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Sara's hikey campy thread...
- Thread starter 76k5grrl
- Start date
Jacob's Well
This is part of the Hays State Natural Area... maybe... 40 min outside San Antonio or something? Wimberly is SO AWESOME, ever since we went there, we've both been fantasizing about moving there. I even looked at vet clinics hiring down there to get a feel for the industry.
Anyway, linky to more info about this place.
http://www.co.hays.tx.us/jacob%E2%80%99s-well-natural-area.aspx
It is so much badassery- FREE. Let me repeat- FREE. Short hike to the swimming area. We got there early so it wasn't too bad, I hear they have to deny people access some days, and once you get in there, you can see why- it's like 5 mil degrees out and that water is 60. It is clean. It is cool. It is heavenly.
Lots of people jumping into the well from the large rocks, you can see the crowd- I did not do this because I have always hated cliff jumping.
Anyway, highly, highly recommended.
This is part of the Hays State Natural Area... maybe... 40 min outside San Antonio or something? Wimberly is SO AWESOME, ever since we went there, we've both been fantasizing about moving there. I even looked at vet clinics hiring down there to get a feel for the industry.
Anyway, linky to more info about this place.
http://www.co.hays.tx.us/jacob%E2%80%99s-well-natural-area.aspx
It is so much badassery- FREE. Let me repeat- FREE. Short hike to the swimming area. We got there early so it wasn't too bad, I hear they have to deny people access some days, and once you get in there, you can see why- it's like 5 mil degrees out and that water is 60. It is clean. It is cool. It is heavenly.
Lots of people jumping into the well from the large rocks, you can see the crowd- I did not do this because I have always hated cliff jumping.
Anyway, highly, highly recommended.
In that first pic it looks like it's kind of swampy, but that white-ish area you see in the middle of the river is actually the BOTTOM. It is seriously one of the cleanest, clearest rivers I have ever seen. About 6 feet deep at the deepest points.
Canyon Lake
Is a pretty popular tourist destination near San Antonio, and is thus kind of off my radar, but we went one day and the lake itself is really nice- that same cold water- totally unexpected. Lots of boats, lots of jetskis, completely NOT my thing.
There may or may not be camping around there- I didn't have time on that particular trip to investigate that.
Is a pretty popular tourist destination near San Antonio, and is thus kind of off my radar, but we went one day and the lake itself is really nice- that same cold water- totally unexpected. Lots of boats, lots of jetskis, completely NOT my thing.
There may or may not be camping around there- I didn't have time on that particular trip to investigate that.
Lost Maples
I loved this place for its outstanding hiking and very unfinished atmosphere. Just the drive to get there is worth it- you forget you're in Texas (unless you live in hill country, which I do not). It reminds me a bit of 81 in CT around Southington, or parts of Maine, and even some of the eastern foothills of CO a little.
It is a river canyon of epic glacial proportions. Apparently the glacier left behind maple trees in the riverbed that turn all kinds of colors in the fall- something we don't see too much of here in TX. They had not turned yet on this trip.
The state park is kinda.. eh. The regular campsites kind of suck- they are small and very close together and there aren't very many of them. If you go and you're looking for a remote and private experience, take the sites at the very back of the loop that are as far away from the entrance to the camping loop as possible, otherwise you'll end up in the middle of a field with a zillion people up your butt.
The back country sites here run the gambit from very accessible (and therefore very "camped") to extremely INaccessible and fairly remote. There are some ponds on the west trail that are amazing- that's the place to pack in, if you're going to do it, but be advised that since it's an easy hike, everyone else is, too. The other sites are way, way in there, and truly difficult terrain- tons of loose and unforgiving river rocks on completely unimproved trails. I am an experienced hiker and it whooped my a$$, I cannot imagine packing in enough water to camp for days and up at the top of the ridge there is NO water source to draw from, not even if you can purify, so if you don't pack in enough you would be kind of screwed. I did check into every single site, and all of them are pretty, but you had better be prepared. No fires in the back country (which is par for course in Texas but always kind of scary to me in these kind of wild places).
The first pic in this series is among my most favorite moments in all my life on the trail. It is not staged, at least not by me. I just happened upon this, and I loved it...
