First Day Hike

1-1-16: Nothing like bringing in a new year like a great hike!  Our New Year's Day hike on Fawn Trail was led by Ranger Holly and really helped us get to the know South Llano River State Park. 

It was 3 miles of easy to moderate hiking amid the hill country beauty!  Took us about 2 and 1/2 hours and we learned so much from Holly! 

getting started at the trailhead

Condalia

Ranger Holly is educating us on wildlife scat -- this is probably from a racoon

the youngest hiker in our group checking out the Prickly Pear

heading toward the hill which will take us to the top of the plateau

Englemann's Prickly Pear cacti have these little fruits called "tune", which make tasty jams and jellies -- but they're not good raw

happened upon a black buzzard roost -- later during our stay we learned why they roost in this spot (it's near the hog carcus pit)

Ranger Holly says vultures are nature's way of picking up trash.

fork in the road -- one way goes to primitive camping and the other way continues on the Fawn Trail

heading up the hill

everyone listening intently to Ranger Holly -- well, nearly everyone.  I made a couple of Ozarks friends.

Ranger Holly

Twisted-Rib Cactus?

Claret Cup Cactus

Bear Grass

beautiful views from the top of the plateau

Hunting Blind 4 on the plateau

moving on up the hill

maybe some sort of hedgehog cactus?

Lichen on a Texas Persimmon Tree

The Texas Persimmon trees are new to me.  I'm accustomed to the American Persimmon trees which are very tall.  The Texas version, unlike most things in Texas, are small trees or shrubs.  I'm not sure if the persimmon seed forecasts apply to this tree, but I enjoy checking the American seeds to predict the winter. The folklore behind it details that when a spoon is seen inside the seed it means winter will include heavy and wet snow. If a fork is seen, it's said to mean a mild winter is in store; and if a knife-shape is seen, an icy winter is predicted.

pitaya?

cool shelf fungus

group shot on a natural bench before heading down the hill

can't tell it from the pic, but this hill has some steepness

my feller

kinda have to focus on the ground beneath us when taking on the hills

this canyon area we're heading into reminds me a little of the Ozarks

female junipers have the cedar berries

male junipers have the orange tips which will "explode" and spread the butt-kicking allergins through the air

buckley yucca

part of this park is home to the rare Golden-Cheeked Warbler in the spring

A big THX to Ranger Holly and her new hubs, Will -- a biologist -- for teaching us some great stuff today!  We're really looking forward to learning more these next 2 months!

Happy Hiking!

Englemann, Fawn, and Buckley