Hiking Hints from Britain, 1933

We just thought this was tons of fun....

#30DaysofBiking
And as we say goodbye to our April feature - cycling assets of our Texas Mountain Trail region, we want to give an additional shout-out to some friends in El Paso....

GeoBetty.com maps mountain biking trails in the Franklin Mountains and other destinations around El Paso

Velo Paso is El Paso's vibrant and growing bicycle and pedestrian organization, working hard to make alternative transportation, easy, fun, healthy and safe. 

Bike Texas

Bike Texas member rides Pinto Canyon Road south of Marfa

All month we've been celebrating #30DaysofBiking on this blog, and we want to give a shout-out to an important organization for all Texas cyclists...Bike Texas, our state's own bike access, safety and education non-profit organization.  These friendly folks are tireless advocates for Texans of all ages, and they're working really hard to make cycling in Texas easier and safer (and more fun!) regardless of where you live or ride.


Want to know the cycling "Rules of the Road," or about cycling safety legislation, or cycling route maps from across the state?  This is YOUR organization.  Want to know about cycling safety programs for kids or adults...yep, this is YOUR organization. 

Read more about the Bike Texas organization here.
To join Bike Texas, click here.
Want one of these cool jerseys (or a specialty license plate, or spiffy light set, cap or gift card)? Click here.

Baseball in the Texas Mountains-Cowboys and Chihuahuas!

There's a section of one of Alpine's mural that shows Kokernot Field, a small scale version of Wrigley Field, (there's a TERRIFIC Texas Monthly story about the stadium here) and this time of year, it is time to think about baseball!

Kokernot Field is now the home of the Alpine Cowboys, part of the Pecos League, which according to their website, "is not affiliated with Major or Minor League Baseball."  Want to go to a game in this beautiful, historic stadium in full view of the mountains?  Their schedule is here, and the first game is May 2.

El Paso now has a triple A baseball team, the El Paso Chihuahuas, and their home is a brand new stadium right downtown.  Check out the schedule here!

#30DaysofBiking
Fort Davis hotels participating in our Texas Mountain Trail cycle-friendly hotels program!

Old Schoolhouse Bed & Breakfast, 401 N. Front Street, P.O. Box 1221, Fort Davis, TX 79734, 432-426-2050; Hope’s Ranch Guest House, 1100 Cemetery Road, P.O. Box 1221, Fort Davis, TX 79734, 432-426-2050 http://www.schoolhousebnb.com/(Two properties, same owners.) Hopes Ranch is self-catered.  Cycle-friendly features include: A host who is an avid cyclist in the area, and his wife, who understands the kind of breakfast cyclists need. Familiar with well-known and less familiar, lightly- travelled routes. Secure bike storage in garage; cleaning rags for your equipment; a limited supply of bike tools and parts for emergency repairs along with the expertise for most repairs; flexible hours for breakfast service; excellent quality mattresses; off-street parking within our fence; in-room, free wireless internet connections; weather reports; potential late check-out (with prior arrangement).
Mountain Trails Lodge and Outdoor Learning Center, one mile south of the Scenic Loop and Fort Davis on Hwy 118, Phone 800-403-3484, www.mountaintrailslodge.com
Cycle-friendly features include: comfortable cabins and healthy meals (at a great price) for your cycling group, sag support and shuttles, pre-arranged water stops, snacks or meals delivered or served on your route, skilled bike mechanic and wilderness first aid responder, and more.
Stone Village Tourist Camp, 509 State Street, Fort Davis, TX 79734, 432-426-3941 www.stonevillagetouristcamp.com Renovated 1935 tourist court located in the middle of Fort Davis. Cycle-friendly features include: in-room bike parking; choice of motel-style rooms, suites (w/microwave and refrigerator) and modernized open air camp rooms with securable screen doors; wi-fi; next-door access to natural foods grocery/deli/bakery; pool.
ort Davis area cycle-friendly hotels from our Texas Mountain Trail program:

Nature Photography THIS morning at Davis Mountains State Park; Big Bend Cycle-friendly Accommodations

Photo by Derrick Birdsall

A great friend of our Texas Mountain Trail organization, Derrick Birdsall, is giving a nature photography presentation THIS MORNING at 11 am at Davis Mountains State Park as part of their Open House weekend.  Derrick is the photographer behind a photo book on our partner Texas Forts Trail, centered in Abilene, and has been featured many times on this blog and our Facebook page.   He also posts on the Unaffected Photography page on Facebook, and his blog is here. 

