A Touch of Winter

Monday, December 10, 2012

Jack Judson Nature Trail, Olmos Basin in Alamo Heights

Today's photos:

We get two types of cold fronts in South Texas. Pacific cold fronts come off the Pacific Ocean and over the Rocky Mountains out of the west or northwest. The drop in temperature is usually relatively mild and of short duration. Arctic, or Polar, cold fronts come straight down the Great Plains out of Arctic Canada from the north. The temperature drop is always greater with the arctic cold front.

There is a saying here that the only thing between the North Pole and Texas is a barbed wire fence. And it's missing a strand. There really isn't anything to block the arctic north wind.

Keep in mind that any temperature below 60º F is considered cold in South Texas. Arctic cold fronts drop temperatures into the low 50's or colder for high temperatures and below freezing at night. Last night, the first arctic front of the year blew through Bexar County. We are forecast to have the first freeze of the season tonight and another freezing night tomorrow.

While the calendar beginning of Winter is eleven days from now, climatological winter just arrived. But then, this is South Texas and the forecast highs for this coming weekend are to be back up in the low 70s. 

All that said, I headed to the Judson Nature Trail today knowing the dense tree canopy would provide a fairly good windbreak. The temperature was about 54º F, but without the wind and with a heavy jacket, it was quite pleasant. And the trees in this section of the Olmos Basin are always magnificent.

Stream of Consciousness, Part 1, An American Wigeon and Beyond

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Salado Creek Greenway South, South Side Lions Park Trailhead,

paved and natural surface trails

Today's photos:

My walk today was absolutely beautiful. While I was walking, the reality was palpable. As time has past, however, the experience has taken on an increasingly potent dream-like quality.

It is worth mentioning here that the American wigeon is one of the migratory ducks that winters here in South Texas. Its appearance is another reminder that winter is not far away.

The Upland Woods of the Medina River

Monday, November 26, 2012

Medina River Greenway, Upland Trailhead east

Today's photos:

It is worth noting that this section of the Medina River Greenway passes through beautiful wooded land typical of South Texas owned and maintained by the Land Heritage Institute. The Land Heritage Institute is a consortium of 15 organizations and agencies. It is "a living land museum on 1200 acres of open space along the banks of the Medina River on the far south side of San Antonio preserving, maintaining and interpreting 10,000 years of continual human habitation."