Thirty-five million years ago during a period of intense volcanic activity, the Davis Mountains were formed from massive eruptions that built up shield volcanoes along the Trans-Pecos Volcanic Field.

The Davis Mountains, previously known as Limpia Mountains, are a range of mountains in West Texas, located near Fort Davis, after which they are currently named. The fort was named for then United States Secretary of War and later Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

These mountains are a popular site for camping, hiking and other tourism. The region includes attractions such as Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, McDonald Observatory and the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute. Too, both the historical and architectural value of the fort, along with the rugged natural environment of the state park are a significant destination for tourism in Texas.

This range of mountains occupy a rough square about 31 miles (50 km) both wide and long. The highest peak in the Davis Mountains, is on Mount Livermore at 8,383 feet and is the fifth-highest peak within Texas.

The town of Fort Davis at the foot of the Davis Mountains has an elevation of 4,900 feet. From that elevation, the sky island rises to nearly 8,400 feet.

Rather than being a single coherent range, the Davis Mountains are an irregular jumble of isolated peaks and ridges of the Sierra Madre Oriental separated and surrounded by by much lower and flatter areas of the Chihuahuan Desert.

This example of physical geography makes the Davis Mountains a Sky Island range, which, as the elevation increases, average temperatures decline and precipitation increases, to about eighteen inches per year, permitting an island of forest and other habitat which can exist with this moderate amount of moisture at higher elevations.

Ponderosa pine, piñon pine, chinquapin oak, Emory oak, alligator juniper, dwarf gray oak, and Madrone trees are some examples of the incredible trees found in the mountains that thrive off higher elevations and heavier rainfall.

Many different species of animals also make their home in these sky islands in West Texas including: mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope and javelina are common. There are also some rare species present such as the silverhaired bat, shorthorn lizard, band-tailed pigeon, Montezuma quail, mountain lions and the occasional black bear.

Highest Elevation: Baldy Peak atop Mount Livermore

Elevation: 8,378 feet

Coordinates: 30.633333, -104.166667

Summits:

Last Eruption: 17 mya

Nearest City: Fort Davis

Range: Davis Mountains is part of the Trans-Pecos Volcanic Field

Age: 48 million year old

The Davis Mountains has some spectacular rock paintings and pictographs found in the local caves and a cache of arrowheads was found on Mount Livermore. Thus, human occupation of the mountains goes back several thousand years.

Awake earlier that the past few days, stop for coffee but do not sit too very long. Them I drive through the rest of El Paso and head to central west Texas where I hope to arrive at Davis Mountains for the night where I will be able to take a hot shower. Upon turning off of IH 10 onto SR 118 I notice that my gasoline gauge shows the level to be low, but I am only thirty miles and should be able to arrive there.

Arriving at the state park, check in and then park in space 36, after which I go directly to the shower house.

Kent is an unincorporated village in West Texas at the intersection of IH 10 at exit 176. It was founded before 1892 and a post office was established in Kent in 1892 but was never in operations, but a second post office opened the following year. In 1896 two livestock businesses operated in Kent. By 1914 the town had four cattle breeders, a general store, and an estimated population of twenty-five. For four decades beginning in 1924 the estimated population was fifty.

The post office was closed in 1960 and the Kent school closed in 1961.

Awake this morning after a very cold night, pack out and then turn the ignition key but the engine turns but does not start. Immediately, I think that I ran out of gasoline yesterday when arriving here. So, I walk out to the road and speak with a host couple from Austin. They tell me they will be going into town and I can ride with them to get some gas.

An hour later and I put the gas into the tank but that does not correct the problem. I next take off the fuel filter but it blows clean and that is not the problem.

After than, I am at a loss of where to go and what is worse, there is not phone service here in the canyon where the campground is located.

Then I walk up to the park office and the ranger allows me to use their phone to call my insurance company who sets it up for a tow truck to take me to town. Walking back to my van, Joe offers me a ride and we talk about the mechanic in town, which Joe tells me that he is always backed up and very pricey. He also says that I should go to Alice instead which is thirty miles south. When he drops me off at the jammer, I thank him for the ride and the suggestion.

The tow truck drive is willing to take me to Alice, even calls ahead to a garage and talks to the manager which says, We are not busy, come in in.

It does not take long to get the jammer running an have me on my way again.

Driving before the sunrise and stop first in Langtry, Texas to see the Jersey Lily and get a cup of hot. Entering the Chihuahuan Desert, I continuing northwest on US 90 to Alpine, Texas, turn north on Texas 118 to Fort Davis to see Fort Davis National Historic Site, then Davis Mountains State Park which has two bird blinds where I see birds never before seen by me and begin taking photos in hope of having enough to add new birds to my Birding Gallery.

I drive the Skyline Driver to the ridge top, stop at the overlook and see an old CCC rock shelter. I aso enjoy the views of the park and surrounding area including Mitre Peak, a mountain with a very steep top.

Next, I drive to McDonald Observatory and check the Star Party schedule but since there is not one today I continue northwest.