May 30, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said: Did you not try to do some dispersed camping in the Ozark National Forest nearby? Of course they dknt have the resources to enforce all that. If they had those kinds of resources they probably would have camp sites with full amenities. After trying every regular site and getting shut down, we were just fucking done. We drove around in those mountains for 4 straight hours. We also avoided some huge storms that came through later in the day. Tried Eureka Springs, but they were sold out of every room too.
May 30, 20187 yr Not sure what area you were in, but Horseshoe Cnayon Ranch just outside of Jasper will let you camp for like $5 a night per person. They don't have sites, so you might have to check out who is there before setting up. They are also pretty much the undisputed rock climbing mecca of the region. Not too far away is Sam's throne, which has some pretty decent primitive sites all for free. Also a big rock climbing area for Arkansas.
May 30, 20187 yr Took my son backpacking up to Trampas Lakes in the Pecos Wilderness northwest of Santa Fe. The hike was an elevation gain of about 2,600 ft to 11,400 ft over 6 miles.It was so crowded that we went an extra mile to Hidden lake and had the whole place to ourselves.Here are some pics. Hit me up if you have questions.
May 30, 20187 yr Awesome hike and pics but get some hiking poles. Trails like that are ankle twisters and some outriggers help out immensely.
May 30, 20187 yr 46 minutes ago, davidg said: Awesome hike and pics but get some hiking poles. Trails like that are ankle twisters and some outriggers help out immensely. Fact. I LOVE using poles. Saves the knees on the downhills. Makes you into a 4 legged animal basically.
May 30, 20187 yr Hmm. Have never used a good pair of poles, but have never had an issue with twisted ankles either. Is a good pole markedly different than a nice smooth stick picked up from beside the trail?
May 30, 20187 yr Hmm. Have never used a good pair of poles, but have never had an issue with twisted ankles either. Is a good pole markedly different than a nice smooth stick picked up from beside the trail?Absolutely. They’re ergonomic and adjust to the exact height you need them to be. They really save your knees more than your ankles.
May 31, 20187 yr They also help on the uphills when carrying a load. And double as rent poles for some ultralight tents.
May 31, 20187 yr All of the above regarding poles. Set them up heightwise so your arm is at a 90 degree angle for flat land, a little shorter going uphill (I usually just choke up a bit) and a little longer on downhills. You will definitely notice a definitely notice a difference in the shock load on your knees going down a stair stepped trail with a heavy pack when using poles. Edited May 31, 20187 yr by davidg
May 31, 20187 yr Use the wrist strap correctly. Strap loop over the back of the hand with palm grasping base of strap and pole.
May 31, 20187 yr I'm really interested in getting into some hiking & camping. I'm looking to do it for a couple of reasons: 1) Exercise - I'm fat and need to get active. I hate treadmills and tracks. 2) I love nature and taking photos of wildlife/plants. I have one main obstacle - I use CPAP. I have to use it. Can't sleep without it. Anyone else bring it with them on camping trips? I have an older machine, so it's not all that small. Could I buy one of those portable generator/inverters like this: https://www.amazon.com/Webetop-42000mAh-Portable-Generator-Emergency/dp/B073J61T3Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1527744684&sr=8-3&keywords=portable+power+for+camping&dpID=51GgsXNwHLL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch What are some good places in Central Texas/Hill Country for a fat beginner? Any suggestions on essential gear? Personal tent suggestions? A particular backpack? I see hiking poles mentioned. I'll be going back and reading the previous 5 pages now.
May 31, 20187 yr Yes, one of those battery banks will work, as long as you don’t exceed the rated wattage. You wouldn’t, but 155wH is small and may not last the night.
May 31, 20187 yr You probably won't be doing any backpacking with a CPAP, but most campgrounds have power. And of course a generator or battery bank might set you up for off the grid camping.
May 31, 20187 yr Yeah, since you're truly a beginner, I'd suggest starting off with camping at places that have power. Most state parks have campsites with water and electric. The majority of them are designed for RVs but you can rent them for tent camping as well. Places close to Austin that would help you get your feet wet, are McKinney Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park. Austin's City Park (Emma Long) also has a loop of I think 13 "utility" camping sites with water and electric. Lots of these places book up fast in the summer, but they also tend to have some last-minute cancellations. There are also a couple of LCRA parks on Lake Bastrop that are pretty nice, if small. Sadly, both Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park which I LOVED, have both suffered greatly from the Central Texas fires in recent years. The campsites are still intact, but so much of the forest is gone that it's not the same. If you did purchase a portable power solution, that obviously opens up even more places for you. But at first, I don't think you'd need to. Edited May 31, 20187 yr by utee94
May 31, 20187 yr All this pole talk had me order a pair yesterday. Going to use them tomorrow and will report back.
June 1, 20187 yr Yall probably dont want to hear about how i dont feel like getting poles for colorado trail then....never have used poles on any hike But yall make it sound nice Leave next in about a week Plan on doing some acclimating hikes around nederland and leadville then start around june 13/15Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk
June 1, 20187 yr I wouldn't buy that battery power pack with the intention of power a CPAP off of the 120v outlet. If you do some searching there are a couple of companies that make battery packs specifically for cpap's. Post up your CPAP model and we can tell you how long that would run it or make a suggestion for a different power pack setup.
