National Park Service Park News & Planner U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River The Paisano Volume 26, No. 1 Spring/Summer 2005 J. Sirotnak Where the heck are we? ~ Lost in the Deadhorse Mountains Off the Beaten Path What’s Inside Backcountry Treasures . 5 WELCOME TO BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK AND THE RIO A large number of trail guides, maps, books, and other publications Backcountry Planning . 13 Grande Wild & Scenic River! Big Bend is one of the largest and least (including this newspaper) provide excellent information to make Backpacking . .13 visited of America’s national parks. Over 800,000 acres await your the most of your visit, and highlight the things that Big Bend is most Birdwatching . .11 exploration and enjoyment. From an elevation of less than 2,000 famous for: The Window, Casa Grande, Santa Elena Canyon, and Black Bears . .10 feet along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Moun- the Sierra del Carmen range in Mexico. While these landmarks are Bookstore . 3 tains, Big Bend includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, and special, make your own experience - don’t be afraid to park your Border Information . 4 the entire Chisos Mountain range. Here, you can explore one of the car and walk over to an interesting plant or rock formation. As one Camping Information . 12 last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience writer bluntly stated, “although the old saying that ‘he who travels Day Hikes . 9 unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude. must be prepared to take away only as much as he brings with him’ Deadhorse Mountains . 7 applies to all our great parks, it holds true especially of Big Bend.” Desert Solitude . 6 During the spring, the Big Bend explodes in color, as wildflowers Emory Peak Trail . 9 and cacti bloom throughout the park, and people, as huge crowds In this issue of the Big Bend Paisano, we explore some of the lesser Floating the Rio Grande . 13 descend upon the park during Spring Break. This explosion of known features of the park, such as the Deadhorse Mountains, and General Information & Services . 12 crowd and color is really all too fleeting, and by the beginning of address how to properly prepare for the heat. Make the most of Horses . 13 May, the heat of the summer has settled into the Chihuahuan your visit! Use the imformation found in the park newspaper, a park How Not to Die in the Desert . 7 Desert. Summer rains provide a later burst of desert color, and map, or a trail guide as a starting point, don’t forget to take plenty of Important Phone Numbers . .14 slightly cooler temperatures in July and August. water, and make your Big Bend experience safe and memorable. Javelina . 10 Keeping Wildlife Wild . 10 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Leave No Trace . 13 What to expect: Mountain Lions . 10 Spring (April & May) Summer (June-August) Night Skies . 11 Spring weather means three things: good weather for exploring, June is very hot; please take adequate precautions (water, sunscreen, Park Map . 14 wildflower and cactus blooms, and crowds! While the biggest rush and wide-brimmed hats) when exploring the lower elevations. The Park News . 4 is March, April sees many visitors in the park looking for seasonal Chisos Basin is an excellent place to pitch a tent this time of year, Safety . 15 birds, the remaining blooms and getting out in the desert before due to cooler temperatures. July and August bring late summer rains Superintendent’s Welcome . 2 temperatures get really hot. May is one of the hottest months in the which can often lower temperatures thoughout the park and raise Volunteers in the Park . 2 Chihuahuan Desert; take plenty of water with you when you the level of the Rio Grande, so be aware of the risk of flash floods. What Can Kids Do Here? . 12 explore! This time of year the park often has few visitors, so solitude can be What to See and Do . 8 easier to achieve. Where’s the Wildlife? . 5 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Visitor Information REMEMBER: The speed limit on all roads in the park is 8 What to See & Do 9 Day Hikes 14 Park Map 45 MPH, unless posted slower. Find out how to make the most of your time in Find descriptions of many of the most popu- Don’t know where you are? The park map the park. Recommendations and suggested trip lar easy and moderate hiking trails here. can help. This page also includes a list of Emergencies itineraries for one day, three day, or week long Most of these trails are perfect for shorter useful numbers for services both in and Call 911 or 432 477-2251 24 hours a day visits can be found here. While you may not get day hikes of up to several hours. A Detailed outside the park. or contact a Park Ranger. to see everything, this information should get description of each trail includes length, Phones are located at visitor centers, you off to a good start. average time required, difficulty, location, campgrounds, camper stores and