El Paso Poppies Fest, March 29th!

From the website of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition:

"The eighth annual 2014 Franklin Mountains Poppies Fest on Castner Range will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2014 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at 4301 Transmountain Road.

The Poppies Fest Committee welcomes everyone to this free family fun day which features a program of nature walks, educational exhibits and demonstrations by local environmental organizations and wildlife displays include a live socialized wolf from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and Houdini the Harris Hawk from the El Paso Zoo at 11:00 am. A children’s activity center will offer a variety of arts and crafts led by local community members including Girl Scouts. Local performing groups will provide music and dance. Local vendors will be offering original and hand-made merchandise for sale. Lunch and snacks can be purchased from food vendors on-site. Additional details will be announced in future press releases.

Free parking will be off-site with handicapped accessible shuttle bus service provided from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, funded by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department. The location of off-site parking will be announced soon.

The Poppies Fest Committee is seeking donations to support the event and volunteers, to assist please contact Lisa Gutierrez at 915-269-1239 or lisamarie177@juno.com.

The Poppies Fest celebrates the marvelous open space in Northeast El Paso where the 15 acre grounds of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology are surrounded by the 7,000+ acre Castner Range, a former artillery range known for its unique cultural, geologic and biologic features. If the rain and weather cooperate, it is most known for its beautiful and vast display of Mexican Gold Poppies in the spring.

The Poppies Fest is an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful outdoors while learning about what our mountains and desert have to offer. For example, the museum's Chihuahuan Desert Gardens boast examples of more than 200 native plants and Franklin Mountains State Park offers trails for hiking and bicycling, camping, day use, environmental education programs and festivals such as the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta.

Information: Marilyn Guida, 915-755-4332, guidamr@elpasotexas.go"

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum by Dan Baeza

One of Van Horn's products is the talented photographer, Dan Baeza.  It is our pleasure to share his images of the town's historical museum, set in the old Clark Hotel building.  The museum offers a glimpse into earlier days and the accommodations for travelers in this small town, the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail.  When you're in the area, visit the Clark Hotel Museum!

BBQ tonight?

There's a place in Fort Davis that's serving BBQ dinners every Friday and Saturday night "while it lasts," and "when the flag is up!" 

Just outside Fort Davis, on the road to Alpine, is the Mountain Trails Lodge and Outdoor Learning Center, and when you see their "Come and Take It" flag up on the flagpole on Fridays and Saturdays, you'll know they're serving dinner!

From their Facebook page:

"Brisket, pork shoulder and sausage are smoked over oak using traditional Texas techniques. All of our sauces, rubs, side dishes and desserts are made in house from scratch. Most of our menu items are naturally MSG and gluten free.



Dinner Friday & Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until it's gone: Brisket, pulled pork and sausage hot off the BBQ pit, with all the fixin's." 

Pull up to the Lodge's office to order your meal to eat in or take out!

For many years, the folks at the Mountain Trails Lodge have led trips to Big Bend and all over West Texas and into Mexico. Recently one of their Road Scholars trip participants (formerly called Elderhostel) had a trip report published by the Washington Post.  Read it here!

Soaking!

One of the warm pools at Chinati Hot Springs

The cool pool (conventional swimming pool) at
Hot Springs

There are two places travelers can gain access to geo-thermal heated water for a good long soak:  Chinati Hot Springs in Presidio County (roughly between Marfa and Presidio) and the historic Hot Springs area of Big Bend National Park.  Chinati Hot Springs offered relaxed lodging or camping in a remote area with several choices of soaking options.  Historic Hot Springs in Big Bend National Park offers a short hike rich with experiences: historic structures, ancient rock art, the rivers' flora and fauna and a warm soak right at the edge of the Rio Grande. 

Ruins of a hot springs spa
in Big Bend National Park still
offers a warm soak

Near the trailhead at the historic
Hot Springs in Big Bend National Park
buildings left from when the area
was a health spa and resort

Hiking at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center

The trails at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center offer a variety of experiences from easy strolls through the botanical gardens, to historic vistas and scrambling about the rocks of the Davis Mountains.

Take a look at their website for a rundown of their trails.  What better way to feel you're at the top of the world?

All this week the wonderful folks at CDRI are offering special hikes:

• Wed. March 12th – Desert Plant Adaptions with Leslie Spicer
• Thurs. March 13th – The Chihuahuan Desert with Cynthia Griffin
• Fri. March 14th – Desert Plant Adaptions with Leslie Spicer
• Sat. March 15th – Ethnobotany with Susan Penney

The cool shade of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park

The Rio Grande coming
through Santa Elena Canyon

Few places are as iconic of the region as Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, and this time of year visitors flock to the trail, and to the river to experience it for themselves.


Hiking information from the park's website:


Santa Elena Canyon Trail

Difficulty: Moderate; Distance: 1.7 miles round trip
Begins at terminus of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
This trail leads into the stunning Santa Elena Canyon. After crossing Terlingua Creek, the trail ascends on paved steps to a vista, then descends back to the water's edge, continuing into the canyon until the canyon walls meet the water. A Big Bend classic. Trail is impassable when Terlingua Creek floods.

