I was surprised today when I clicked on a new member's profile and found a really touching response to one of our standard new profile questions: "What is your dream hike?"
Instead of the standard Pike's Peak or Appalacian Trail, she gave a link to the Wainright Coast to Coast Challenge, a trek across England. At first I thought this would be an excellent hike for a couple friends of mine in this group who are both excellent photographers and writers. Then after I visited the site, I realized the true challenge in this and that is raising money for charity, kind of like the March of Dimes, but hiker style. Check it out! We could do this! How about a hike to Austin - it's a similar distance as the one in England!!! YES!!
There is nothing more refreshing that I can imagine than plunging into a deep, crystal clear and cold spring river when the Texas heat is pushing 90 degrees in June! When I showed Asst. Hike Leader, Anselma, the waterfall next to the Salt Grass Steakhouse that is just below Spring Lake at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Texas, she yipped and dove head first into the water to swim along the rocky bottom. Claudia decided to hold our valuables on the bank to wait for her turn. The top of Anselma's head burst up from the water with a splash. She shook the water off her hair like a shaggy dog, then peered at me through her goggles, and waved her arm, "Come on!" She had a big grin on her face! I jumped in like a flash right behind her but the current was flowing so fast the chest deep water was pushing me back downstream. Anselma grabbed my hand and pulled me across the current. She had been able to make her way a little easier by swimming underwater straight toward the roaring rapids. We eventually climbed out on the other bank as the rushing water became a torrent as strong as a fireman's Mardi Gras water hose blasting us down a street. The swim and climb was invigorating and well worth it. One could literally feel the energy that was stirred up by the wet spray and the thundering rapids. We made our way as far as we could up to the "no swimming" zone that marked the Aquarena preservation area. It was mind boggling to look over to the right to see the placid waters of the lake, then to the left after the dam, a deafeningly loud blast of water crashing over the rocks. On our way back down the hillside, Anselma couldn't resist diving back into the water and letting it sweep her downstream to the calmer swimming area. It was amazing to be able to see her five feet below swimming along the bottom against the bright green Hydrilla plants and white limestone gravel bottom. This was truly a captivating experience and my favorite of all the Hillcountry swims. One could easily stay all day in this one spot and "shoot the rapids" over and over.
We still had one more stop on our schedule after lunch, so on our way back to the car, Anselma swam the river downstream while Claudia and I managed the valuables and walked the bank back across the street to the park. It was all I could do to jump in myself and follow but I resisted and walked with my camera filming the activities going on at Sewell Park as we crossed the road and bridges back to the car. Our next stop was Rio Vista, a park about a 1/4 mile downstream with an island and three water chutes. I will save that review as a separate entry since the experience is totally different. One can however connect these two parks by renting a tube from the Lion's Club behind Bobcat Stadium and floating down. There is a river taxi to take you back to your point of origin.
I have added photos to the Dallas Wild Life Meetup photo area and videos have been added here to this website's Video area.
This is my take on a lil' walk through a piece of the past I experienced on this sunny Saturday in McKinney, Texas...
I like to explore the world around me in my car.I think ya’ll’d feel the same if you just got out on the roads and tried it yourself.You never know what you may find.One thing I found was Erwin Park (Mapsco 260 F).I was just drivin’ west on 380 from 75, saw the brown signs and followed them right to those rolling hills and meadows that I will always return to.
I was expecting about 30 people to join me on this Saturday morning hike near the Trinity, but I also knew that the cold fog hovering about the city would keep some people under warm blankets.My concerns all but evaporated when the first hiker showed up.Within the hour, the cul-de-sac at the trailhead was filled with cars, which carried bodies eager to see what the Buckeye buzz was all about.At 10:03 A.M., after a short introduction by Jim Flood, a Master Naturalist and one of the original blazers of the trail, we went up and down the levee into the world of the Trinity River Bottomland, which to those who care, can be seen on Mapsco 56-L as Rochester Park.