The rest of the schedule for the park's Open House today and tomorrow is here.

#30DaysofBiking
Today we feature our Big Bend cycle-friendly accommodations...

  Chisos Mountain Lodge, in Big Bend National Park. Phone: 432-477-2292 or 432-477-2291, www.ChisosMountainLodge.com or www.foreverresorts.com
Cycle-friendly features include: motel and stone cottage lodging in the heart of Big Bend National Park; in-room storage of bikes; full dining options plus possible pre-ordered pack lunches for early morning departures, convenience store. Easy access to trails and scenic roads. See flyer for more services.

 Big Bend Resorts and Adventures, Hwy 118 and Hwy 170, P O Box 227, Terlingua, Texas 79852, Phone: 432-371-2483 Local or Central Reservations: 1-877-386-4383
www.bigbendresortadventures.com  Cycle-friendly features include: convenient location to Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park and on-site trails; clean, comfortable rooms; on-site café for breakfast, lots of grab and go snacks for rides plus box lunches to go; on-site parking for bikes and towed vehicles; and more. Laundry, public showers, custom guided tours,party barn for groups, target golf course tent/RV sites.  Offer special rates for local cycling events.  Building two mountain bike trails on property.
Big Bend Casitas at Far Flung Outdoor Center, P.O. Box 377, Terlingua, Texas 79852, 800-839-7238, info@ffoc.net, www.bigbendfarflung.com/lodging, We are cycle-friendly and happy to host riders who want to experience the vastness of Big Bend National Park and the surrounding area.  Our casitas are sized to accommodate secure bike parking either inside or on the casita porch.  Each casita has a kitchenette with coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, since and a complete supply of dishes, cups, and silverware.  Las Casitas are located two miles from the west entrance to Big Bend National Park.

Color of Marfa's Grasslands and Mountain Biking in Big Bend

The colors are...wonderful.  Marfa's light, and the effect of that light on the grasslands north of town rarely disappoint.  Similar views can be seen from Hwy 17, the road between Marfa and Fort Davis. Come on out and see it for yourself!

#30DaysofBiking

Yesterday, we asked you to note the dates for the next Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest, a terrific mountain biking festival in Big Bend.  Today, we want to encourage you to ride your mountain bikes in Big Bend Ranch State Park anytime...don't wait for the festival to give the park a try?  Sauceda Ranch is the middle of Big Bend Ranch State Park, a perfect launching spot for long (adventurous) days on your bike.  And if you're a beginner, you can stick to the dirt roads in the park...and have a GREAT time, too.  Click here to download the park's biking guide!

The many roads of Big Bend Ranch State Park offer mountain biking adventures to even (prepared) beginning mountain bikers!  For more experienced riders, the park has been named an EPIC ride by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

Red Flag Warnings and Mountain Biking Festival!

Photo by Luke Stewart Billingsley

Our friends at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center is flying a new red flag at their entrance on Hwy 118 just outside Fort Davis. The red flag denotes that we are in a Red Flag Warning. 

So what is a Red Flag Warning? The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings to help alert people to the potential danger of critical weather and low fuel moisture conditions that could lead to wildfire. This could be due to low humidity, high winds, dry fuels, or any combination of these. CDRI hopes that flying the red flag will help remind people that Jeff Davis County remains under a Red Flag Warning.   And they thank friend, Stewart Billingsley, CDRI member and Jeff Davis County Fire Marshall, for the photo and for all you do for the area!

#30DaysofBiking

Save the date for one of the best mountain biking festivals just about anywhere, the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest, February 12-14, 2015 in Big Bend Ranch State Park, and West Texas trails.  This festival is a benefit for trail development in Big Bend.  There's always something for everyone, experienced riders, beginners, even kids!  Click here for more information!

 

Sunset in Marfa, Cycle-friendly Hotels in El Paso

Marfa's sunset over pickup trucks

#30DaysofBiking

Today, for our #30DaysofBiking feature, we're showcasing our cycle-friendly hotels in El Paso:

Hyatt Place El Paso Airport, 6030 Gateway Blvd. E., El Paso, TX 79905
Phone 915-771-0022  Fax 915-771-0599, hyattplaceelpasoairport.com
Cycle-friendly features include: oversized guest rooms for safe storage of bikes, purchase freshly made breakfasts/lunches/snacks packs for cycling adventures , complimentary shuttle to airport and within 3 mile radius, 24 hour fitness center, outdoor pool, laundry/valet services, and more.