Some like to head to the river instead of the trail to explore Santa Elena Canyon and the Rio Grande as it runs through Big Bend.  Click here to see a list of river outfitters on the Visit Big Bend website.

We recommend saving this hike for the last light of the day.  Plan to complete your hike as the sunlight wanes, for great shadows and great light.

Living History this week at Fort Davis National Historic Site

This Spring Break Week take advantage of the wonderful programming at Fort Davis National Historic Site!  

Special Living History programs Daily at 10:00am & 2:30pm!
Saturday, March 8: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30
Sunday, March 9: Flags that talk: US Flag Corps 10 am; : Life in the Field 2:30
Monday, March 10: Army Medicine 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Tuesday, March 11: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30
Wednesday, March 12: An Army Christmas Story 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Thursday, March 13: Historic Weapons Demo 10 am; Death and Dying in the Ranks 2:30
Friday, March 14: Life in the Field 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Saturday, March 15: Victorian Secrets-Ladies Fashions 10 am; Life in the Field 2:30 - See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/fort-davis-national-historic-site-living-history-special-programs#sthash.xUwTTsNm.dpuf

Special Living History programs Daily at 10:00am & 2:30pm!

Saturday, March 8: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30

Sunday, March 9: Flags that talk: US Flag Corps 10 am; : Life in the Field 2:30

Monday, March 10: Army Medicine 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Tuesday, March 11: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30

Wednesday, March 12: An Army Christmas Story 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Thursday, March 13: Historic Weapons Demo 10 am; Death and Dying in the Ranks 2:30

Friday, March 14: Life in the Field 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Saturday, March 15: Victorian Secrets-Ladies Fashions 10 am; Life in the Field 2:30

The full event listing on our Texas Mountain Trail calendar of regional events is HERE.

Guided Hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park this Spring Break!

Members of three Texas Master Naturalist groups met at
Guadalupe Mountains National Park for training this June,
resulting in interpretive hikes for the public during Fall Colors
season and this week's Spring Break!

A cool place by Smith Spring in Guadalupe Mountains
National Park

Most days during Spring Break this week, there will be hikes led by Texas Master Naturalist volunteers.  Early last summer, members of three chapters of Texas Master Naturalists--from Davis Mtns/Big Bend, El Paso and Midland/Odessa--and organized by our own Texas Mountain Trail trained with rangers at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  They led hikes during last fall's Fall Colors season and are poised to do the same this Spring Break!  Join us!  Check with rangers at Guadalupe Mountains National Park's Pine Springs Visitor Center for details and schedule!

One of the best things to do when you're here.....

We see sometimes see travelers frantic to get the most out of their stay, and we want to invite them to SLOW down, kick back and find a great porch to unwind.  Being in our region is the best way to shake off the stresses of the city, but only if you let yourself.  So take a sit, rock a bit and enjoy the day.

Today, we're featuring Fort Davis' Limpia Hotel which has a porch and a rocking chair for every day, every traveler and every mood.  Just take a look at the porches and the possibilities this historic hotel has to offer!

Spring Break Programs and Cactus Showcase at CDRI

Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center is a perfect place to include in your Spring Break plans. The Nature Center offers over 3 miles of hiking trails, a 20 acre botanical garden, and cactus and succulent greenhouse with over 200 species of cactus native to the Chihuahuan Desert.

The Nature Center will be celebrating Spring Break the week of March 10^th through the 15^th . Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a daily guided hike through Modesta Canyon at 10:00am and a guided tour of the botanical garden and cactus and succulent greenhouse with a special focus each day at 2pm.

• Monday, March 10^th – Ethnobotany with Susan Penney
• Tuesday, March 11^th – Desert Life (Kids Program) with Jessica Glasscock
• Wednesday, March 12^th – Desert Plant Adaptations with Leslie Spicer
• Thursday, March 13^th –The Chihuahuan Desert with Cynthia Griffin
• Friday, March 14^th – Desert Plant Adaptations with Leslie Spicer
• Saturday, March 15^th – Ethnobotany with Susan Penney

For questions or more information on upcoming events and programs please contact the Nature Center at  432.364.2499, at education@cdri.org , or visit our website at www.cdri.org . The Nature Center is open year-round, Monday-Saturday, 9 to 5; located 4 miles south of Fort Davis, on HWY 118.

Cactus Showcase!

The Nature Center will have a variety of cacti available for purchase March 10^th through the 15^th.

Over 50 species of cacti and succulents native to the Chihuahuan Desert region are typically offered during this event. Whether you’re starting a cactus collection, adding that special plant to your existing collection, or just looking for something new for your garden, you’re sure to find it here.  To preview the preliminary list of cacti and succulents click here.

The majority of CDRI's cacti are seed-grown in our greenhouse or from Sul Ross State University’s Native Plant Propagation Program in Alpine.

Train NOW for the Marathon 2 Marathon in October!

