Signs warned us that it would be a hot climb with no shade. So true.  We made to the high point of the trail and a view across the desolate but beautiful Dead Horse Mountains and the cragged Chisos Peaks.  The call of cactus wrens floated across the open country where it was otherwise wonderfully silent.  Occasionally that silence was interrupted by traffic noise reminding us that even in a place like this we are never really far from the footprint of man.

Border crossing to Bougalles is open, maybe we will check it out?

Still, a stroll along the Rio Grande brings us to collections of trinkets for sale left here by the Mexican locals who keep careful watch from across the river.