From NBC News.com: Texas' Big Bend braces for border wall in national park, worrying local Republicans and Democrats
Locals and elected leaders from both parties across far West Texas are condemning the Department of Homeland Security’s newly revealed plans to build a border wall through Big Bend National Park and its neighboring state park.
Lost Mine trail was an amazing hike. Five miles total (2 hours) with spectacular view on the top (there's no mine).
#BigBend #BigBendNP #LostMinetrail #hiking #photography #nature
The trash we picked up on the Lost Mine trail in Big Bend National Park. Unbelievable how stupid some people are. Can't even protect the few beautiful places we have left on Earth.
View at the Rio Grande from yesterday afternoon. Water level is extremely low due to use for irrigation (@$#&!). Mexican people, cows and horses can easily cross the river (which is what we witnessed).
Today we're going to take it easy and just hike the Lost Mine trail, before heading back to our babies.
Without any doubt the highlight of today: a spring in the middle of the desert, at the intersection of Glenn Spring Road and Black Gap Road. The two of us turned around the corner, saw this enormous tree and we both said: "Oh, WOW!" (: This was a couple of hours away from the paved road and can only be reached by bike or 4X4 with high clearance. We always prefer the mountain bike! (:
We made it. It was much harder than anticipated, because all the unpaved roads we so incredibly bumpy (unfortunately mostly caused by cars). 49 miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes (on the bike time; total time 8 and a half hours). At some point, I wasn't sure anymore we'd make it back (before sunset). More photographs later.
Big Bend day 1. We arrived late afternoon after a 6.5 hour long drive. Can't wait to explore the dirt roads tomorrow!
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Greg Tripp
CCR Feline Research Center