Nature Conservancy (Davis Mountains)

[Roger, Roger]

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/preserves/art6647.html

I have never been on this property, but I think they have open hiking on many weekends.  It's an incredible area, and includes Mt. Livermore.  They have some press releases saying that new land is being added as well, which makes it a pretty large area to explore.  Anyone hiked around in the preserve?

[SHANEA]

and I'm a card carrying member of that fine organization.

[bdann]

Exploring that area is on my list, some good info here:

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151813/mount-livermore.html

I had read another trip report on the hike up mt. livermore somewhere too, but can't for the life of me find it now.

[Joe]

I'm on their e-mail list, and received the following a few months ago:

THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS PRESERVE CALENDAR OF OPEN EVENTS
2006

April
Fri-Sun 21-23 Open Weekend with Field Program on birds 4/21
 
May
Fri-Sun 26-28 May Mayhem Open Weekend
 
June
Saturday 17 Open Hiking
 
July
Sunday 23 Open Hiking
 
September
Fri-Sun 29-Oct 1 Open Weekend with Field Program on 9/29
 
November
Sunday 19 Open Hiking
 
December
Saturday 9 & 16 Christmas Tree Hunt on the DMP
 
Open Weekends
The Davis Mountains Preserve will be open for numerous events, such as guided or unguided hiking, mountain bike riding, Bring Your Own Horseback riding, camp cooking demonstrations etc., over the course of the weekend. Camping is available.
 
Open Hiking
The Preserve will be open 8 am to 3 pm for self-guided hiking and picnicking.

Events are open to all Conservancy and non-Conservancy members, but do call or email ahead of time to check availability or capacity. All events are located at the Davis Mountains Preserve, 24 miles north of Fort Davis. Sign in at the McIvor Conservation Center.
 
Exciting News! Sometime before 2007, watch for the grand opening of the Madera Canyon Trail, a 2.5-mile loop, open-access trail located on the preserve right behind the Lawrence E. Wood Roadside Park.
 
Need more info?
Contact Crawford Marginot in the West Texas Program Office in Fort Davis
432-426-2390, ext. 1
cmarginot@tnc.org

[Joe]

I received this press release this weekend. I've been on top of Mt. Livermore and Pine Peak before, and the views, especially from Mt. Livermore, are fantastic! This is a great chance to see this part of West Texas.  Of course, some of you will be visiting R2D2 in the Basin...

May 12, 2006            

For Immediate Release
      
Crawford Marginot, 432/426-2390, cmarginot@tnc.org
The Nature Conservancy of Texas

Nature Conservancy to offer free camping and events on Davis Mountains Preserve May 26-28

Join the Friends of the Davis Mountains Preserve for an open weekend on Friday-Sunday, May 26-28, 2006, featuring guided and self-guided hiking, self-guided birding, an overnight car camping/hiking trip, trail riding (BYOH – Bring Your Own Horse), a four-wheel-drive tour, a barbecue potluck and camping on the Davis Mountains Preserve. All events and camping are free and open to the public. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and close at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
 
Early registration is encouraged, as participation in some events is limited. Call Crawford Marginot (432) 426-2390, ext. 1, before May 25 to register or for more information.

Scheduled events on Saturday include a guided hike to Pine Peak at 9 a.m., a one-night, back-country camping trip to the Fisher part of the preserve, a BYOH ride at 9:30 a.m., a four-wheel-drive tour at 11 a.m., and a barbecue potluck beginning at 6 p.m.
 
Scheduled events on Sunday include a guided hike to Mt. Livermore at 8:30 a.m. and a BYOH ride at 9:30 a.m.

Overnight primitive camping is available, with camping areas within a short distance of the parking area. Gas and charcoal barbecue grills are available for campers and for the Saturday night potluck. No other open fires will be permitted but camp stoves may be used. Participants should bring food, water, weather-appropriate clothing, hats and sun and rain protection. Cameras and binoculars will come in handy for most events. Horses must show Coggins Test documentation. The four-wheel-drive tour is weather- and road-condition permitting, and vehicles must have a low range in the gear transfer. Some events include time set aside for picnicking.

Owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the 32,000-acre Davis Mountains Preserve on Hwy. 118 near Fort Davis is a spectacular representative of “sky island” ecology, providing home to animals and plants that live nowhere else in Texas and some found nowhere else on Earth.
 
The Conservancy’s Texas website is nature.org/texas.

[Picacho]

I was going in early April for a climb of Livermore but had to cancel.  I'll probably climb it this fall.  Too hot in the summer.