DatesJul 4th - Jul 10th 2010 Service ProjectInvasive weed removal Free DaysDay hikes into Guadalupe Mountains, photography, dark sky gazing, wildlife & wildflower viewing AccommodationsTent & car camping in developed campsite Trip RatingActive : Bending & pulling invasive weeds, hauling weed bags, shoveling LeadersDave Pacheco Equipment |
Guadalupe Mountains National Park safeguards the world's finest example of an ancient, marine fossilized reef, a surprisingly complex and unique assemblage of flora and fauna, and West Texas' only legally designated wilderness. The Guadalupe Mountains could easily be described as one of America's best-kept secrets, as if “hidden in plain view” amongst the surrounding southwest deserts. One can experience solitude, tranquility, and the joy of finding plants and animals whose mastery of survival on limited but dependable seeps and springs renews our sense of wonder. The complexity of the geography allows unique life zones to shelter a staggering number of plants and animals; Bigtooth maple, walnut and sumac line the deep canyons; more than 90 species of butterflies and 8 species of hummingbirds frequent the park. Our service project is removing invasive weed species (White Horehound and Woolly Mullein) from Dog Canyon in the northern area of the National Park, along the New Mexico/Texas border. The work entails digging out the weeds with hand tools and bagging them for disposal. The project's timing coincides with flowering of these plants for easy identification and before they go to seed later in the year. We'll make our base camp in a developed, remote park campsite with amenities and make short hikes to the project daily. This is an active rated project suitable to beginners. On our free day, we'll hike further into the park to access higher ridgelines and peaks and take in all the scenery of southern New Mexico and West Texas.
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