В штате Техас открыт сезон для посещения легендарного скального образования Энчanted Рок

FREDERICKSBURG — Lace up a pair of hiking boots and head out to the Hill Country this weekend for a visit to one of the state’s most historic and treasured natural attractions that sits about 100 miles southwest of Killeen-Fort Hood. Enchanted Rock is a 640-acre pink granite state Historical Landmark and National Natural Landmark that rises 425 feet above ground and stretches 62 miles beneath the surface. It is the largest pink granite monadnock (isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain) in the country, and one of the most visited facilities in the Texas state park system. More than 250,000 people come here each year to see the rock up close and climb it — and experience the enduring legends and secrets it is said to contain. More than 400 archeological sites have been identified at the 1,644-acre park that encompasses Enchanted Rock. All these sites are protected, and 120 of them are designated State Archeological Landmarks. Activities at this historic park including caving, hiking, primitive backpacking, camping, picnicking, and of course the main attraction – climbing the rock. It takes an average 30 to 45 minutes and 1.3 miles of walking to reach the very top. About a quarter-mile into the trek, the trail gradually disappears and some find themselves wondering which way to continue. No worries. Just keep heading up the incline. Near the summit, the rock starts to level off and stunning views of the surrounding landscape open up. Watch your step here to avoid little vernal pools (seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for certain plants and animals). Look closely at these water beds and observe such things as fairy shrimp (inch-long translucent relatives of lobsters and crabs). Other creatures to be found here and there are such things as rock squirrels and fox squirrels, armadillos, rabbits, white-tailed deer, lizards, vultures, and a variety of bird species. Bird lovers can ask for a bird checklist at park headquarters. Human beings reportedly camped in this area for 12,000 years, and one lasting sign of their presence are bedrock mortars found throughout the park, where prehistoric people ground or pounded their food on granite rocks, leaving impressions in the stone. Spaniards first explored the area in the 1700s, mounting raids against the Lipan Apache and attempting to establish colonies. Germans and Americans arrived by the mid-1800s, drawn by dreams of having land of their own and tales of gold and silver. Capt. John Coffee “Jack” Hays was a surveyor and legendary Texas Ranger who was attacked by Indians while surveying near Enchanted Rock in 1841. Cut off from a group of men working with him, Hays climbed the rock and holed up for three hours at the summit, fighting his attackers until help arrived. Look for a historical marker about Hays as you climb the rock. Among the many Enchanted Rock legends were “ghost fires” that Tonkawa Indians believed flickered atop the dome. One tall tale speaks of the spirit of an Indian maiden who still haunts the rock after she threw herself off the top upon seeing her tribe killed by an enemy. Another story tells of a young Spanish soldier who rescued his true love just as Comanches were about to burn her at the base of the rock. Meanwhile, along with hiking and climbing, another popular activity at Enchanted Rock is star gazing. The park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Area skies are dark enough to see the constellations, shooting stars, and even the Milky Way. For more information about visiting Enchanted Rock, go to: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock. There are a number of interesting places to grab a bite to eat not too far from Enchanted Rock, including Hondo’s on Main in nearby Fredericksburg, where they serve quesadillas, enchiladas, barbecue, fried chicken, and a unique selection of hamburgers and sandwiches like the Lip Burnin’ Burger with chipotle and roasted green chiles, and the Death Burger, with an added layer of chopped jalapeños. Happy trails and good eatin’. John Clark is a longtime contributor to the Fort Hood Herald and a former teacher with the Copperas Cove Independent School District. More from this section