Pumpkin Carving Contest at Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park

Tram or Treat!! 

The Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park in the Franklin Mountains State Park is having a pumpkin carving contest on October 25. Voting will happen for your amazing creations from noon to 2 p.m. and the winner will be announced at 3 p.m. Must register by October 10.

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The Tramway will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest during its Tram-or-Treat Halloween Festival. Pumpkin exhibition and voting will be from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, winners will be announced at 3:00PM.
Must register by October 10.

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/pumpkin-carving-contest#sthash.tTNamEnq.dpuf

Wildscaping Eye Candy in El Paso

Gorgeous native plants are more than eye candy, they provide the necessary food, water and shelter for local wildlife. Want to learn how to "wildscape" your own land & be certified in it? Sign up with Texas Parks and Wildlife's Backyard Habitat program. And on October 17, you can learn desert wildscaping at Wyler Aerial Tramway Park in El Paso. Sign up on their site today!

Combating Nature Deficit Disorder in the Texas Mountains

One of the greatest assets of the Texas Mountain Trail region is our deep connection to nature.  Above is a profound video (12 minutes long) from a young woman who speaks eloquently about the need for experience with the natural world.

Where can you connect yourself (and your kids) to nature?

Try--
El Paso's Keystone Heritage Park, Franklin Mountains State Park, Museum of Archaeology, Wyler Aerial Tramway
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Davis Mountains State Park
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center just outside Fort Davis
Marathon's Post Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park
Lajitas' Barton Warnock Visitor Center
Presidio's Fort Leaton State Historic Site
Big Bend National Park (if you're interested in outfitters for a guided experience, click here.)

A happy participant at
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center's
Toddle on the Wild Side
photo: Jessica Glasscock, CDRI

The book referenced in the video is Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.  Read about it here.

Also, visit our events calendar for experiences and opportunities in our parks and natural areas...more parks and attractions are posting their events with us...www.texasmountaintrail.com/events !!

First Day Hikes AND The Best of 2013: Beauty of November's ice storm

Our last "Best of 2013" posts, a rare icy day from November.  We're happy to say this happens only once in a blue moon out here in our Texas Mountains, and just an hour or so after these photos were taken, the melt was nearly complete.  But it was beautiful, right?

The ice that turned much of our region completely white this weekend has all melted, including this beautiful scene along Hwy 90 between Marfa and Alpine.  But it is so pretty, we wanted to share some images from the ice storm...since we rarely have winter weather like it!  Most of the time our winter is clear, bright, sunny and warm!

 

FIRST DAY Hikes!

Tomorrow, celebrate the start of 2014 with our friends at Texas Parks and Wildlife with your choice of THREE First Day Hikes!

Hiking group at Franklin Mountains State Park

 Our friends at three regional state parks are offering guided hikes for the New Year:  Check out the options by clicking at the links: Big Bend Ranch State Park, Franklin Mountains State Park and Wyler Tramway!  Or visit our region-wide events calendar at:  www.texasmountaintrail.com/events

Wyler Tramway...the hike goes to the top of Ranger Peak!

Franklin Mountains State Park...a moderate-difficult hike, to the top of Mundy's Gap.

Big Bend Ranch State Park...a 1.5 mile round trip hike with spectacular vistas to Cinco Tinajas.

Big Bend Ranch State Park Cinco Tinajas

Moderate-difficult. Begin with a gradual incline over scree, or rubble, proving to be challenging for some; the trail transitions to well maintained terrain with a continuous, yet gradual incline, to the top at Mundy’s Gap. Elevation gain of 1,000 feet.
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/franklin-mountains-state-park-first-day-hike#sthash.coS5boBm.dpuf

12 Days of Christmas: Many Days of Adventure and Fun with the Texas State Parks Pass

Want room all to yourself?  View from a campsite at Big Bend Ranch State Park

The lovely interior of Fort Davis State Park's Indian Lodge, a CCC-built facility

Spring bloom of poppies at Franklin Mountains State Park

Another TERRIFIC buy for your holiday shopping that reaps benefit all year long...a Texas State Parks Pass, so you can enjoy visiting our wonderful Texas Mountain Trail region state parks!

Here's a link to information and instructions for purchasing your pass!

Our Texas Mountain Trail regional state parks!  Visit one soon!
Franklin Mountains State Park
Wyler Aerial Tramway
Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center
Big Bend Ranch State Park
Davis Mountain State Park (with Indian Lodge)
and just outside our region, but we'll claim it!  Balmorhea State Park

Give the gift of adventure and fun this holiday season with a state parks pass!

Wyler Aerial Tramway in El Paso

An incredible view of the Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Mexico and New Mexico can be seen from the Wyler Aerial Tramway in El Paso. Visitors ride to the top of Ranger Peak (more than 5,600 ft) and can see over 7,000 square miles of the desert below. The Tramway celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! Check it out, here and here!