South Rim Loop Hike, Chisos Mtns, Big Bend NP, TX

What a great hike and what a great day yesterday!  The weather turned out to be cooler than expected for this hike and we were very happy as it was 12 1/2 miles!  We even got spritzed on and it was not supposed to rain till today! The elevation difference between the bottom and top of the trail was 2000 feet but we had some ups and downs on the way so I suspect we probably did a good 2500 feet of climbing.

Great scenery, we could probably see a good 30 miles into Mexico on the south rim.  Saw several deer, a couple of hawks and squirrels.  No peregrine falcons which I was hoping for, oh well, can't have it all;)

on the trail at 7:30am, we had to leave Terlingua at 6:30am

morning sun starting to show through the "window" in the Chisos Basin

looking down into the Chisos Basin as we are about to pass over the saddle to the south rim

on the south rim looking down on the Mule Ears formation in the middle of the pic

standing on the point behind us gave us over a 180 degree view!

love the alligator juniper and there are some very weathered ones up here!

the "Boot" formation on the right

back in Laguna Meadows in the Chisos Basin and the end of a lovely hike:)