Two Years Ago--Rock House Fire

Two years ago this weekend, the area suffered through our worst wildfire.  We're posting this photo to remind us how much as regrown, and though we still are experiencing drought, this spring we've seen pronghorn and wildflowers.  Our thanks to all the firefighters in the area for your hard work and dedication! 

In April, this looked dead, black, burnt. Not now!

The last couple of month's we've enjoyed driving on Hwy 17 north of Marfa, heading to Fort Davis.  After the April 9 Rock House fire, this route was burned black.  Now that we've had rain, the green regrowth is evident everywhere!  All the places visitors enjoy are open and ready, too!  The regrowth is definitely occurring in earnest!

Taken Yesterday! Wildfire Burned Areas Regrowing Near Fort Davis

The burned roadside along Hwy 17 between Fort Davis and Marfa shows plantlife coming back.  The roadside itself is beginning to be covered in the Irish green of regrowth, and whisps of green are coming back all across the ranchland nearby.  A couple of more rains and we'll be covered with green!

Our Gratitude

Our thanks to Mike Micallef for use of this terrific photo of the brave firefighters

As many lives get back to normal, we cannot thank enough the many firefighters working diligently to extinguish the blazes this week.  Neither gratitude, nor thanks are strong enough words for our feelings about your dedication, energy or expertise.  You saved lives and livelihoods, and the many beloved places (see our earlier posts) that grace our region.  You're the best!

Read more about life getting back to normal in Fort Davis, here from Big Bend Now.

A special opportunity for hikers: witnessing regrowth

An area of Smith Spring trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park following prescribed burn

If there is any silver lining in this week's events, it may be the opportunity for us all to learn more about the natural world, and how fire can work to stimulate growth and the reproduction of plants.  Hikers will have this opportunity in the coming weeks in Fort Davis, so we wanted to give this early report on places you'll be able to see that regrowth.  (And since fire deposits extra nitrogen in the soil, with one or two rains, you'll see a vivid contrast between the unburned portions and the regrowth, which will be green, green, green very soon!)

The community of Fort Davis is working hard to get ready for visitors, as so much of what folks love about it remains unscathed.  As we've mentioned before, the Fort, Observatory, charming downtown and lovely hotels (including the Indian Lodge) and B&Bs remain untouched.  Most places are open NOW, and more will be open soon and ready for your visit.

We wanted to give you an early assessment of the status of places you'll be able to witness the regrowth for yourself....please know this is an EARLY report, and as time goes on there will be better information...

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
Cathryn Hoyt, Executive Director of the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, "I just wanted to let you know that as of today (Wednesday) the CDRI is open for business. Our main visitor attractions remain beautiful and green while the blackened grasslands offer a perfect "teaching moment."  The view of the burned areas from Clayton's Overlook and the new geology exhibit is amazing. The scale of the burn is something that has to be seen to be believed."

Scenic Loop

Almost ALL of the land around the Scenic Loop remains unburned.  The area around the intersection of Hwy 17 and Hwy 166 was burned, and in the coming weeks should offer an interesting view of regrowth.  John Morlock, of Fort Davis National Historic Site reports from the Scenic Loop, "it is possible to see burned areas in Limpia Canyon, near Fort Davis and burned areas in the Davis Mountains State Park.  I do not believe any other burned areas are visible from the Scenic Loop, unless from on top near McDonald's, looking off in the distance."


Fort Davis National Historic Site
The Fort and the majority of land around the fort buildings were unburned.  John Morlock, Superintendent of Fort Davis National Historic Site, reports some fire on trails around the fort itself, "We have an opportunity for fire education here at the fort on the Tallgrass and Hospital Canyon Trails."

Davis Mountains State Park

For a good reason, it will take just a little longer for the Davis Mountains State Park and Indian Lodge to open, according to Linda Hedges of TPWD:  "Davis Mountains State Park and Indian Lodge are not taking reservations until May 1 and have cancelled all existing reservations through that date.  Will probably be open before then, but as of now the park is a major staging area for the remaining fire crews and it's not yet known when they will be pulling out.  In the meantime, the park is closed to all visitation.  DPS and Border Patrol are stationed at the gate and not letting the public through.  Several folks have wanted to access Skyline Drive for a vista of the burned area but that's not possible just yet."

SURVIVED!!!