Many people think of San Marcos as a big college town with a small town feel. What most don't realize is that it is home to one of the biggest springs in the Hillcountry, numerous caves and hundreds of historic homes all from a time when Texas was just a wild west mecca for pioneers, homesteaders and ranchers. Today, tourists fly right by San Marcos on I-35 as if it weren't there. New Braunfels to its south is a German-town magnat for tubers and others looking to live the good life, even if it's just for the weekend.
Where the River Flows
The upperSan Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs north of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The San Marcos Springs headwaters rise from the Edwards Aquifer into Spring Lake. Access to much of the headwaters is restricted due to the delicate ecosystem and numerous rare species. The most popular spot to view the water is at Aquarena Springs, which was created when a dam was built in 1898.
The river begins at . and San Marcos, and is a popular recreational area. It is joined by the Blanco River after four miles, passes through Luling and near Gonzales flows into the Guadalupe River after a total of 75 miles (121 km). This course is the first section of the Texas Water Safari.
Let's face it. We are all not concerned with creature comforts. If you want to go camping on the cheap and your bottom line is cost, then there are four, basic things you will need: a tent, a tarp, a mattress and a sleeping bag.
1. 3-Person tents at Academy are ideal. For $40 you can get a good one that fits all your budgetary needs.
Poly tarp for under the tent
2. You put TARPS underneath you tent as protection against ground moisture. They cost about $6 and you can get them at Academy as well.
20-degree sleeping bag
3. You need a sleeping bag. You can get a good one at Academy for around $40 as well. One that sleeps you comfortably at 40 degrees should be sufficient for Spring, Summer and Fall in Texas. If you want to get a 20 degree one however, you can do that too.
Sleeping pad
4. You need a MATTRESS, inflatable or not, to allow you to sleep comfortably over little rocks or twigs on the ground. They run between $10 and $20 at Academy. This is the way to go.
As far as food is concerned...
CoolerMax ice chest
1. You will probably need a COOLER to store some stuff: juice, milk, meat, vegetables or whatever else. A smaller one is just fine.
2. Bring whatever food you like. Hot dogs and smores, though not the healthiest, are always good. You can always buy more food not far from the campsite too.
Lastly, bring appropriate clothes. For Caddo, the low on Friday should be in the mid fifties and on Saturday it should be in the 40's. We intend to have some big ol' campfires burning, but it is always wise to have a good winter jacket on when it is in the 40's. Better to be warm than not.
I hope this helps everyone with their equipment purchases.
There are ten things I recommend as must-haves for primitive campers, particularly women. People with small vehicles or more advanced hikers such as backpackers will want the lighter weight, less bulky gear. I personally go for comfort and sound sleep.
For starters, I will give you the specs on my gear so you can compare apples to apples. Keep in mind, I am a female and creature comforts matter to me. I have to stand up to put my jeans on unlike a guy so I need height in a tent. Also, I have more "luggage," so I need a wider tent to keep it all inside. Women like to take showers daily and this requires clean clothes. I usually pack the important things guys "forget" to bring along. Thngs such as ice chests must go inside the tent to be safe from racoons so remember this when considering dimensions. When it comes to bulky gear, I have less muscle and fat to pad my bones so having a cushy sleeping pad and thick tarp is critical for a good night's sleep. Here are the specs for my equipment:
Tent: 18 lbs, 76" tall, 6 people, 9.5'x9.5', has pockets to hold a wet swim suit, towel, etc.
Sleeping Bag: 9 lbs, 20F, 81" x 39" (up to 6'4" tall) by Coleman Harbour
Sleeping Pad: 1 lb., twin mattress size with 1.5" of self-inflating thickness
Tarp: 1 Mil with silver side for winter, brown for summer.
"You get what you pay for" is as true a saying with camping gear as it is with anything else. In general, the more expensive the gear, the lighter, smaller and more durable it is. This is particularly true with tents and sleeping bags. You can find cheap gear at lesser stores, but without a trained eye, you will need to shop at better retailers or online to obtain lightweight products that are still comfortable. For this reason I prefer to shop at Altrec.com or at REI. Altrec offers FREE shipping and a 25% discount, plus you don't have to pay for gas or take time off from work to shop online, so I love shopping this way. For your convenience, everything I reference in this article will contain a link to the actual product online, if it is available, so you can price check.