I loved this place for its outstanding hiking and very unfinished atmosphere. Just the drive to get there is worth it- you forget you're in Texas (unless you live in hill country, which I do not). It reminds me a bit of 81 in CT around Southington, or parts of Maine, and even some of the eastern foothills of CO a little.
It is a river canyon of epic glacial proportions. Apparently the glacier left behind maple trees in the riverbed that turn all kinds of colors in the fall- something we don't see too much of here in TX. They had not turned yet on this trip.
The state park is kinda.. eh. The regular campsites kind of suck- they are small and very close together and there aren't very many of them. If you go and you're looking for a remote and private experience, take the sites at the very back of the loop that are as far away from the entrance to the camping loop as possible, otherwise you'll end up in the middle of a field with a zillion people up your butt.
The back country sites here run the gambit from very accessible (and therefore very "camped") to extremely INaccessible and fairly remote. There are some ponds on the west trail that are amazing- that's the place to pack in, if you're going to do it, but be advised that since it's an easy hike, everyone else is, too. The other sites are way, way in there, and truly difficult terrain- tons of loose and unforgiving river rocks on completely unimproved trails. I am an experienced hiker and it whooped my a$$, I cannot imagine packing in enough water to camp for days and up at the top of the ridge there is NO water source to draw from, not even if you can purify, so if you don't pack in enough you would be kind of screwed. I did check into every single site, and all of them are pretty, but you had better be prepared. No fires in the back country (which is par for course in Texas but always kind of scary to me in these kind of wild places).
The first pic in this series is among my most favorite moments in all my life on the trail. It is not staged, at least not by me. I just happened upon this, and I loved it...
more maples
There is a lot of cool stuff to see in these washed out riverbed type trails- really cool rock formations and impressive washes- like.. water moved all this stuff... we hiked the dry riverbed rather than the trail (oops) because they were parallel and we were looking for a wilder experience.
The crazy looking rock is actually called "monkey rock"
There is a lot of cool stuff to see in these washed out riverbed type trails- really cool rock formations and impressive washes- like.. water moved all this stuff... we hiked the dry riverbed rather than the trail (oops) because they were parallel and we were looking for a wilder experience.
The crazy looking rock is actually called "monkey rock"
I have tons more but my internet speed is less than blazing fast.
View from the ridgeline isn't much more than an accomplishment view- I'm betting it would be nice at sunrise or sunset. The dirt road down there is NOT the trail, there is no view of the trail but it pretty much comes directly up and down the ridge.
View from the ridgeline isn't much more than an accomplishment view- I'm betting it would be nice at sunrise or sunset. The dirt road down there is NOT the trail, there is no view of the trail but it pretty much comes directly up and down the ridge.
That Ridgeline pic is not what I would imagine Texas being.
Slight jack.
I slept on the ground for 23+ years while I was in the Army.
We decide to give camping a try, I was reluctant to say the lest. But, I really can't call it camping when we go like this.
I slept on the ground for 23+ years while I was in the Army.
We decide to give camping a try, I was reluctant to say the lest. But, I really can't call it camping when we go like this.
It's amazing, huh?? That's what a lot of hill country looks like. Definitely NOT Dallas, but its not far from Dallas really.
Hill Country is pretty famous, but I don't think you get a real idea of what it's like until you're right in it. For some reason the archetypal pics of TX don't include it. Dunno why
I live in logging country so getting in and out of the woods is easy. I'm used to the magnificent views with and without clearcuts. I probably take it for granted, but every once in a while a morning view takes the cake!
Your pictures make me want to see Texas. The typical Google pictures won't do that. Keep them coming Sara.
I used to take the mountains for granted.... we went on a road trip up to Massachusetts the other day and drove up thru east Tennessee. I've never been so happy to see mountains in my life.
Dinosaur Valley (!) state park
.. in Glen Rose, Tx, which is about 1.5 hrs southwest of metroplex.
I decided to take this hike very last minute this morning because I thought I had to work but turns out I was off.
It was good at first, cold this morning for the jeep but I'm used to it.... temps got up into 60s and I'm super glad I made a decision before trekking out to strip off the pants and just wear shorts and knee socks- I got there at about 1030 and within 30 min of hiking I had stripped off all outer layers and was down to just a tank top..... which is how the END of the hike became a complete FAIL.
