Mule Ear Spring Trail is our afternoon hike after the Santa Elena Canyon. This is a desert walk through broken rock and dry washes. Near the spring, there is a large circle enclosed by a rock wall that is the remains of a ranch corral. The spring is hidden in a small oasis of green and boulders. It was smart for the early rancher to stay near a natural water source. I thought I saw some rock art in the sun-protected edge of a large boulder somewhat near the spring, but needed the binoculars to be sure. Just what is in the backpack if not the binoculars…they, alas, were back in the van. Must do a better packing job.

This evening we visited the Terlingua Cemetery, a still-active century+ cemetery in the historic Terlingua Ghost Town area. Mining for mercury, with Chisos Mining Company being the big one, is what brought people to this area in the late 1800s. A sign in the cemetery says that though mining is a dangerous occupation, the Flu Pandemic of 1918-19 contributed more to this cemetery than mining. Many of the graves do not have names on them but are still maintained by family members who must know who lies there.