Skookum Traveler: Big Bend National Park (TX)

A last look at the cool pinnacle at Chisos Basin.

55. Lost Mine Ridge: Day Four (January 20) was my last at Big Bend, since my mini-vacation was nearly over and I had a plane to catch in San Antonio the next morning. I also had six hours’ worth of driving to do to get there. However, I calculated I could hike up the Lost Mine Trail, another park favorite, in the morning, and either stand on the high point of the ridge or possibly wander a half-mile over to a higher highpoint that would earn me at least one extra brownie point. Lost Mine Peak itself, was a much more challenging and committing hike with a 4^th class finish to the summit. It was appealing enough, but better saved (and safer) for a party of two or more. I enjoyed a breakfast buffet at the lodge, packed up the tent and headed to the trailhead.

I’d already been up the first mile of trail on Day One (for Casa Grande), so except for slowing down to ogle a few deer on the way up, I made good time reaching the saddle and chugged on. The ridge crest seemed like easy work, so perhaps the steady diet of daily hiking was already giving me some new strength. At the crest, I realized the sub-peak I’d noticed on the map required somewhat of a brush bash to get to. It did not look highly appetizing. Lost Mine Peak looked very appetizing, but no chance of that happening. I also noticed a cool-looking summit rock at the end of the official trail, so that would have to suffice. To make it more official, I carefully scooted up onto it, and stared down a substantial distance at the trees below my boots. I think the couple nearby were wondering the same thing I often wonder when I see someone getting a little too close to the edge. What is that crazy guy doing up there? On the way back I tagged another pile of rocks just in case it was higher than the first, though that did not seem to be the case.

I’d bagged five summits in four days, had a heck of a good time in a new-to-me national park, and enjoyed a brief hit of summer weather in January. As it turned out, my flight to DC the next day was cancelled due to a major snowstorm. But the delay was manageable and the next plane made it through, my first time actually landing in a snow storm. And just like magic, I was back in the frigid confines of a cold, cold winter on the east coast.
Miles (RT): 4.8 miles; elevation gain: 1,100 feet
Cumulative mileage and gain: 256.2 miles / 66,350 feet