Trucking along, feeling pretty ok after about 5 miles of somewhat cool terrain- not nearly as lovely as Lost Maples but also a lot easier. I will call this place.... "spoiled with good potential".... lots of cars in parking lot, is in some airports flight patterns, power lines everywhere.... not virgin territory at all.
.. in Glen Rose, Tx, which is about 1.5 hrs southwest of metroplex.
I decided to take this hike very last minute this morning because I thought I had to work but turns out I was off.
It was good at first, cold this morning for the jeep but I'm used to it.... temps got up into 60s and I'm super glad I made a decision before trekking out to strip off the pants and just wear shorts and knee socks- I got there at about 1030 and within 30 min of hiking I had stripped off all outer layers and was down to just a tank top..... which is how the END of the hike became a complete FAIL.
Trucking along, feeling pretty ok after about 5 miles of somewhat cool terrain- not nearly as lovely as Lost Maples but also a lot easier. I will call this place.... "spoiled with good potential".... lots of cars in parking lot, is in some airports flight patterns, power lines everywhere.... not virgin territory at all.
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But the overlooks were nice.... pics to follow.
So anyway I'm trucking along, pass a really cute hippe with a dog named Pearl, we chat for a bit, he says he never sees anyone on that part of the trail. He was really cute, did I say that? So it distracted me.....
I get my originally planned route done much earlier than I expected so I start hiking over to the pack in campsites to check them out- just another couple miles of reasonably easy terrain excepting the part where the trail is actually IN the creek wash, over slick as hell limestone.. I find a good dry riverbed spot in the sun and go to take a break and dang nabbit my favorite black sweatshirt is gone. Dam you, cute hippie and your dog, I never even noticed I dropped it!! I decide I can't live without this sweatshirt amd double back. I'm in a hurry, and I bust my@$$ on that slick creek bed, bang my knee up good and now I'm soaking wet. I hiked back at least 2 miles before my hips said no more, never found the sweatshirt. It was an expensive zip up wicking deal with thumb holes and zipped up to my chin- priceless :-( I'm losing daylight and getting cold because I'm wet and HAVE NO SWEATSHIRT... so I hike out to head home. Leave a note with the trail office lost and found...
But the saga continues
So anyway I'm trucking along, pass a really cute hippe with a dog named Pearl, we chat for a bit, he says he never sees anyone on that part of the trail. He was really cute, did I say that? So it distracted me.....
I get my originally planned route done much earlier than I expected so I start hiking over to the pack in campsites to check them out- just another couple miles of reasonably easy terrain excepting the part where the trail is actually IN the creek wash, over slick as hell limestone.. I find a good dry riverbed spot in the sun and go to take a break and dang nabbit my favorite black sweatshirt is gone. Dam you, cute hippie and your dog, I never even noticed I dropped it!! I decide I can't live without this sweatshirt amd double back. I'm in a hurry, and I bust my@$$ on that slick creek bed, bang my knee up good and now I'm soaking wet. I hiked back at least 2 miles before my hips said no more, never found the sweatshirt. It was an expensive zip up wicking deal with thumb holes and zipped up to my chin- priceless :-( I'm losing daylight and getting cold because I'm wet and HAVE NO SWEATSHIRT... so I hike out to head home. Leave a note with the trail office lost and found...
But the saga continues
Thankfully, I had the foresight to bring dry socks and shoes, and if you recall, I still had the pants I stripped off, as well as my windproof fleece. So I'm driving home dry and warm with my knee screaming... and I'm thinking, jeez the jeep sounds weird..... like weird enough that I'm obsessively checking the oil/temp gages. But at 60 with the top off I can't be sure.... about 10 miles later the gd check gages light comes on and I see my "low volt" problem I posted about elsewhere a few months back has returned, 70 cold miles from home.
FAIL.
Against my best judgement, I elect to push to a more populus area, in the event I need a tow.... I check connections, no resolution.... I'm now royally pissed off and park it at 55 praying the whole way home.
Guessing it's my alternator. At least I made it
FAIL.
Against my best judgement, I elect to push to a more populus area, in the event I need a tow.... I check connections, no resolution.... I'm now royally pissed off and park it at 55 praying the whole way home.
Guessing it's my alternator. At least I made it
