View from the top of the Chisos, in Big Bend National Park.

This is looking approximately west, toward “The Window” overlooking the desert far below. The tiny white snake in the middle is actually the road from where I began the hike up the mountain. To the road in the Chisos basin, there is about a 1500 foot elevation drop. From there to the desert floor is another 900 feet.

This is one of my favorite hikes that I’ve done so far in Big Bend. The view is really amazing. It’s one of those places that once you get to the top, you never want to go back down. I invariably spend a few hours at the top each time and have gotten used to just packing a lunch and a book and making a day out of the 5 1/2 mile trip.