Mark this date down:  October 25

One of our region's best running events is the annual Marathon2Marathon (or as it is known by many, "the M2M")...runners run right into the center of the little community of Marathon! 

They submitted this to our Texas Mountain Trail event calendar this week:

"Come join us for the 11th annual M2M October 25, 2014 and run a marathon to Marathon!....  ½ marathon, 10k or 5k ..under the huge Big Bend skies and through the stunning landscape. 

The small town of Marathon pours on the hospitality to host this very sweet race each year.  The racers feel the love and appreciation!  This is a sanctioned, certified course and a Boston Marathon qualifier.

It offers a free pasta dinner Friday night at the Gage Hotel, fundraiser post race lunch with music, free awards party and band at the Marathon Motel Saturday night. 

Between 4-500 racers are expected this year.

Go to www.marathon2marathon.net for more information and to sign up online.

Bluebonnets in Big Bend, Photos by D.J. Sanders

The bluebonnets in Big Bend are blossoming in full glory this year.  These wonderful shots (including a bonus at the end) were taken by D.J. Sanders of Alpine this weekend...enjoy!  Thanks, D.J!

Spring Break at Fort Davis National Historic Site

 The folks at Fort Davis National Historic Site are gearing up for Spring Break.  Below is their schedule for Living History programs at the Fort, March 8-15! 

1880's baseball at the Fort!

Click on the flyer for a closer view!

Trappings of Texas!

Trappings of Texas, one of the best cowboy gear and Western art shows anywhere, is open to the public through April 13th at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine.

What many folks don't know is you can purchase items in the show, and this year several folks have done just that.  Would you like to take home one of these beautiful items?  Sales benefit the Museum all year long.

What's Blooming?

Two colors of blossoms on Coryphantha potsiana

More than 30 species of cacti are blooming at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, just outside Fort Davis!

Spring is here: 36 species of blooming cacti, 5 species of butterflies spotted.....

Spring is creeping up on us at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.  Staffers tell us that yesterday, there were 36 species of cactus blooming in the Cactus Greenhouse!  This week, the verbena was blooming out in the garden, and five species of butterflies were spotted.

Mammilloydia candida

Echinocereus vividiflorus v. canus

Mammillaria gigantea

A couple of weeks ago, participants in the Backyard Bird Count at CDRI saw 15 species, including a cedar waxwing, which is fairly unusual for the area.  This week five species of butterflies were spotted:  Painted Lady, Sleepy Orange, Checkered White, Pipevine and the Two-tailed Swallowtail.  The resident fox and rabbits are busy in the garden, too.

Come on out and see spring arrive at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, just four miles outside Fort Davis!

Bluebonnets, Events and THANK YOU!

Now's a great time to head to the Big Bend to see
the bluebonnets along Hwy 170, the scenic River Road!

Last night the region proved there are PLENTY of us who want to to work together to plan great events for our communities and for our travelers.  We were bowled over, frankly, at the to-capacity crowd that showed up at the (wonderful) Big Bend Telephone community room in Alpine for our 1st Annual Events Summit. 

Photo: courtesy of Marfa Public Radio

Our work for tonight was to build the first every regional PLANNERS calendar, so our community leaders can find marketing partners and the perfect dates for upcoming events. 

We were told, "good luck getting people to work together," but the region showed the pessimists, and our crowd was easily double the size we expected.  By working together, our regional event planners and community leaders will have better offerings for YOU, the traveler!  Take a look at the great events on our calendar now! 

A huge thanks should be extended to our sponsors:  the City of Alpine, and Museum of the Big Bend; and Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, Hotel Paisano, the Gage Hotel, Holland Hotel, Big Bend Resorts and Adventures,  Maverick Inn, Saddle Club, Century Bar and Grill, Sierra la Rana, Texas Mountain Realty, St. James Episcopal Church, Blue Sky Productions, and Senator Jose Rodriquez.  BIG thanks also to the event organizer, the hardworking Paige Phelps of Marfa, and our Texas Mountain Trail board members who supported and contributed to this event, including Liz Jackson of the Museum of the Big Bend, Robert Alvarez of the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce, Abby Garza of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, Travis Roberts, Linda Hedges of TPWD.  Also thanks to Stewart Ramser, our partner with the Big Bend and Texas Mountain Travel Guide, Chris Ruggia of Visit Alpine; and our volunteers, Monte Riggs and Teresa Caldwell, the Texas Heritage Trails Program Director of the Texas Historical Commission.

Tri-County Events Summit is tonight!

Everyone is invited to attend tonight's Event Summit at Big Bend Telephone in Alpine to help build the region's first comprehensive event planner's calendar!  Here's the link to more information about the Summit.

Texas Mountain Trail operates a regional event calendar for visitors and residents of the region, and it is packed with lots of fun things to do...but tonight's Summit is for community members and event planners who want to learn about getting publicity for events, to find great dates for their upcoming events, and to explore the benefits of sharing resources. 

Click on the flyer for a closer view!

Thanks to all our Events Summit sponsors!