Holiday Inn Express-Central, 400 E. Missouri, El Paso, TX 79901 Phone 915-544-3333  http://hiexpress.com/elpasocentral
Cycle friendly features include: In-room storage for bikes, deluxe express start breakfast buffet, outdoor heated pool, 24 hr fitness center, on site laundry facility and dry cleaning services, business center, free high speed internet, located in the heart of downtown El Paso near bike routes.

For a complete list of our region's cycle-friendly hotels, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Tumbleweeds, bird songs, and biking to the farmstand!

The spring winds help tumbleweeds (Russian Thistle) gather at the fence line.  From a ranch north of Marfa, we heard birds....

the video is a bit shaky, but we're sharing this because we wanted you to hear the birds sing!

#30DaysofBiking
To continue our series of cycling in the Texas Mountain Trail region, during this challenge month of #30DaysofBiking, our Executive Director rode her bike to the Saturday morning, Marfa Farmstand for some spinach!  Marfa, like many of our communities, have low vehicular traffic and increasingly more cyclists--both locals on bikes and visitors!  Bikes are fun, and they're transportation!

There's yet ANOTHER great event happening next weekend, the First Thanksgiving Celebration in San Elizario along the El Paso Mission Trail.  From our events calendar:

"The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27.

Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.

The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.

The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.

For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.

Event Schedule--Events are free unless otherwise noted

Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza, (near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)

Friday, April 25th

7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias.  Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets here.)

Advance sales only

Saturday, April 26th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz

7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13

10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)

Midnight Programming ends

Sunday, April 27th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits

Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario

7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios

9:00 pm Programming ends

The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.
The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.
The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.
For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.
Event Schedule
Events are free unless otherwise noted
Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza
(near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)
Friday, April 25th
7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias
Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets: bit.ly/EPFirstThanks)
Advance sales only
Saturday, April 26th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz
7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13
10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)
Midnight Programming ends
Sunday, April 27th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits
Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario
7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios
9:00 pm Programming ends
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/san-elizario-first-thanksgiving-celebration-presented-el-paso-mission-trail-association#sthash.olxZ295i.dpuf

#30DaysofBiking
Our month long feature of cycling assets in the region continues...how about a ride down this road, that looks just about the same it did in 1910? 

The El Capitan to El Capitan Heritage Bike route is 55 miles from the historic Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn to the base of El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Read more about this adventure, here!

Next weekend: Davis Mountains State Park Open House!

Davis Mountains State Park Open House Agenda

Friday, April 25

All Day:

Art Show at the Indian Lodge Assembly Room

Submit your entry for the Art Contest in the Assembly Room.  It will be displayed in the Indian Lodge Lobby

Local Area Organization Booths in Playground Area

o   Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute

o   Sul Ross State University-  Pollinators of the Desert – Insect Display

o   Sul Ross State University – Range and Wildlife Club: Wildlife Displays, Washers Game

o   Natural Resources Conservation Service – Helping Landowners Manage Land

           

Grand Companions Animal Shelter staff will be in the campground with adoptable dogs to play with, or of course, adopt!

Friday Schedule:

8:00     Sign up for Trail Races begins at the Park Headquarters

9:00     Art show starts at Indian Lodge Assembly Room

9:00     Bird ID Contest starts.  Please meet at the Montezuma Quail Bird Blind to participate

10:00   Program:  “Challenges and Success of Desert Bighorn Sheep Recovery in Texas”

            At the Interpretive Center

11:00   Program: “Taking the Mystery out of Nature Photography!” – at the Interpretive Center

12:00  Camping 101!  Learn how to use common camping gear:  Campsite# 94

3:00     Bat House Building Workshop at the Interpretive Center

4:00     Turn in list for Bird ID Contest to Park Headquarters – winner announced Saturday 5pm (winner need not be present)

5:00     “Step In Time: A Look at Men and Women of Frontier Army Forts” – program by Fort Davis National Historic Site -----at the Amphitheater

7-9       Live Band: MOONDOGS TRIO  in the courtyard of the Indian Lodge!

Saturday, April 26^th

All Day:

Dutch Oven Cook-Off in the Playground Area

Art Show at the Indian Lodge Assembly Room

Submit your entry for the Art Contest in the Assembly Room.  All visitors may vote for winners in the Indian Lodge Lobby.

