We've Got This! - Fri., Oct. 5, 2018

Today's adventure takes Bob and me on separate paths in The Nature Conservancy's Davis Mountains Preserve in West Texas. Parking is limited at the McIvor Conservation Center where the 5k/10k walks start, so everyone carpooled to the preserve. Our group planned on doing the "easy" 10k walk. 

Two other groups went five miles into the preserve in high-clearance vehicles and cars. One group split off to do the moderate 8k option up the 1,500'- elevation-gain Tobe Canyon Trail.  The group Bob was in wanted to do the difficult, 1,800'-elevation-gain trail to the top of Mt. Livermore and Limpia Chute. Mt. Livermore is the fifth-highest mountain in Texas at 8,378'.

The easy 5k/10k walk listed the elevation gain as 200-300'. Hah! We beg to differ with that. Either we are really out of shape or have a distorted sense of what 200-300' elevation gain looks and feels like. Of course, we were beginning our hike at over 5,000' elevation, so that probably accounts for all the huffing and puffing we were doing. Yeah, that's it. 

Beautiful morning light on our climb.

Here are more photos of our hike and group...

I love this dried bee balm? (maybe?).

Meadow at the beginning...nice and flat.

Nine of us in our group, just starting.

A little history of this preserve: The Nature Conservancy bought tracts of land to preserve unique "sky islands" that rise above the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert here. Their first tract of land was the U Up U Down Ranch in 1997. Since then, they have added more land and now manage more than 100,000 acres of canyonlands and mountains. Another benefit of Nature Conservancy's ownership is the preservation of dark skies around McDonald Observatory which is run by the University of Texas.

So you're probably wondering what are "sky islands?" The Nature Conservancy defines them as "true ecological islands, isolated from similar mountain ranges by vast distances, preserving living remnants that occur nowhere else." They harbor unique plant and animal life, including many rare species. Trees you find here include Texas madrone, Ponderosa pine, and quaking aspen. There ARE black bear and mountain lions living here as well as Montezuma quail and the Dusky-capped flycatcher.

Our little group made our way onward and upward, remarking that this sure seemed like more than 200-300'. The trail was little more than a rocky deer path. We did not have written directions, nor was the trail marked. We did, however, have a very un-detailed map that basically had the names of a couple of trails on it and showed where part of the route was on an old road. The thing that got us going the right way was a couple of waymarkers on our route that said "Jones Tank" and at least that was shown on our map. (We did stop in a few places where there weren't signs to discuss which way we should go.)

The building at the bottom is where we started.

How about that scenery?

 The vistas were worthy of doing the walk!

Going up!

Kathy and Mike Schwencke

Just stay on Jones Tank Trail!

Consulting the map.

We've got this!

Kathy and Mike Schwencke

Sandra and Robert

A dam makes a good water holding area. 

We all agreed...this must be Jones Tank.

At this point, we weren't sure where to go, until we found a Nature Conservancy blaze on a tree. That got us headed in the right direction. Until we weren't. There was a dry stream bed and we weren't sure where to cross it. There was a sign on the opposite side, but we obviously didn't cross in the right spot as there was a bit of a drop-off, not a proper trail across. We all made it, but we warned Audrey and her granddaughter, who were behind us, that we had not taken the correct path. We showed them which way to go once we were on the other side and could see where we should have gone.

We had only done a 5k and it had taken us two hours. Usually, a 5k takes about an hour. We were exhausted and the whole group decided to call it a day. Especially since Audrey reported the other 5k was even steeper than what we had just done. 

Here's the easy part--heading back--it's flat!

I had carpooled with the Schwencke's and it was time for lunch! We ate at the Ft. Davis DrugStore where I had an excellent burger. From there, they took me back to Prude Ranch where they were staying. My friend, Susan, had left her van keys with me so I could go back to the 5th wheel in the state park. They knew they were going to be gone a lot longer than us. I had no idea how long.

When I got back to the 5er, I worked on my photos and did some reading. There was no cell service so I couldn't call to find out where they were. Around 2:00 p.m., a thunderstorm blew in and dumped a bit of water. I hoped they were off the trail by then.

Bob finally got back to the 5th wheel about 3:00 p.m. to let me know he and Susan were going into town for lunch and they were beat. They got back to the truck just as the first few raindrops fell. 

Bob said the route was a road for half of it and a trail for half of it. The road was "very, very steep." At the top, they had to scramble up Baldy Peak for 200 yards. Susan was freaked out. She was on her hands and knees, keeping her center of gravity low, and came back with her knees all bloodied from scraping along the rocks. Six of the hikers did not go to the top. The 360-degree views were spectacular and worth the effort, according to Bob.

On top of Baldy Peak. [Photo by Linda Fields.]

Stunning photo from the top.
[Photo by Susan Medlin.]

Looking down across the Davis Mountains.
[Photo by Susan Medlin.]

A gorgeous, long-distance view.
[Photo by Susan Medlin.]

These hikers are like mountain goats!
[Photo by  Susan Medlin.]

Baldy Peak, Davis Mountains Preserve
[Photo by Susan Medlin.]

When Bob returned from lunch, he took a shower and promptly napped for three hours. At 7:00 p.m., we had reservations for the Star Party at McDonald Observatory. Unfortunately, as soon as the event leader got us outside and started talking, it started to sprinkle. Lightning spiked the evening sky. Obviously, we had to settle for indoor lectures rather than outdoor sky viewing. 

Bob and I enjoyed the museum and the lectures. In the auditorium was an astronomer showing us the constellations in the night sky on a large screen. 

The second lecturer was even more engaging. He brought astronomy alive. We learned which website to visit to find satellites and space stations in the night sky where we live. 

Our admission sticker for the Star Party.

The McDonald Observatory was built in the 1930s and is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To tell you the truth with this being advertised as a party, and it being their 75th anniversary and all, I thought there'd at least be cake. Nope. It's all about the sun and stars, rockets and space stations. We had a good time even though we couldn't look through the telescopes (or eat cake).

Iron Meteorite (see below)

Model of Otto Struve Telescope.

"Space, the final frontier..." (from the original Star Trek).

When we left the event, we had to run through the rain to our truck. All the way back to the campground, Mother Nature put on a wonderful lightning show. 

We are all very thankful we finished our walks today before the storm hit! Tomorrow, Bob and I are going to the Chihuahuan Desert Botanic Garden and Research Institute.