Today, we want to feature places in Fort Davis that survived the fire this weekend.  This small community will need a few days to get the power back on and get life organized again, but they'll NEED you to come back and see them.  You've read reports of a blackened landscape, yet it is important to realize ecosystem is very forgiving when it comes to fire.  A rain or two will get some green growing again, and the rebound will be swift and amazing...and Fort Davis will need you to come back and SEE that amazing rebound.  And as is usual with visits to Fort Davis...you'll have a great time.  So here's a rollcall of the intact survivors:

Hotel Limpia



Jeff Davis County Courthouse, in the center of town

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Indian Lodge

McDonald Observatory

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens

Historic structures like the Old Jail

Davis Mountains Lodge and Expeditions (formerly Davis Mountains Education Center)

The entire downtown area, including the Stone Village Market

Please note, it may be several days before the town is really ready for visitors.  Please visit our facebook page, www.facebook.com/TexasMountainTrail , Marfa Public Radio  http://www.marfapublicradio.org/, or Big Bend Now, http://www.bigbendnow.com/ for updates.





Fort Davis Fire Update

NEW:  8pm.  Marfa Public Radio is on the air broadcasting at 93.5 FM and still online (http://www.marfapublicradio.org/) providing GREAT area fire coverage!

The Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park is safe, but closed.

Want to help?  Big Bend Now has published a good list. 

NEW:  Marfa Public Radio published a list at 7pm of area hotels offering homeless Fort Davis residents shelter.  Next time you plan a vacation to the region, please consider booking a room with these generous hoteliers.  The Paisano in Marfa; Thunderbird in Marfa; El Cosmico in Marfa; Marfa Guest Quarters; Eve’s Garden in Marathon; Antelope Lodge in Alpine; Highland Inn in Alpine.

7:30 pm http://www.marfapublicradio.org/ announcing Hwy 67 N from Alpine to Fort Stockton in closed, along with 17 N From Fort Davis to Balmorhea, 17 S from Fort Davis to Marfa, and Hwy 118 between Alpine and Fort Davis.

NEW:  Marfa Public Radio had an eyewitness account indicated Hwy 118 between Alpine and Fort Davis was closed.  Fire seen near Mitre Peak and the Girl Scout Camp  http://www.marfapublicradio.org/

New:  (4:50 pm:  Hwy 67 between Alpine and Fort Stockton closed due to active fire.  Report on http://www.marfapublicradio.org/  Hwy 17 north between Fort Davis and Balmorhea remains closed.

New:  Authorities are asking non-Fort Davis residents to stay away for now.  They are receiving lots of support from fire control crews and need room to do their work.  We are also hearing Prude Ranch is fine.

New:  NewWest 9 reports that Fort Davis National Historic Site and McDonald Observatory are undamaged by fire.

We wanted to share what we know about fire damage in the Fort Davis area.  Credible, eye-witness reports tell us there will be no power in Fort Davis for 4-5 days and...

The Jeff Davis County Courthouse was untouched.

Davis Mountains State Park did get some fire, but no buildings were affected.

Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute had some burning on their land, but their buildings were not affected.

McDonald Observatory is fine, and housed evacuees last night.

A benefit concert is in the works.  "Like" this page on Facebook for developments.

http://www.bigbendnow.com/ and http://www.marfapublicradio.org/ have been tireless in reporting about the fire.

Our main website, http://www.texasmountaintrail.com/ does not appear to be working correctly this morning.  This is completely unrelated to the fire disaster in the region.

As Day Breaks...

As day breaks this Sunday morning, we're safe in Marfa and awaiting word from the other communities in the region, particularly Fort Davis, to see how they fared last night in the face of wildfire. 

We know homes and many acres of ranchland were consumed in the fast moving fires yesterday and through the night.  We've heard no reports of human injury or death, that's the good news.

The best sources of information through yesterday and last night were Marfa Public Radio and Big Bend Now, the online component of Marfa's newspaper, the Big Bend Sentinel.

Marfa Public Radio (http://www.marfapublicradio.org/) continued their coverage online after they lost broacast capability.  They were also on Facebook and on Twitter, @MarfaPublicRadio.  Big Bend Now, http://www.bigbendnow.com/ also provided excellent coverage of the fires yesterday.  For news, please check with these fine, hard-working folks who've helped keep us informed, and therefore safe.

There are two additional Facebook pages with many posts from the community and even more from folks asking questions about the scope of the fires.   If you're on FB, they are @BigBendFires and @Fort Davis Fires

We'll try to report as soon as we can on the fate of our lovely mountain region, including sharing photos, but our focus will be on helping friends in anyway we can.