Texas Mountain Trail

03/07/2026

Update! ✨

This Saturday, we’re gazing up at a beautiful Waning Gibbous Moon, still big, bright, and glowing at over half illumination, but now slowly slimming down after the recent Full Moon.

A Waning Gibbous rises later in the evening and lights up the late night sky, making it the perfect companion for night owls and early risers alike. Fun fact: during this phase, the Moon’s bright rays and craters are especially stunning through binoculars because the angled sunlight creates dramatic shadows along the lunar surface!

And how about that incredible Blood Moon we experienced earlier this week during the Total Lunar Eclipse on Tuesday?! (Provided to us by: McDonald Observatory ) During a total lunar eclipse, Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that filters out blue light and leaves the Moon glowing coppery red. That eerie red glow is why it’s nicknamed a “Blood Moon” but don’t worry, it’s completely natural (and totally breathtaking). 🔥

Did you catch Tuesday’s Blood Moon? Drop your photos or tell us where you watched from! 🌌

Photo Credits📸: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-the-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse/

03/05/2026

For today’s we’re talking about the incredible Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site - Texas Parks and Wildlife 🌵

Just 40 miles east of El Paso, this West Texas gem is a wild blend of towering rock formations, hidden water holes, world class climbing, and centuries old stories carved in stone.

The word hueco means “hollow” in Spanish. Over thousands of years, rainwater carved natural rock basins, called huecos, into the mountains. These natural tanks collect and hold precious desert rainwater, creating life-saving oases. For centuries, travelers, wildlife, and Indigenous peoples relied on them for survival. Nature’s original water storage system! 🌊

Hueco Tanks is home to one of the largest concentrations of Native American rock art in North America. Thousands of pictographs, some over 1,000 years old, were created by the Jornada Mogollon people and later by Mescalero Apache groups.

This park is legendary in the rock climbing world. Its unique volcanic syenite formations make it one of the best bouldering spots on the planet. Climbers travel from across the globe to test their skills on these iconic routes.

Sunsets here turn the rocks golden, the sky glows pink and orange, and the desert feels almost magical. Whether you’re hiking, climbing, exploring ancient art, or just soaking in the views, Hueco Tanks delivers adventure with depth. 🏜️

Photo Credits📸: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks/activities
https://texashighways.com/outdoors/parks/rock-paintings-at-hueco-tanks-reveal-clues-about-ancient-visitors/
https://exploretexas.blog/2017/06/15/hueco-tanks-state-park-and-historic-site/

03/03/2026

Happy from Ascarate School in Ysleta, where history and hometown pride go hand in hand! 🏫✨

Did you know Ascarate School is named after one of the area’s most influential early families? The Ascarate family played a major role in shaping the development of the Lower Valley, helping transform the region into the vibrant community we know today. Their legacy lives on not just in the school’s name, but across the Valley itself!

Fun fact: Ysleta is one of the oldest communities in Texas, with deep roots dating back to the 1600s. That means students at Ascarate School are learning in a place surrounded by centuries of rich borderland history!

And just down the road you’ll find beautiful Ascarate Park, home to the largest public use recreational park in El Paso County. From fishing to golf to family picnics, it’s a local favorite that keeps the Ascarate name thriving in the community.

Ascarate School isn’t just a building, it’s part of a living story of resilience, culture, and growth in the heart of the Lower Valley. Here’s to celebrating the past while inspiring the future!

Photo Credits📸: https://kisselpaso.com/learn-about-the-history-of-trost-designed-ascarate-school-at-panel-discussion/
https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2017/04/01/could-ascarate-park-making-comeback/99510668/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114101v114101d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=200&gca-ds=sophi

03/03/2026

Make sure to check it out! 😲

🌕 The Full Moon is on Tuesday!
And March's Full Moon this year is also a total lunar eclipse! 🌕 🌎 ☀️

The full Worm Moon will reach peak illumination Tuesday, March 3rd, at 5:38 a.m. CT, and the eclipse will reach totality at 5:33 a.m. CT.
🔴 During a total lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow gradually moves across the full Moon, causing it to darken and have a warm, coppery glow.
This happens slowly and can be safely watched with the naked eye.

Often called a Blood Moon, the more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear!

🌕 The full Worm Moon serves as a seasonal marker for people who work the land. With daylight increasing and ice fading, the natural world shows its first signs of change.
The name is believed to refer to beetle larvae—another type of “worm”—that emerge from thawing tree bark this time of year. 🐛

Other traditional names for March’s Full Moon include:
🍁 The Sugar Moon (Ojibwe), for when sugar maples are tapped — an early sign that spring is on its way!
▪️ Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe), as the cawing of crows is a signal that the harsh winter is ending.
🌬️ Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo), referring to blustery, late-winter winds.
😎❄️ Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine), describing sunlight reflecting off melting snow.
🦆 Goose Moon (Algonquin, Cree), signifying the return of geese to northern regions, marking the arrival of spring!

🌕 Whatever name you choose to call this full Moon, enjoy watching it turn a beautiful rusty red, bright and early, Tuesday morning!

02/28/2026

This , February 28th, the Moon will be in its Last Quarter phase!

During the Last Quarter Moon, we see exactly half of the Moon illuminated, but this time it’s the left half glowing (for observers in the Northern Hemisphere). This phase rises around midnight and is highest in the sky around sunrise, making it perfect for early birds and telescope lovers.

✨ Spotlight Object: The Double Cluster in Perseus from Big Bend Observatory
Nestled in the constellation Perseus, the breathtaking Double Cluster is actually two open star clusters, NGC 869 and NGC 884, glittering side by side.

