Camping At Big Bend National Park 2019 - Day 4, Part 1: Hiking

We decided to make the most of our last day at Big Bend.  Well, the most we could make since we hadn't been prepping in advance for some of the more strenuous hikes we would have liked to have done.

We got up early to hike the Window Trail again.

Havard Agave (Agave havardiana), or century plant.  It blooms once in its life after growing 20-50 years, then dies.

A beautiful Mexican Jay.  There were several of these birds near the path in the cool early morning.

Mountain man

The early rise was worth it for this view.  Also, we were the only ones there and took our time listening to the water, wind, and occasional bird.

The view looking away from the Window

Breakfast break

Heading back up the trail

What's that up there?

Is it...

...a pushmi-pullyu?
More likely it's a couple of bighorn sheep.  Even more likely it's a couple of Barbary sheep, but I don't know.
Photo from moriareviews.com

On our way back we decided to divert and take the Oak Springs trail.  It started with an ascent up loose rocks.

The Window Trail is in the valley below - there's a bench in the lower right corner of the photo.  The Oak Springs Trail climbs out of the trees near the center left.

We didn't go down the other side.  After taking in the views we went back the way we came.

I think this was a Baird's Rat Snake.  It could have been a patch-nose snake, but I don't think so.  Definitely not a rattlesnake, but we still kept a respectful distance and waited for it to finish crossing the trail.