Nearby lived the man most responsible for Guadalupe Mountains National Park. In its lower reaches, the chasm contains the area's only permanent stream. The only way to see McKittrick Canyon is by foot. I start down the easy trail that leads from the outlying parking lot. Soon, the canyon becomes deeper and more closed in.
Leaves rustle in a gentle breeze.
Stands of pine and thick glades of maple and oak turn the abyss into an arboreal oasis. At 3.7 km, the path reaches Pratt's former home. Rock forms the inside walls also. The stone is bare in the bedrooms and kitchen, but painted white in the spacious living room. The decor exhibits rustic simplicity.