Local Area Organization Booths in Playground Area

o   Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute

o   Sul Ross State University-  Pollinators Give Life to the Desert – Insect Display

o   Sul Ross State University – Range and Wildlife Club: Wildlife Displays, Washers Game!

o   Natural Resources Conservation Service – Helping Landowners Manage Land

Grand Companions Animal Shelter staff will be in the campground with adorable dogs to play with, or of course, adopt!

Saturday Schedule

8-8:30  Trail race packet pick-up

9:00     Adult Trail Race Start

9:00     Bird ID Contest – Participants meet at the Montezuma Quail Bird Blind to sign up

10:00   Youth Trail Race Start

10:00   Wildlife Tracking Workshop – LIMIT 10 People, sign up at Park Headquarters

1:00     Bat House Building Workshop at the Interpretive Center

2:00     Tricks of the Trade Plant Identification Workshop – Interpretive Center

3:00     Dutch Oven Cook-Off Judging -  Playground Area

5:00     Announce winner of Art Contest – Indian Lodge Lobby

#30DaysofBiking

A cycle-friendly business in Marathon is the French Co. Grocer.  They stock basic cycling supplies, and snacks for the road!

 

Chinati Community Day, April 27th

From the Chinati Foundation website:

"The Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation warmly invite everyone to their annual Community Day celebration on Sunday, April 27, 2014. Festivities will take place throughout the day, from 1 – 7:00 PM. All events are free and open to the public and everyone is welcome.

Exhibition spaces at Judd Foundation and Chinati will be open from 1 – 5:00 pm. La Mansana de Chinati/The Block, Donald Judd’s former residence and studios with permanent installations of his early works, will be open for self-guided visits.

Visitors may explore selections from Chinati’s permanent collection including the John Chamberlain building, Dan Flavin’s Untitled (Marfa Project), Donald Judd’s 100 works in mill aluminum and 15 works in concrete, Richard Long’s Sea Lava Circles, and Claus Oldenburg and Coosje von Bruggen’s Monument to the Last Horse.  Donald Judd: Prints, Chinati’s 2013-14 special exhibition curated by Director Emerita Marianne Stockebrand, features 70 works on paper as well as a wall work and various pieces of Judd’s furniture. Zoe Leonard’s 100 North Nevill Street, Chinati’s special exhibition at the Ice Plant, will also be open for self-guided visits throughout the afternoon.

A special student exhibition of pinhole photographs by sixty Marfa and Ft. Davis junior high and high school artists will open at Chinati, in the Arena, at 1:30 pm. The photographs were created during studio classes led by Chinati’s education staff as part of each school’s fine arts curriculum.

A nature walk on the Chinati grounds and discussion of Donald Judd’s outdoor works in concrete will be co-presented by Monte Riggs, Tierra Grande Texas Master Naturalist, and Jenny Moore, Chinati Foundation Executive Director, beginning at 2:30 pm in the Chinati courtyard. Participants will be introduced to examples of native grasses and provided with field guides, notebooks, and other tools for exploring the grounds and artworks.

A community dinner with barbeque by Juan and David Martinez and family and beverages by Big Bend Brewing will be served in the Arena, at Chinati, from 5 – 7:00 pm with live music by Mariachi Alegre, of El Paso.

Remnant of Fort D.A. Russell still visible in Marfa

The Chinati Foundation is located at 1 Cavalry Row, on the former Ft DA Russell grounds. La Mansana de Chinati/The Block, The John Chamberlain Building, and Zoe Leonard’s 100 North Nevill Street are located in downtown Marfa. Maps of exhibition spaces and a full schedule of events will be available at the Chinati front office and at all downtown locations on the day of the event.

Community Day is supported with generous grants from Elke and Wilhelm Hoppe Endowment, Texas Commission on the Arts, The Charles Englehard Foundation, The George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation, and The Trull Foundation. Chinati also acknowledges the generous financial and in-kind contributions of Laura Belkin, Joey Benton, Big Bend Brewing, Big Bend Sentinel, exhibitions 2d, Pueblo Market, Beth Nobles, Monte Riggs, Tierra Grande Texas Master Naturalists, and Victoria J. Welsh.

For more information, contact Chinati at 432 729 4362 or information@chinati.org.

#30DaysofBiking

Our Texas Mountain Trail region is a terrific place for bike touring.  Here's an itinerary we created and posted on Adventure Cycling Association's Bike Overnights blog! 

Click here to read the itinerary which includes visits to Marfa, Fort Davis, Alpine and Marathon!