Backpacking in Big Bend National Park – the white butterfly

Several friends of mine (and friends of theirs), decided to go camping/backpacking in Big Bend National Park, which is 801,163 acres in the southwest part of Texas. Big Bend is known for its biodiversity due to its different ecosystems – river canyons, desert floor and high mountain terrain. We went in April, during Spring Break, perfect weather conditions. I took all my backpacking gear, anxious to explore what had been one of my father's favorite boyhood camping grounds.

As it turns out, most everyone wanted to do day hikes, except for Clark and David, who happened to be best friends … and me. I had never met either gentleman (and they were both gentle men) before this trip. I had only a twinge of uncomfortability as I was waving goodby to my known friends and  tramping off into the unknown with unknown men. My mindtalk was, "I do not go off into the mountains with people I don't know." However, I was doing exactly that.

On the last of our 3 days in the mountains, David had hurt his knee. So after dinner, in the full of the moon, crisply cold in the high desert air, we sat in silence with Clark's and my hands on David's knee – solid camaraderie after our 3 days together – easy, peaceful, still. In the midst of all that chilly desert quiet, a white butterfly alighted briefly on David's knee – like an ethereal kiss. No one moved, except for the butterfly.

A truly magical, mystical moment in the high desert mountains.