Hiking Thread

you download the maps, and then it just needs a gps signal to navigate with. that maps are free from mytopo.com

 

it doesn't use the cell signal, it uses the gps signal. that maps are in memory.

 

interesting...keep us posted on how that works...i'd still use my garmin but that would be a sweet feature to have for smaller hikes

 

that's the point for me, less gear and cost period... does everything the garmin does already built into my phone. that's why i passed on the nav type headunit in my car since i already have that on my phone as well. fun to have google sky on it as well for afterdark...

 

Good Choice I have the same boots and love them! They dry surprisingly fast!

 

Its finally looking like hiking season here in socal rain is slowly fading

 

it was 80 sumthin degrees here today....but i was working and in class all day

 

SurfInferno - that Gif has me cracking up! Funny Sh*t

 

went hiking to switzer falls today in the San Gabriel Mountains, 10 miles from my house

 

Nice!!

 

Does pushing a MTN bike uphill because I'm out of breath count as hiking?

 

NO! It means you're outta shape...















I'm pretty sure you knew that was coming.

 

or it means you dont feel like driving to mammoth to take a gondola ride up to the top of the mountain

 

Went to Foster Falls today just outside Tracy City. Hiked the Climber's Loop trail. No water coming over the falls since it's late summer, but there was still plenty of water at the base. Didn't take any pictures, but there are at least 4 or 5 good climbing walls on the trail. We passed several groups of climbers. Makes me wish I wasn't so out of shape and could do some of that stuff. I thought I'd try my five fingers on the trail which was a little bit of a mistake. The rocky trail made me wish I'd worn my boots. Feet aren't bruised or anything, but I don't think I'll hike rocky trails in them again. It was a nice day out and we still had a good time.

 

I am jealous of all you guys that live near some of these beautiful places. I have snowboarded Taos NM and Snowbird UT and Hiked/Camped my way from Austin Tx to Rocky Mtn National Park twice with family, but my normal fair is nowhere near so glamorous as some of the pictures many of you have posted.

I moonlight with a company that puts on endurance trail races in central Texas. I run some, but most of my miles tend to be marking, measuring, and clearing trail for the events. Trails in central Texas are extremely varied. East Texas tends to be pine forests with soft pine lined trails and tree roots to keep your attention. West Texas is mostly flat and boring with some extraordinary places sprinkled about, Davis Mountains, Palo Duro Canyon, half-dozen others. But most of our time is spent in the Hill Country, a geographic transition between the coastal East plains and high West plains. I think the Hill Country most resembles the opening title sequence from MASH. The landscape is rolling hills at a distance with rocky, technical, and unforgiving terrain up close. It is an awful lot of fun.

My favorite place is the Hill Country Natural Area in Bandera, Texas. We put on a 100k event there each January. It is a trip I circle on my calendar each year. In fact I was pretty bummed that I couldn't make it last year, but my second daughter insisted on being born then. Supporting the races usually consists of a 5 or 6, 5 mile hikes over three days or so. The course is ~30mi, but divided between 5 aid stations. Volunteers split the course up and work in teams to mark it, monitor it during the event, and tear down and clean up after. Since the event lasts a full 24 hours we get to see the whole park at all times of the night and day. For about 6years or so it seemed it rained more than not out there. In fact, I bought my Taco because between this race and another we have had a dozen trucks, or so, get stuck and I wanted to have the tool to get out. Recently though we have had pretty dry races. The last three or four years have been dry, but the temp has varied from the high 70's-low 80's (in January) to 8 degrees a few years back. We had coffee freezing in our mugs during that one. I don't have a lot of pictures but this is a link to a tour of the race course: http://www.tejastrails.com/docs/Bandera__Sto.html

Check out tejastrails.com to see other event, they all have pictures somewhere in the page, though the format of each page can be inconsistent so you may have to hunt some.

Anyhow, here in Austin, I have several 3-6 mile trails that I try to rack up 15-25 miles a week on. This summer has been too dry and too hot to get toward that upper number at all, but I am hoping for some relief by mid to late September. I keep telling myself that I will parry all these miles into some kind of trailing for the 50k event in Bandera, finishing that has been a big dream of mine, but the truth is, I think I train just so I can have fun working the race.

Sorry for the long winded post, the first post asked for a story....

 

I love to hike for fun and for the work out....

But a few Ive been on rescently are the PCT (pacific Crest Trail) starting from Timberline lodge Mt. Hood....

And the other is Silver Star Mountain.... Great views! and terrain... (view 5-6 different mountains)

 

jumped a 60 foot cliff today at chantry flats, filmed it too, but dropped the gopro when i landed. heading back tomorrow morning with a flashlight and goggles to find that shit.

 

how long did ya think about it before jumping?