Tag Archives: chisos

Volunteers in the Park

Photograph of Chisos Basin Visitor Center

Chisos Basin Visitor Center, NPS Photo/Ann Wildermuth

Teardrop Trail Log: March 24, 2016

Whenever we go to a national or state park, we like to check in at the Visitors Center or Ranger Station to find out the status on trails, campsites, roads, events and other interesting things. We stopped into the Chisos Basin Visitor Center on our first full day in Big Bend. The exhibits on the peregrine falcon, black bear and mountain lion provided more information on these species’ lives in the Chisos Mountains. The Center also includes Big Bend Natural History Association bookstore and restrooms. Backcountry camping permits can be issued from the Visitor Center.

In addition to rangers, the Center was staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who have broad knowledge on many topics, helping visitors with a wide range of questions. Madeline, one of my college classmates has been a park volunteer and was recognized for contributing many hours of service to Big Bend National Park.

Photograph of Chisos Basin Map with recent bear and lion sightings.

Chisos Basin Map with recent sightings.

Big Bend has diverse habitats with more than 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, 56 species of reptiles and 11 species of amphibians. The Chisos Mountains are a popular nesting site for migratory birds, as well as for bear and mountain lion sightings. Studying and managing wildlife is a key activity in the park. Both the volunteers and rangers track a number of sightings through wildlife observation reports filled out by visitors. On the wall of  the Chisos Basin Visitor Center was a map updated with black bear sightings.

I guess we’re not in Kansas any more.

Photograph of Black Bear in Big Bend

Black Bear Sighting in Big Bend

Hiking in the Chisos

Photo of The Window Mountain Gap

The Window

Teardrop Trail Log: March 25, 2016

The Chisos Mountains form the core of Big Bend National Park, and have some of the most striking scenery. After driving in the day before and stopping briefly at the Park Headquarters near the Chisos, we decided to start by exploring them. It was about a 45 minute drive from our Study Butte campground, and we arrived in the late morning.

Photo of Chisos Mountains Visitors Center

The Visitors Center

There is a Visitors Center and a small store, along with a restaurant and guest housing located at the end of the road, and a 15-minute walk previews the main attraction: The Window. This geographic feature is formed by a gap between two of the mountains, and looks out over the western part of the park.

The short walk was a great tease, and after having a bite of lunch, we got some last-minute advice in the Visitors Center, filled our water bottles, and headed out on the Chisos Basin Loop — a little less than a two mile hike. We figured it would take about 2 hours.

Photo of Chisos Basin Loop Trail

The Chisos Basin Loop Trail

Listed as “moderate” difficulty, it was more of a challenge than we expected. There is quite a bit of vertical variation on the trail, and with the roughly 5000 foot elevation, I was noticing my lack of conditioning. Never mind — it’s a great hike.

The Window comes in and out of view on the trail, and you also get to see the back side of another feature: Casa Grande. I had a lot of fun taking pictures, and we both got some great images. We got back to the Visitors Center about 4.

Photo of Casa Grande in the Chisos Mountains

Casa Grande from the Chisos Basin Loop Trail