the and other need-to-know information to get Chisos Mountains Lodge. you started. ..................................................... ..................................................... National Park Service Superintendent’s Welcome U.S. Department of the Interior Big Bend National Park Welcome to YOUR Park○ Bienvenidos ○ Welcome to Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild & ○ Bienvenidos al Parque Nacional Big Bend y al Natural y Escénico The Big Bend Paisano is published by the Na- tional Park Service and the Big Bend Natural Scenic River, two of THE most special places administered by the ○ Río Grande, dos unidades muy especiales administrados por el History Association for the orientation and educa- ○ National Park Service. We trust that you will have a wonderful time ○ Servicio de Parques Nacionales. Esperamos que tenga una visita tion of visitors to Big Bend National Park as you explore and experience these great parks. ○ inspirativa mientras que usted explore y goce de estos asombrosos ○ National Park Service parques. Editor, Eric Leonard, Park Ranger Big Bend National Park is one of the more “visitor-friendly” Chief Naturalist, David Elkowitz parks in our national system of parks. Unlike many places Dentro del sistema nacional de parques, Big Bend se conoce Superintendent, John H. King that are enjoyed through the windshield of a car or by a como un parque muy atrayente para ellos que se gustan fleeting visit on a tour bus, Big Bend is a place that invites explorar la naturaleza sin las cadenas de la civilización. No Big Bend Natural History Association Executive Director, Mike Boren you to experience the resource up close and personal. como otros parques que se gocen por la vista de los Sales Manager, Allison Taylor Hike the over 200 miles of trails. Float the spectacular parabrisas o por una visita rápida en autobús, Big Bend Assistant Sales Manager, Barbara Hines river canyons. Put on a pack and trek through the es un lugar que se le invita conocer las riquezas natu- Visitor Services Assistant, Anita Johnson backcountry. Mountain bike through the park on the rales y culturales en una manera intima y profunda. paved or unpaved roads. Get off the beaten path and Camine sobre 300 kilómetros de sendas. Haz un paseo Superintendent John King The National Park Service was established enjoy the serenity, solitude and unspoiled nature that en canoa por espectáculos cañones ribereños. Pon una on August 25, 1916. “to conserve the this wild place offers. ○ mochila y haz un viaje largo al interior. Monte en bicicleta para scenery and the natural and historic objects ○ ○ explorar los caminos primarios y secundarios. Sal del camino and the wildlife. and to provide for the National parks like Big Bend belong to us all, and as such we have a ○ trillado y goce de la tranquilidad, la soledad, y la inmaculada enjoyment of the same in such manner and ○ shared stewardship role. Please be mindful of that as you spend ○ naturaleza que se ofrece este lugar silvestre. by such means as will leave them unim- ○ time in YOUR national park. Leave only footprints and take only ○ paired for the enjoyment of future genera- memories. Above all be safe. ○ Los parques nacionales pertenecen a todos nosotros y en sí tions.” As conservation educators, the Divi- ○ sion of Interpretation provides guided ○ repartimos el papel de ser guardián de estos lugares especiales. Sea walks, talks, evening slide programs, work- ○ atento a eso durante su paseo en SU parque nacional. Deje ○ shops, and other educational activities as Experience Your America! ○ solamente rastros, tome solamente memorias. well as written materials such as this news- ○ ○ paper. ○ ○ ¡Explore su América! John H. King ○ The Big Bend Natural History John H. King, Superintendent ○ Superintendente ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Association, established in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1956 as a private, non-profit organization, champions the mission of the National Park Volunteers in the Park Service in facilitating popular interpretation of the scenic, scientific, and historic values Last year over 150 volunteers contributed 38,355 hours of service to Big Bend National of Big Bend and encourages research re- Park. Some service groups come for a few days, other volunteers stay for months. Some are lated to those values. The Association con- students, others are retirees looking for adventure during their "golden years." Most of ducts seminars and publishes, prints, or oth- erwise provides books, maps, and interpre- these volunteers work in visitor centers and as campground hosts; however, volunteers also tive materials on the Big Bend region. Pro- help in science and resource management, maintenance, and administration. Regardless of ceeds fund exhibits, films, interpretive pro- age or background, these folks share a desire to make a positive contribution to the preser- grams, seminars, museum activities, and re- vation and management of Big Bend National Park.