Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Big Sky, Big Cloud, Evening Light


Most evenings in the mountains, the sunset takes on a drama. Sometimes the color is easter egg-soft, and others the clouds are bigger than life and boiling with energy.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Another Sun in El Paso

El Paso celebrates its sunny weather with artist-made orbs all over the city. Here's a detail from one gracing the grounds of the new El Paso Musuem of History, right downtown.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

View from inside the stagecoach


Riding the Butterfield Overland Mail stage at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the 150th anniversary of the first ride.
For more information on Butterfield Celebrations around Texas, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield
For more information about the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Stagecoach at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Today's festivities celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Butterfield Overland Mail, the first transcontinental mail delivery by stagecoach offered visitors rides near the historic Butterfield route.

The celebration continues tomorrow!

For information about celebrations across the state of Texas, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Friday, September 26, 2008

Cholla Fruit

Visible all over the region, the cholla cactus.

When visiting the region, plan to stop at one of our Mountain Desert Nature Centers. Click here for a list!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Officers Quarters


If you are attending any of the statewide Butterfield Overland Mail sesquicentennial festivities, don't miss Fort Davis.
This small mountain community has the longest unpaved stretch of the stagecoach route, used a year after the Butterfield company started their transcontinental mail delivery.
Pictured here are the officers quarters at the Fort Davis National Historic Site, built after the Butterfield stages came rambling through the region. Plan also to visit Fort Davis' Overland Trail museum for artifacts from this fascinating mountain community.
For information on Butterfield events statewide, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sign along El Paso's Mission Trail


When visiting El Paso County's Mission Trail, visitors are in the heart of an agricultural district near the Rio Grande. Signs like this are common, and there are produce stands and mom-and-pop places to visit, such as this small grocery.

Monday, September 22, 2008

El Paso the Sun City

The sun shines 305 days out of the year in El Paso, leading it to be called The Sun City.

In honor of our great weather, you can see "suns" like this one all over the city. This one is located in Cleveland Square Park in downtown El Paso

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Scenic Loop in Jeff Davis County

A tranquil view of the Scenic Loop near Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County. The route is a popular ride for cyclists.

For information on cycling in the Texas Mountain Trail region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Friday, September 19, 2008

Mountains in the Clouds

Our late summer rains are continuing, making the desert surprisingly green. Here's a shot just north of Van Horn on Hwy 54 on the way to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Urban Wildlife


Even in the center of the city, there's wildlife to enjoy. This photo was taken last week just outside the Museum of History in El Paso's downtown Cleveland Square Park.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Gage Gardens

Just south of the train tracks in Marathon is a quiet place worth a stroll. The Gage Hotel has gardens open to the public, with serene places to sit and enjoy the green oasis.

Just to the east of the public area, is the hotel restaurant's organic garden. Diners at the Cafe Cenizo restaurant enjoy the locally produced fruits, vegetables and herbs.

The Gage is one of the Texas Mountain Trail region's historic hotels...check out the entire list at www.texasmountaintrail.com/historichotels

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Butterfield Stage


The El Paso Museum of History is showing an exhibit of Butterfield Overland Mail artifacts to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the start of the stagecoach route across the country.
You can learn more about Butterfield festivities here: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Monday, September 15, 2008

Mule Ears


Another great photo from Rhonda Tipton of Houston, this time of Mule Ears in Big Bend National Park!
For a hiking guide to a region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Three Tops of Marfa


Another view of Marfa's skyline and the top of the Presidio County Courthouse. Visitors can climb to the top...and experience that is one of our region's Top Ten 15 Minute Rest Breaks from the Road, check it out here!
This photo was taken by Clara Riggs of Houston. Thanks, Clara!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Road to Balmorhea


It has been raining lately, transforming the desert into a very green place. Here's a lovely photo, taken by Clara Riggs of Houston on the road from Fort Davis to Balmorhea.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Highest Point in Texas


Just behind El Capitan (pictured here) in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park is Guadalupe Peak, which at 8,749 feet, is the highest point in Texas.
The park is also the location of the historic meeting of the first eastern- and western-bound stagecoaches on the Butterfield Overland Mail, which celebrates its sesquicentennial this month.
The park is hosting a celebration on September 27 and 28...read more about this event and others at: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield
For hiking information, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Butterfield Overland Mail Celebrations


In the coming days, history enthusiasts will be celebrating the sesquicentennial of the first overland mail delivery by stagecoach, the Butterfield Overland Mail.
Pictured here is part of the southern route which wasn't used until 1859, through Fort Davis. Starting at the Fort Davis National Historic Site, and then along Fort Street in the community of Fort Davis, visitors can still walk the longest unpaved portion of the route, almost two miles.
Stop along the way to visit the Overland Trail Museum which celebrates local history!
And take a look at other celebrations planned across the state at: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Cyclist taking photos in Big Bend


One of the great things about seeing Big Bend National Park by bike is the ease of getting off the road to take photos.
For information about cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Subtle Color



Beautiful subtle color in this lizard. Photo taken by Houstonian Rhonda Tipton during her recent trip to Big Bend National Park.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Friday, September 05, 2008

Green, green, green after the summer rains


The desert floor and grasslands react beautifully to our summer rains.
Pictured here is the road from Alpine to Fort Davis.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Flowering Cholla


Found all over the region, the lovely flowering cholla.
Plan to visit one of our great Mountain Desert Nature Centers!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Cyclists leaving Fort Davis for the Scenic Loop


One of the best rides in the state is the 74 mile Scenic Loop...the starting point is Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County.
The ride goes by McDonald Observatory, the trailhead for the Madera Canyon trail, Prude Ranch, Davis Mountains State Park, and Fort Davis National Historic Site.
For more information on cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike
Thanks to Bart Childers for this photo!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Football Season


One of the prettiest places to see high school football anywhere, is right at the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail in Van Horn.
The stadium overlooks the cemetery (where Tommy Lee Jones filmed Three Burials of Melquiedes Estrada) and Turtleback and Six Mile Mountains.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Views from Pinto Canyon


A great drive awaits travelers with high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles--Pinto Canyon in Presidio County.
This is a great shot by Mark Donet of Alpine, as he drove south from Marfa to Ruidosa.