Fort Davis, Texas

Before breakfast on March 8, 2023,  Joan and I inspected her ankle. Although still swollen and purple, it fit into her hiking boots. We decided to continue with the group rather than bail out and go home; Joan was willing to just sit on the porch or in the van as necessary. Who knew when we'd get another chance?

 

Our Off the Beaten Path group spent the morning at the Fort Davis Historic Site. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis protected emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road. From 1867 to 1885, it was staffed by black "buffalo" soldiers, starting with the Ninth U.S. Cavalry. At the visitor center we saw exhibits and a video narrated by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and then headed out. (Click on any image to enlarge.)

The walk from the visitor center towards the site.

The old (and poorly built) trooper barracks were now just footprints.

A hike option was offered.

Joan chose to meander slowly among the ground-level buildings and exhibits, including this story of the maligned and dishonorably discharged Henry Flipper, whose reputation was restored by the Army -- in 1976.

The rest of us chose to hike up to an overlook.

It was steep and switchbacked at first.

The view from the overlook.

Joan spotted us and waved, but I didn't see her.

The rest of the hike introduced us to desert flora and fauna. I didn't realize that javelina can eat prickly pear cactus!

The blooming yucca is left, and the tall stalk of Texas Sotol (Dasylirion texanum) is right, but is not a true yucca.

More cactus species are here, such as this hedgehog cactus.

Soaptree yucca was useful.

That's this plant.

Critters live here too. Here's an ornate tree lizard.

This rock wren photo was taken with full zoom.

Argarito/Algeritas is used for making jelly, and is a safe haven for birds.

The plant itself ...

A final burst of pink flowering Davis Mountain mock vervain,

Joan enjoyed herself prowling around the grounds and inspecting various exhibits. After gathering together again, we piled into the van for lunch at the V6 in Marathon, roughly an hour away.

After lunch, our heading was due south. Nominally, it's an hour and a half to the Chisos Mountain Lodge, but we're gonna make several stops along the way, as you'll see in the next post of this series.