To get your 25% off at Altrec, just click any link in this article, and look for the coupon is at the top of the page.
Now, back to the camping gear.
Here are my recommendations for some really cool stuff I have not been able to live without on a trip and have gotten my moneys' worth out of over the years. Let's start with the top ten list of Must-Haves:
Altrec North Face Dome Tent with window shades.
Tent
Tarp
Pad
Sleeping Bag with bungee cords
Pillow
Sandals
Lantern
Folding Chair
Water Straw
Rain Gear
1. TENTS: I spent $150 on my tent (at a Fall sale at REI five years ago) and I can't imagine getting anything of less quality now. At today's prices, I would be wiling to pay about $300 or more. My tent has been the best investment I have ever made. It has more than made up the cost of lodging or tent rental and the seams are still waterproof and in excellent condition. The fabric weave is thick enough to stop wind from chilling me to the bone. I really like my tent!
Green River tent with shades from Altrec.com
However, once I spotted the REI Hobitat, I fell in love and developed a terrible case of tent-envy. The Hobitat will be my next purchase. It is just plain cool. Keep in mind that the smaller something is, the warmer it is. So, a small tent is great for winter, whereas one with lots of head room is great for our hot Texas summers. This tent also has lots of bells and whistles such as zip out windows, etc. Hobitats can frequently be found on Ebay if you are looking for a bargain.
Rejuvenate your sleeping bag with a warm, fleeced liner from Altrec.com
If you decide on the more expensive tent but want to make your money back, you can "rent out" space in one's tent to others in our group who don't want to invest in a purchase or are too lazy to do set up. Such people would LOVE to pay you to errect and take down the tent in exchange for a small fee so they can work late and arrive after sundown at an event. With this arrangement you can have your tent paid off in no time.
My dream tent on the left is from Altrec. It features roll down shades for when one need's extra privacy. Altrec has several other tents that will keep you dry and won't blow down if a storm rolls through camp unexpectedly. The last thing one wants is a tent that is so cheaply made (Chinese import) that the seams start to separate or the ceiling starts to leak after several uses. One thing I have had my eye on is a tent hammock, ($44 to $199.) The tent hammock is a zipped tent that hangs between two trees like a hammock. The tighter you stretch it, the firmer the "bed" is. It is extremely comfortable in comparison to sleeping on the ground or on a half-deflated air mattress. There are many rocky areas in Texas that make traditional tents out of the question even here in the metroplex. Plus, air mattresses are extremely cold. Air mattresses are good for summer but terrible for winter. They trap cold air. It is just like sleeping on a waterbed without a heater, but worse. Remember, when looking at the number of people a tent sleeps, they are referring to small children and dogs, not adults. My six person tent sleeps 2 comfortably!!! The major difference between a good tent and a bad one are the seams and the bottom. Let's face it, in Texas it can get really wet and damp, not to mention rainy.
Waterwear: Drytop from Altrec
I have never camped anywhere in Texas that there wasn't heavy dew on the ground in the morning. The bottom of your tent should basically extend up the sides at least six inches and be water resistant if not waterproof. Since it can get absolutely muggy during the summer, one must have vents to let the air flow through. If you want to be able to dress inside your tent, make sure it is tall enough to stand up in. Also, remember, canvas=heavy, parachute material = light weight. My favorite is the latter.
2. TARPS: It is a rare thing to find a nice flat spot to pitch your tent where there are no rocks or twigs. A .9 or 1 mil tarp is a must have to protect the bottom of your tent from tearing and to keep the moisture out of your tent in the morning. A wet tent or sleeping bag will mildew and ruin. Mildew will destroy the waterproofing on your fabric. Make sure that your tarp is the heavy duty type with double sided colors. The brown goes up to absorb your body head during the winter, thus keeping you warmer. During the summer, the silver side goes up to deflect the heat of the sun. Tarps can also be used as shelters during spur of the moment rain storms, so it is always good to have an extra one on hand. These are really inexpensive ranging from $4 to $30 depending on size and thickness.
