Big Bend NP,Lost Mine Hike. day 3 part 1

Howdee all,

Yep..as the sign says below, Bear and Mountain lion Country,

So far we haven't sighted either.

  We awoke a bit to late to take the long scenic all day drive…so we opted to go hiking.

 

Lost Mine Trail

Length: 4.70 Miles

Elevation Gain: 1300 Feet

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

“The Lost Mine Trail is perhaps the most important hike to undertake if you only have a day to spend in Big Bend. It's not terribly long, provides an interpretive guide to the plants, animals and geological formations seen in Big Bend..”

 

   The trail starts out through a montane woodland of species generally only found in Mexico, but whose range just crosses the border in Big Bend and perhaps a couple of other mountains in West Texas. These include Mexican pinyon pine, and the weeping juniper, and the red peeling bark of the Texas madrone. In the case of the first two, the Chisos are the only place in the U.S. to see them. Other common species on this trail include Alligator juniper, evergreen sumac, and a variety of scrubby oak species, including Emory oak and Chisos red oak. In the understory are agave, yucca, sotol, and cactus species. Totally different vegetation than in the valley.

It was a fairly easy hike for us.. We did have to stop and catch our breath a few times.

Jeff checking out a Sotol plant Heres a bonsai growing on a rock for Dad.

  The trail was rocky but had areas like below with steps made of stone. Beautiful views around every corner..Great hike, considering how short it was and not very difficult.  

  If you look closely in the photo below..you will see pinks, blues and yellows in the rock.

It was a beautiful day..light winds..mid sixtiesBesides the views..we saw Black tufted titmice, Acorn and Ladderback Woodpeckers,Mexican Jays, Juncos and a few other birdies.  So…. I decided that my first love is hiking…Birding, mushrooming,rockhounding, shell collecting…all close seconds…

Birding while hiking works just fine.. So…the coastal birding will wait..I have lichen to look at…  more Big Bend views to check out.. and a few more pounds to shed…

I think I will stay here a bit longer…

End of day 3 part I

part 2

Cattail falls Hike