At the Tip Top

What's this? Why the very tippity-tip of Mt. Livermore, the 5th highest peak in Texas known as Baldy Peak. Since 97 percent of Texas is privately-held land, you're in luck with Baldy-- the land is owned by the Nature Conservancy and they have open house days that allow guests to explore their small part of the Davis Mountains.

Interesting fact: Baldy Peak was the location of a very sacred site to the Livermore people and they buried almost 2,000 arrowheads there as offerings. Read the whole story in Texas Monthly, written by F.t Davis Historian Lonn Taylor.

Here's a view once you get to the top of Baldy:

Good Vibrations in Terlingua

Can't you just hear the fun? Uh Clem and Crystal Allbright play at the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua.. Photo by Jennifer Hogue Pena. Inside the Starlight or outside on The Porch, great music and good vibes always abound in South Brewster County.

The Color of Love

We love this photo of newlyweds Austin & Gabe in Marfa taken by Marfalite Studios. Colorful people need skies just like this to celebrate a momentous day! Perfection!

Whoooo's there?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Wildlife- El Paso took these photos of a natural burrow of owls just outside the city. Watch the Burrowing Owls grow as they post photos to their Facebook page (linked above).

Cathedral Mountain View

Cathedral Mountain is located on Highway 118 South, between Alpine and Study Butte. Photo by Joe Edd Waggoner. Gorgeous!

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!

The REAL Yellow Rose of Texas

If you think about it, the yellow rose of Texas really should be a Prickly Pear bloom! Stop by the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute in Ft. Davis for their collection of all sorts of desert succulents... and maybe hum a familiar tune while you're there.

Dark Skies Over Terlingua

Instagrammer @ashbrodysmomma took this amazing photo of the dark sky over Terlingua cemetery.  Have a photo you'd like to see featured here? Email us at texasmountaintrail@gmail.com!

Shadows and Light at Chinati

Cool Instagram photo by photographer Brandon Thibodeaux of the Dan Flavin installation at Chinati Foundation in Marfa.

CDRI presents Urban Gardening Seminar on September 25

CDRI presents Lecturer  Dr. Ken Mix on September 25, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Lawrence Hall, Room 300.

Dr. Ken Mix owned and operated Sown By Hand, a produce farm just outside of Indianapolis, IN from 1989-1996. Sown By Hand supplied more than 10 grocery stores of  a local large chain and top restaurant chefs in the region. Depending on the season and year, the farm had up to 20 acres in cultivation with crops including heirlooms, tomatoes, zucchini and pumpkins. The farm was innovative for the early 90′s, utilizing a European style intensive planting scheme and applying a single herbicide for grass control once a year. Only once in the history of the farm was and insecticide applied. At the time, this type of maintenance was known as ‘low input agriculture’, and would be more akin to the familiar ‘sustainable agriculture’ system of today. This lecture will be valuable to all interested in gardening.

Art History 101: Luis Jimenez

One of the perks of living in the Texas Mountain Trail region is being so close to the works of Luis Jimenez, born in El Paso and known for his large fiberglass sculptures with Southwestern and Latino themes. He's considered the "Godfather of Chicano Art."

While this iconic piece, "Vaquero," seen above, has been sold to the Crystal Bridges in Arkansas,
you can still check out the El Paso Museum of Art for more works of this "Native Son." Jimenez's work “Los Lagartos” in San Jacinto Plaza downtown has been removed for renovations but hopefully will be back soon.

Sadly, Jimenez was killed at age 65 when, while moving one of his sculptures, a 32-foot high piece came loose and fell on him. His New York Times obit is here.

Hummingbird Happiness at CDRI

Master Naturalist Jack Dunaway in Waxahachie snapped this pic of hummingbirds at CDRI and had this to say:

"Let me tell you what a great time I had visiting CDRI last week. I had not been to the Davis Mountains for over 40 years, but will not let that happen again! I did not remember how intriguing the Trans Pecos is. I will be back to explore some more."

So glad you feel this way, Jack! Great pics! 

Solitude and Beauty in Hudspeth County

Want to get away from it all? I mean really get away from it all? Check out this photo from the Adventure Cycling Association Southern Tier Route of Farm Road 192 in Hudspeth County. This road parallels the Rio Grande for most of its length. We happen to think it's gorgeous!

Gateway to our Texas Mountain Trail region--Balmorhea State Park

Yesterday, the chilly temperatures created a mist over Balmorhea State Park's pool.   The pool was a creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.  When you visit the park, you can see evidence of their work.  Here's an interpretive panel:

Hummingbird banding at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center

From our friends at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center:

"These little girls were very interested in a hummingbird banding being conducted by our local expert bander, Kelly Bryan.  The banding at CDRI was a part of last weekend’s Annual Hummingbird Festival held in Fort Davis (Hummingbird Capital of Texas).   During the banding, Kelly mentioned that a hummingbird he banded here in West Texas was recorded at a banding station just south of Anchorage, Alaska in July of ’13 and then again (at the same location in Alaska) in June of ’14.  That’s a long way for such a little bird to fly..."

Pronghorn on Hwy 17

We've been having so much rain this monsoon season, so the skies are clear and the grasslands and mountains are greening up.  Also enjoying this August, the pronghorn on Hwy 17 between Fort Davis and Marfa.

Yesterday in the cactus greenhouse

Yesterday, CDRI's cactus greenhouse was abloom with Escobaria hesteri!  Don't miss the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens (CDRI) and don't forget to walk to the back of the property to visit the cactus greenhouse!

Texas Mountain Trail is all over the state!

Part of our mission is to help visitors find their own adventure in the Texas Mountains, and we're frequently at expos at large events (like this weekend's Hotter N Hell cycling event in Wichita Falls) and travel shows providing brochures and travel advice to all who are interested!

If we're not at your event, visit our website for travel information:  www.texasmountaintrail.com
or our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TexasMountainTrail!

Fort Davis National Historic Site

One of our favorite places in the region, Fort Davis National Historic Site.  Perhaps the best preserved frontier fort in the west, as a visitor it takes no imagination at all to put yourself back into time.  Consider a trip to the Fort on August 30, when they'll be celebrating a special day.

August 30, 2014
We will celebrate our new museum and "Old Fort Day" with Camels, Cavalry & Cannons!
10:30 AM - Flag raising and morning gun firing
11:00 AM - Grand opening ceremony and Alpine band concert
4:45 PM - Flag lowering and evening gun firing
11:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Special living history activities, over 50 volunteers reenacting life of the 1800s!!

Pronghorn on Hwy 17

Taken this week between Fort Davis and Marfa!