3. PADS: I use the roll-up mat type that self-inflates. I have never found anything more comfortable for the size than my self-inflating sleeping pad from Walmart. It is small, lightweight and is more comfortable than a blow-up mattress. Blow-up mattresses are terrible for the winter. If you have ever had a waterbed, you know that they can be ice cold and require a heating pad. The same goes for mattresses filled with air - they are bone chilling! A little bonus on my pad is the inflatable pillow attached to the pad. When you unscrew the cap, it lets air in and the fiber fill plumps up. This type is similar to a yoga mat. Some people actually use Yoga mats but those of course can not have excess air squeezed out of them to make them smaller.
4. SLEEPING BAGS: My thick & soft sleeping bag makes me feel like I am at the Hilton instead of on top of a dirt floor. It fits a tall person, which is the equivalent of my 5'2" frame plus a small Pug dog at the bottom of the bag keeping my feet warm and toasty. I love my bag because it is rated down to 20 degrees Farenheit. Men are hot natured in comparison to women, so what is comfortable to them makes me shiver in my sleep. A 20-degree bag bag keeps me warm at 32 degrees and above. Maybe it is the lower muscle to body weight ratio. For the same reason, I choose the self-inflating pad that is stuffed with fiber fill and gently adds just enough air when it is unrolled to act like a yoga mat. My stuff is heavy in comparison to some but after all, I'm not backpacking it, I'm sleeping on it. If you already own a bag and need to save money, the liner on the left can convert your existing summer bag into a warm winter bag. Down bags are not good for primitive campers because inevitably they will get wet & soggy, which can expose you to hypothermia but also, they are impossible to dry out quickly, are as heavy as all get out and they are expensive to clean after the fact. In our scorching Texas climate, down is simply not practical. 5. PILLOWS: I always bring a small pillow or an extra jacket to roll up under my neck.
6.VELCRO WATERPROOF HIKING SANDALS: The velcro-type sandals are thefor hik all-in-one ing shoes except for freezing weather of course. They are wonderfully soft and can extend your ability to hike many miles without getting blisters or sore feet. They are very easy on joints. Everyone should have a pair of these stuffed in their backpack. During the winter, just add a dark pair of socks to match the shoes and you are ready for anything. Keen offers closed toes, while several brands such as Merrell, Columbia, Keen and Teva offer durability and deep treaded, non-slip soles. DO NOT buy your sandals at Walmart unless you want to break your neck or end up with blisters! These Chinese imports are meant for the concrete of a pool and can be absolutely dangerous on a boat deck or the slick rocks of a creek. Make sure your sandals have 1/4 inch or deeper tread similar to a hiking boot.
7. LANTERN: You will need this to put up your tent in the dark. It happens to all of us. It is also useful for walking to the Port a Potty also. My favorite is the Coleman Butane Lantern. For inside your tent, there is the wind-up flashlight available at Frys Electronics. They aren't as bright but they beat other light sources in an emergency and won't catch your tent on fire. :)
8. FOLDING CHAIR: You will need it for sitting around the campfire and particularly if it rains and you don't want to sit on the ground. The type with the mesh drink holder in the arm is handy.
9. PURIFIED WATER STRAWS: You truly need these during the summer or when hiking five miles or longer unless you want to lug in gallons of bottled water. My truck is always stuffed to the gills, so these straws can be a space-saving item. The worst thing that can happen is for you to run out of water during the heat of the summer, which can cause life-threatening dehydration in a matter of hours whenat a primitive site or when hiking the wilderness. Water is always at a premium in Texas.
10. RAIN PROTECTION: Let's face it, we live in Texas. Ponchos are cheap and can be easily found in the camping section of any discount retailer or sporting goods store. However, if you are serious about camping and hiking, you need something serious to protect you from the elements. Altrec offers tons of high tech options whether you are just a hiker, a kayaker or a boater. The image here is a jacket for kayakers however, it can provide warmth for hiking without the bulk of a coat to make your backpack uncomfortable and tight.
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Next time you think you hear tropical birds singing in the Spring Creek Forest look for the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. Listen to one here as soon as I figure out how to embed a media file! :) In the mean time, please visit 
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