heard in my dream made me wake up but not this.
The 200 mile drive to Big Ben is not sensational. First 70 miles flat, dry grasslands. Then southeast down over undulating terrain to Presidio. We buy in a store, where they speak only English. Then we follow the left bank of the Rio Grande to Lajitas. We are committed to the well-built # 170 as on a roller coaster with a 15% climb and descent, up and down. The special kick it: Before we come to a climax, you know not, as the road that seems to stop suddenly goes: straight ahead, left or right. This really is fun to guess - and also for survival. Obviously we always win. Finally healing, thereby entering into the huge (3,000 km2) Big Bend National Park Before we make at the only rest area that there are over 100 miles on roller coaster, a lunch break under the shade of tipis on the banks of the little rivulet, which Rio Grande is called and here a large deflection (bend) makes to the northeast. On the Mexican side it is called Rio Bravo. Most likely the two names from the west to be known. Its water it loses in many reservoirs to the irrigation systems for agriculture. The 3000 km long river, which at the last 1800 km, the border between Texas and Mexico is about, not even the sea, but ceases to exist before, like the Yellow River in China.
The Basin Campground Chison we struggle to find a free parking space, but had really good fortune: a very quiet place on the edge of the terrain with stunning views of the mountains. Here, too, at 1650 m altitude, the temperature to 30 °. In the RV, we measure 35 °. To cool us, we are therefore working in the ..... (S.letzen blog). Surprisingly, it is at night on our level considerably warmer (the thermometer does not fall below 19 degrees) than on the river bank, where it is at most 10 °. Probably save the mighty Rhyolitfelsen around the sun warmth.
If one approaches the Chison Mountains, one can not imagine from a distance that lies behind the bare hills rich in vegetation. Chison Basin resembles a caldera, which is completely surrounded by a rugged towering mountain range that form the rim of a (thankfully extinct) volcano. In reality, the rocks are the backdrop spared by erosion remaining mass, which erupted ash and lava from volcanoes in front of 42 million years and have from Magna, which gushed forth from the depths formed.
At 18 we will make a small clock, a half-hour Trail (Chison Basin Trail) and were in time before the search for Mountain Lions (Cougars, mountain lions) are among the campers in their evening meal back. Since we have compared to most Americans but nothing enticing offer, we feel safe. Of them there throughout the park to 20 animals. The black bears that were eradicated in 1940, immigrated from Mexico in 1980 her again. Today you have a good dozen. They all have their defined territory. At the campground we see three white-tailed deer that can not drive by a barking dog. All these animals are the last ice age that began after the major vegetation has become home.
At 20.30 Clock is a Ranger in the amphitheater called a slide show on global climate and brings facts that actually know all: from "Reuse", "Reduce" and "Recycle". All too eager to hear of course. After the presentation of a fairly large number of participants traveling by car, the 500 m back to the campground!
morning at 8 clock, it is still warm 19 °. A pleasant feeling, sometimes a night not to have cold. Shortly after 9 clock we make our way. After only 1.6 miles drive, we park at the trailhead and start at 9.50 clock a beautiful hike the Lost Mine Trailhead, named after a silver mine, where insurgent locals who were enslaved by the Spaniards and work under terrible conditions in the mines for silver, they had their oppressors murdered in the mine and threw it zuschütteten. Thus, it is reported. The beautiful walk, which was created in the 30's by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in an employment program of the United States at the time of major economic crisis in the only just established park leads, slowly with constant slight slope after 4 km and 320 meters to a stunning vantage point . The climb out mostly in the shadows, upon return however, we are exposed to the scorching sun. Along the way there are 24 markers that indicate a sight that explains in a brochure are. We see next to already-known plants and trees like the Sotol, Nolina (Bear Grass or grass basket # 18), agave, Alligator Juniper, among others, the Mexican drooping juniper (or weeping juniper). Unfortunately it was in the last few months here is very dry. The vegetation is dry, the roads are dusty.
we eat at 13.30 clock in the lodge, a fine salad, just visit the Visitor Center and then drink in the 34 ° warm RV for a coffee. For a siesta, it is too hot.
against 17 clock we meet again on the way: the Window Trail. He leads 200 m down towards Rio Grande. Soon we reach a small canyon where present in the washed-basin water ponds. Insects, a Fröschchen and beside it a alligator lizard who wants to bring in vain in a crevice in front of my camera to safety. On the way we see ourselves completely unknown shrubs. The one we call amateur botanist Erdnussglyzinie because he wears as the wisteria-like flowers and produces fruit that are similar to peanuts, and hides its interior red nuts. Another we are calling Judas tree, which we know from Greece. He agrees with him but agreed only in the color of the flowers! The end of the canyon, we reach the rock-hewn stairs. It opens out like a window into the Mexican mountains. The water, when it actually times which has crashed then as a high waterfall in the depths. Because we do not want that, we return to, now the scorching sun in the back. 31 °, the thermometer shows when we rise by 19 clock back to the campground.
ask us to dinner the campers friendly neighbors at their table in thought. The couple is from Moab, and each stayed in a small triangular trailer that is pulled down for the night. There are obviously Republicans, with the Rangers yesterday's speech did not agree. Under Bush we had never raised such issues in a NP! The night is uncomfortably warm. Even by 3 clock, the thermometer shows 25 °!
The next morning we head to Big Bend Village. There, the day 37 ° are measured. We walk only a short canyon. The river (the water here as the equivalent of the Inn at Engadine!) Winds there through a deeply incised rock barrier. It is terribly hot. From the Mexican shore, a man wades through the hip-deep water over, another on horseback. Illegal immigrants! But where they already want to go? After they expect 400 km f. .. dry desert! They only come over to earn a few dollars with carved walking sticks, small jewelry or her song, which echoes through the canyon. In the scorching heat, we do not stay and even less sleep.
We left shortly after noon, the 'Big' River and drive two hours north to reach the small university town of Alpine - that sounds so right on the snow and mountains! Here at 1500 m the temperature is really pleasant.
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