Few people think of winter when they think of the Trans Pecos. But winter brings snow, heavy frosts, and ice storms in all their hoary glory. The first scene is of Alpine. The second shows the rhythmic shapes of the cacti outside Fort Davis.

Many visitors enjoy the Davis Mountains’ dark skies during the Dark skies need to be preserved for the McDonald Observatory McDonald Observatory star parties. But these photos show what a mellow setting the Observatory visitor center is during its daytime programs.

After our rainy season when the grasses are high, the sun glints the seedheads like daytime stars.

Fort Davis has many historic buildings. These two pictures are of the west side of the old Masonic Lodge. Notice the trowel marks left by the stucco masons and how the swaths show in the different light: the first photo was taken during an evening storm; the second 45 minutes later at sundown.