It’s about 7,500 light-years away. The clusters are relatively young at around 14 million years old. On a dark night, you can spot them with the naked eye as a hazy patch, binoculars make them absolutely sparkle! There’s something magical about pairing lunar observing with deep-sky treasures. Even as the Moon begins to wane, the universe is still full of brilliance waiting to be explored.

Clear skies and happy observing! 🔭

Photo Credits 📸:https://www.pexels.com/.../a-half-moon-in-the-night-sky.../

02/26/2026

For today’s , we’re heading deep into the wild heart of West Texas at Big Bend Ranch State Park 🌵

If you think everything’s bigger in Texas… wait until you see this place.

At over 300,000 acres, Big Bend Ranch is the largest state park in Texas. It borders the iconic Big Bend National Park, but it’s far less crowded, perfect for true solitude seekers. The park stretches along the legendary Rio Grande, which forms the natural border between the U.S. and Mexico. It’s designated as an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the stargazing here is next level magical.

Long before it became a state park in 1988, this land was home to Native peoples, Spanish explorers, ranchers, and miners. You can still find remnants of old ranching operations and mining sites scattered throughout the rugged terrain, silent reminders of the hardy folks who once tried to tame this desert.

🥾 Popular Trails & Epic Views:
- Closed Canyon Trail
A dramatic slot canyon hike with towering rock walls that make you feel tiny in the best way possible.
- Hoodoos Trail
Strange, otherworldly rock formations shaped by erosion — like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
- The Solitario
A massive volcanic uplift that geologists geek out over. It’s remote, rugged, and wildly beautiful.

If you’re craving adventure, solitude, and views that stretch for miles, this is your sign to lace up your boots and hit the trail.

Have you explored Big Bend Ranch State Park yet? Drop your favorite trail below! 👇



Photo Credits📸:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/big-bend-ranch
https://bigbendguide.com/the-closed-canyon-trail-of-big-bend-ranch-state-park-with-video-tour/
https://texashighways.com/travel/lodging/bunking-down-at-big-bend-ranch-state-park/

02/26/2026

Do y'all have any old photos? 👀 👇

Big Bend Archives Roadshow — Save the Date!

Have old photos, letters, documents, or family treasures tucked away in a drawer? These everyday items tell the story of the Big Bend Region — and they matter more than you might think.

If all you have are stories, we want those too. Your personal history helps preserve the story of the Big Bend for future generations.

Join us for a community-wide History Preservation Day with the Archives of the Big Bend + Historic Alpine. Bring your historic photos, artifacts, and documents to be professionally scanned and catalogued—then taken back home with you. Your stories matter, and together we’re preserving the rich history of the Big Bend for future generations.

🗓 Sunday, March 22, 2026
⏰ Begins at 2 PM
📍 Archives of the Big Bend

SRSU Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library (2nd Floor)
400 N Harrison St, Alpine, TX
More details coming soon — but start digging through those boxes today!

02/26/2026

Beautiful photo, and rest in peace to those dedicated workers. 🌅

The tiny West Texas ghost town of Terlingua began at the turn of the 20th century with the discovery of cinnabar deposits, an ore from which mercury can be extracted. The Chisos Mining Company, partially composed of Mexican mine workers, established this small, segregated company town that grew to a population of nearly 1,000 by the mid-1910s.

The mines boomed during World War I and peaked in the following years, with about 40% of the nation’s mercury derived from the Terlingua mines. By the 1940s, the mines had closed and inhabitants migrated elsewhere.

A small cemetery serves as the final resting place for miners who died of mercury poisoning and related illnesses while working. The cemetery hosts a Día de los Mu***os celebration, when graves are decorated with colorful flowers, candles, and streamers.

Terlingua’s structures and ruins form a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

📸: Chris Zebo, Travel Texas

02/24/2026

Spotlight: Clint Public School (1925)

In 1925, Clint was a small but proud farming community in far East El Paso County. The construction of Clint Public School marked a major milestone, it wasn’t just a building, it was a promise. A promise that the children of Clint would have access to education close to home, helping the town grow stronger with each new generation.

Back then:
- Students likely walked (or rode horses!) to school 🐎
- Classrooms were heated by stoves
- Lunch might’ve been homemade tortillas, beans, and seasonal farm produce
- Grades were often combined in one classroom

Imagine the stories those walls could tell, first day jitters in the 1930s, pep rallies in the 1950s, proud graduations, lifelong friendships formed on the playground.

Do you have family members who attended in the early days? Share your stories below! 👇



Photo Credits📸:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth875691/

02/21/2026

Happy ! ✨

Tonight, step outside after sunset and look west to catch a beautiful Waxing Crescent Moon, about 20% illuminated and glowing softly in the twilight sky. On February 21, our Moon is still early in its monthly journey, just a few days past New Moon, which means it sets a few hours after the Sun and gives us that classic slim crescent shape.

🌒 What Makes Tonight Special? Look closely at the darker part of the Moon, you might notice a faint glow! That’s called Earthshine, sunlight reflecting off Earth and gently lighting up the Moon’s night side. Leonardo da Vinci actually sketched and explained this phenomenon over 500 years ago!

And if you’re feeling inspired to take your stargazing to the next level, don’t forget that Observatory offers passes to their famous Star Parties right on their website! It’s an unforgettable way to experience the night sky through powerful telescopes with expert guides under some of the darkest skies in Texas.

If you snap a photo tonight, share it and tag it , let’s celebrate our closest cosmic neighbor. 🌙

Photo Credits📸: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5%5E_Illuminated_Waxing_Crescent_Moon_with_Aldebaran_at_the_lower-left._-_Flickr_-_StephenGA.jpg