Monahans SP

[Arlon]

Went out with a group from Sibley Nature Center to visit one of the seeps at Monahans Sand Dunes. There were no seeps left. All have dried up. Only about a bucket full of water in a hole dug by critters.
Still a very interesting trip and I learned a lot about local flora from a few of the local experts that went along. Like to spend a little more time out there hiking further off the beaten path. There is a lot more
life out there than would think  (even in this drought)..

Never saw so many critter tracks..



More pics: http://www.pbase.com/arlon/monahans

[BigBender]

Really nice place, we hit it on the way home from BB last year. Had to venture back to the back of the park to escape all of the human critter tracks!

[Doc Savage]

Stopped there on our last trip to BIBE. Wife loved it, she likes sand. Fun time had by all. Son enjoyed sliding down the dunes.

Robert

[Terlingua50337]

Arlen, thanks so much for that blast from the past. Born and raised not far from there. Remember many trips there as a kid sliding down the dunes on everything from waxed boards to trash can lids! I remember once a wagon was uncovered by the winds. There is no telling what lies below the sands there.

[Hoodoo]

Thanks Arlon. This photo reminded me of an article from TexasEscapes.com
Harvard Shin Oak Forest.

The sandhills themselves comprise 4,000 acres of sand dunes, while the "forest" occupys 40,000 acres, making it technically one of the largest oak forests in the U.S.

Eager Acorn

Arlen, thanks so much for that blast from the past. Born and raised not far from there. Remember many trips there as a kid sliding down the dunes on everything from waxed boards to trash can lids!

I too have fond memories of the sand hills. I had a sand board made from the front of an old wooden water ski and would polish the bottom of it with Johnson’s paste wax to make it go really fast!

I remember once a wagon was uncovered by the winds. There is no telling what lies below the sands there.

West Texas seems to hold many untold secrets. Legend has it there is GOLD in them hills! The only online account of the story I can find is here (10th post down by the_jersey_lilly_2000) but I suspect it was taken from Texas Tales of Lost Mines and Buried Treasure by Carlos Savoy, not sure though, but didn’t want to copy and paste just in case of copyright. The book was published in 2001 but I recall being told the story from my childhood.

Should you be interested in digging for it, according to the USGS GNIS Willow Spring is located here: 31°41'30"N 102°55'32"W.

Considering the level of effort I have put into this (a few clicks of the mouse and keyboard strokes) all I require is a 10% finder’s fee. 

Happy Hunting.

Don