Davis Mountains West TexasApril 25 and 26, 2007. We are staying in Balmorhea State Park. Water & 50-amps $14 with cable TV $17 plus $5 each for park entry fee. Located a few miles south of I-10 exit 206 if you are east bound and exit 209 if you are west bound. We like to stay here for the wildlife and birding. Balmorhea Springs boast the worlds largest swimming pool. . Davis Mountains viewed from exit 209 on I-10 in West Texas
As we turn off I-10 at exit 209 we can see the Davis Mountains to the south.
Cactus wren nest
We dropped the motorhome at Balmorhea Springs State Park then headed to the Davis Mountains in our Saturn. Along the way we were spotting cactus wren nests like this one.
Wild Rose Pass near Fort Davis, Texas
Fake roses on Wild Rose Pass
As we climb into the Davis Mountains we start up over Wild Rose Pass where we kept seeing flowers (roses) in the small bushes along the highway. The flowers looked like roses but the plants didn't look like rose bushes. We pulled over to get a better picture before realizing that some prankster had placed artificial roses in the bushes. We got a good kick out of the prank.
Columnar Jointed Basalt in ancient lava flow
All kinds of volcanic activity are present in the Davis Mountains. Lava flows with columnar joints are common as are thick ash-flow tuffs.
Columnar Jointed Basalt visible in Davis Mountains
The magma that formed these rocks either flowed out or was blasted out of two main volcanic centers, one south of Ft Davis the other north west of Ft Davis.
Columnar jointed basalt formed from old lava flow
Some of these 37-million year old lava flows are nearly 1,000 feet thick.
Columnar jointed basalt formed from ancient lava flow
Columnar-jointed basalt in lava flow caps mesa between Balmorhea and Ft Davis.
Columnar jointed basalt in ancient lava flow
Close up of columnar-jointing lava flow.
Columnar jointed basalt from old lava flow
More columnar jointed basalt in old lava flow.
Columnar jointed basalt in old lava flow
More lava flow and even the untrained eye can recognize the columnar jointing.
Old apple orchard near Ft Davis, Texas
Nearing Fort Davis we pass through a old apple orchard.
McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains
These two telescopes are part of the University of Texas's McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains. The large one on the right belongs to NASA.
McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains
Stock tank in Davis Mountains
Deep in the mountains we ran across this windmill and stock tank servicing a thriving cattle industry.
Alligator juniper in Davis Mountains
This is an alligator juniper we photographed at a roadside park deep in the Davis Mountains.
Ft Davis National Historic Site at Ft Davis, Texas
Ft Davis National Historic Site at Ft Davis, Texas
Old Fort Davis flanked by 36-million year old rhyolite ash flow tuff with well-developed columnar jointing. These parallel columns formed as lava contracted as it crystallized.
Rattlers & Reptiles Ft Davis, Texas
I visited this place one time 6-years ago when we spent a few days in the area. This fellows place is on the north side of Ft Davis and he does have a good collection of reptiles, rattlers in particular.
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Until next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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