We moved camp and drove to Castolon in the southwest of the
park; some 60 miles through the desert.
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| Ocotillo |
Approximately 78% of the Park is desert and lies within the
northern third of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Although most rain falls in the summer months, there has been some snow
and rain in the last 3 weeks so there is a surprising ‘greenness’ to the
landscape. There are Yuccas, Prickly
Pears, Agave, Sotol, Creosote Plants (Chaparral) and Lechuguilla which are all
green. It is expected to be a good
spring this year when many of the cacti will flower. However the Ocotillo just look like sticks with very nasty spikes!
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| Javalinas |
At the Cottonwood camp site there was a family of Javalinas
grazing in the shadow of the Cottonwood trees.
We are told they are not pigs but Peccary, however, Paul would be
prepared to try one on the BBQ!
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| Sunset from the camp site |
In this area of the park there is more evidence of the
farming. Via effective irrigation people
grew cotton (100 acres), from 1920 to 1940, as well as other food crops. Houses were built and hence trees planted, and
they still continue to flourish. Trading
posts were established along the river too and shortly after the Mexican
Revolution a Military Guard post was established at Castolon for a few years.
26th Jan
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| Santa Elena Canyon |
We visited Santa Elena Canyon, which reaches heights of 1500ft. A couple we met at the campsite took their kayak into the canyon but had to turn back when they grounded on a sand bar – the river is so low in places. It is a very murky river due to the amount of dust and grit worn off the sides of the canyon. There was a lot of mud on the edges from when the river was higher a few weeks ago when it had rained (up to 1.5 inches); various animal paw prints were evident.
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| Mule Ears |
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