Three more National Parks checked off the list! Over the week, we went to three parks in four days! Our first stop was at Big Bend National Park in Texas. We stayed in the Chisos Mountains, where we found relief from the scorching summer sun. We hiked in the mountains on the Lost Mines Trail. Although we were in the middle of bear and mountain lion country, we were not lucky enough to spot either on the trail. We were able to encounter other wildlife including a mountain jay, javelinas, mule deer, a skunk, a large rattlesnake, and a vulture. It is truly amazing how much life there is in the vast desert. We left the park along a beautiful scenic drive that traveled beside the Rio Grande to the small border town of Presidio, where we ate an authentic Tex-Mex meal. After lunch, our travels took us north to the Guadalupe Mountains N.P. in northern Texas and to the Carlsbad Caverns N.P. in New Mexico. Both parks offered solitude and beauty. There was Leave No Trace information across all three parks for visitors to learn about ways to minimize their impacts while enjoying these special places. The past four days have been a whirlwind of natural beauty. We are looking forward to continuing to explore more jewels of the southwest over the last few weeks of our tour.
Safe travels...
~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008
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