No riding today, but I did take the opportunity to take a long (+5 mile) hike to the bottom of the
Chisos Basin. We descended 980 feet to the basin floor and back up again. Don, James and I made the entire journey in 3 hours. The most interesting thing about the hike, other the multiple warnings that
bears and
mountain lions roam throughout the area, was observing the change in the local flora as we descended and ascended the basin walls. The top of the basin contains a more desert-like selection of plants such as
yucca and
agave plants, but as we descended we were met with cactus, scrub vegatation, then trees on the basin floor. We walked to the
Window Pouroff where the small stream drops 200 feet to the desert floor.
Since there was no riding and everyone was taking advantage of some time off from the road, the evening was sent trading war stories over dinner.
The picture above was taken on the trip down and is a closeup of the Chisos Basin surrounding walls.
Another picture taken of the walls from the basin floor.
James and Don navigating the canyon just before the pouroff.
A shot of the view from the pouroff.
Looking up from the pouroff up into the Chisos Basin.
This is an example of the types of trees that can be found on the basin floor, but not up at the lodge.
On the way back and very near the top of the basin, we encountered three whitetail deer grazing very near the trail.
The picture above was taken on the trip down and is a closeup of the Chisos Basin surrounding walls.
Another picture taken of the walls from the basin floor.
James and Don navigating the canyon just before the pouroff.
A shot of the view from the pouroff.
Looking up from the pouroff up into the Chisos Basin.
This is an example of the types of trees that can be found on the basin floor, but not up at the lodge.
On the way back and very near the top of the basin, we encountered three whitetail deer grazing very near the trail.
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