Entrepreneurship along the trail

Today we were in the eastern part of the park - blue arrow. It is defined by the Rio Grande. 

We decided on the Daniels Ranch to Hot Springs Trail, 6 miles round trip. It was a great early morning, springtime hike because of the many blooming cacti and wildflowers.

The trail first winds up the side of a limestone cliff. At the curve of one switch-back was this display of little creatures made from little, colorful beads strung on wire and bent into shapes. There was a container nearby for "donations", but there was also a price list. 

The limestone cliffs were pretty dramatic, but there is no shade along the trail.

One area we crossed was a dry cascade. You can see where the rushing water has worn the stones into whirlpools and channels. 

At about two miles along the trail we encountered the Rio Grande. Steep cliffs prevent access to the river until the end of the trail.

As we were walking along, we noticed what looks like a gigantic fossil shell (penny there for scale). It looked like an ammonite.

A quarter mile from the hot springs we had the choice of traveling along the Rio Grande or taking the loop trail that took us up above the pool and down around the other side. This is the view from the top. We could look down and see the hot spring. This is a view of the Rio Grande to the west.

The hot spring is located adjacent to a little rapids on the Rio Grande. While we were there a commercial river trip was going by.

There's Frederick sitting with his feet in the hot spring (far left in the hat). Maybe on a cool day you would appreciate the 105 degree water. Today it just felt hot. We did eat our lunch there, though.

On the trek back we hiked to an overlook that we had passed by on the way out. It provided a fine view of the Rio Grande. What is really impressive are the massive cliffs of the Sierra del Carmen mountains at the upper left of the picture. 

The Rio Grande to the east. You can see all the canoers traveling down the river. This is the same group that passed us by at the hot spring.

Looking west along the Rio Grande.

Hiking back down the limestone cliff, back to the parking lot, when suddenly...

Frederick hear a rattle and made a quick about-face. There was a rattle snake about 1 foot off the trail who felt that we were just a little too close to where it wanted to be. We waited about two minutes about 10 feet back up the trail but it wouldn't move. Finally Frederick threw some small stones and it finally moved off under a nearby cactus, rattling all the while. I tried to take a picture from 10 feet away, but it is either so well camouflaged or I completely missed - it should be there, right in the center of the picture, brown and in the shape of an "S". That was exciting!

At the trailhead, right across from the parking lot, is a little desert oasis with cottonwood trees. This is blooming season for the trees, too, and there were little white puffs floating in the air.

Since we are not planning on returning to this corner of the Park, there was another attraction that we wanted to see today.

Boquillas Canyon is at the base of the Sierra del Carmen mountains. Here the Rio Grande has carved a gorge, 1,300 feet deep, directly through the escarpment. Here the Rio Grande is approaching the beginning of Boquillas Canyon.

Boquillas Canyon becomes so narrow that the entrance is almost invisible at this distance. Maybe you can just make out Frederick hiking into the canyon.

There are several shallow caves in the side of the Boquillas Canyon.

The Rio Grande entering the narrow part of the Canyon, but we could go no further.

On the other side of the Rio Grande, strategically positioned to take advantage of the natural, amplifying characteristics of the canyon, was this man in the center of the picture. He was singing his heart out, in Spanish, for the people hiking to the end of the Canyon trail.

In the middle of the trail was this container asking for - "donations for singng Mexican "Jesus". (That's how singing was spelled on the stone.) You can see that he has some appreciative fans who have left him some "donations."