June 1, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, Bone3421 said: Yall probably dont want to hear about how i dont feel like getting poles for colorado trail then....never have used poles on any hike But yall make it sound nice Leave next in about a week Plan on doing some acclimating hikes around nederland and leadville then start around june 13/15 I would love to hear why you don't use poles. I've converted several hikers that said they never felt they needed them. My suggestion is to buy a set of Black Diamond Trail or Trail Pro (I like the flicklocks on the Trail Pros) poles from REI and use them on 2-3 short hikes. Even better if you use do a hill climb/descent under a full pack. If you don't like them after that, take them back to REI.
June 1, 20187 yr Yeah no real reason ...probably just like you said feel like i dont need themGuess i could grab some when i get to a resupply if im struggling a bitI started the narrows in zion with a pole from now ex and ended up just carrying itSent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk
June 1, 20187 yr You don't really need poles on the narrows if the water isnt too deep and you are sure footed. Unless you are seven months pregnant like my wife was when we went. Edited June 1, 20187 yr by NotActuallyALonghorn
June 1, 20187 yr Just booked our Mach Pichu trip for next Spring Break. There will be mucho hiking and I have broken down and bought some poles. Also going to make sure that I get some Diamox for the first time. Elevation kicks my ass.
June 2, 20187 yr Awesome man...or you could just chew some coke leaves insteadHad a work friend go in april and said you could grab 3 leaves for free when they landed at airportThats the story i was told atleastSent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk
June 2, 20187 yr I’ll post more when I get back. It just took 10 minutes to upload those 3.GUMO in record heat is no fun.
June 3, 20187 yr Just ordered my solo quilt for my PCT hike in 2020. Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree in black and burnt orange. Shit's getting real.
June 3, 20187 yr 21 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said: Just ordered my solo quilt for my PCT hike in 2020. Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree in black and burnt orange. Shit's getting real. Nice. SIAP, but you doing the whole enchilada?
June 3, 20187 yr Just ordered my solo quilt for my PCT hike in 2020. Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree in black and burnt orange. Shit's getting real.I have that in those colors. I love it so much.
June 3, 20187 yr 3 hours ago, HookEm said: Cool GUMO pics. Don't understand hiking in a dress shirt. Lol.... it’s a Columbia dri-fit fishing shirt. It was a lifesaver
June 4, 20187 yr Ha, yeah I figured it was something like that. It just looked like you were setting up for a business meeting on the top of the mountain.
June 4, 20187 yr I've always thought having a Black Tie Gala on top of a mountain would be cool. Pack everything in and out and have a nice dinner or something.
June 4, 20187 yr On 6/1/2018 at 10:35 AM, davidg said: I wouldn't buy that battery power pack with the intention of power a CPAP off of the 120v outlet. If you do some searching there are a couple of companies that make battery packs specifically for cpap's. Post up your CPAP model and we can tell you how long that would run it or make a suggestion for a different power pack setup. Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle 200
June 4, 20187 yr 22 hours ago, Upgrayedd said: Nice. SIAP, but you doing the whole enchilada? That's the plan. A few things have to fall into place, but I should know for sure by November, or maybe as soon as next week.
June 5, 20187 yr On 3/28/2018 at 2:25 PM, Saint Tacky said: Signed up yesterday for our Philmont Trek this summer. The new format made it much easier and we were able to nail down our first choice. For grins here is the link to the 2018 Philmont Trek Book Welp. Bad news. Email from Philmont today says our trek this summer is cancelled due to the wildfire that is currently raging unchecked. We are beyond disappointed, but the safety of the firefighters and staff is our utmost concern. SO, I NEED YOUR HELP. We are looking for a week-long trek (7/7 - 7/15) to substitute for the two-weeks we lost at Philmont. It must be within driving distance of the Metroplex (8-12 hours, after all we were driving to Philmont). Somewhere challenging and memorable, that the kids will enjoy. Any suggestions? Thanks.
June 5, 20187 yr First thought is anywhere in Colorado. Bone can chime in for any week long CT suggestions, I'm sure.
June 5, 20187 yr You could put something together in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Put in for a permit ASAP though. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80803 https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd502324.pdf Also, Weminuche Wilderness. https://www.mountainphotography.com/gallery/weminuche-high-loop/ This one is badass. No permit fees, but you do pay for the train ride both ways. What a cool way to enter and leave, though. http://seekinglost.com/backpacking-weminuche-wilderness-elk-park-needleton-loop/
June 5, 20187 yr I would go spend a week camping on Cedar Mesa near the Bears Ears. Do day hikes, a couple overnighters, and some non technical canyoneering. Or maybe some lightly technical canyoneering.
June 5, 20187 yr I would go spend a week camping on Cedar Mesa near the Bears Ears. Do day hikes, a couple overnighters, and some non technical canyoneering. Or maybe some lightly technical canyoneering. Would be fun, too.
June 5, 20187 yr Could check out stuff like this Where there are these ruins And climb down some of these To see some of this
June 5, 20187 yr Cedar Mesa looks amazing. It's been on my bucket list since I first starting seeing pictures and hearing about it. But, 14-15 hours in a van may be too much though. Plus, I'd prefer to spend more than just a few days running about in between van rides. Someday!
June 5, 20187 yr Looking for a recommendation on a good campground within ~2 hours of Austin for some winter camping (week between Christmas and New Year's). We go every year with a group of friends, all of us have RV travel trailers, and places we've typically gone are Ped Falls, Bastrop SP, Buescher SP, LRCA North and South shore parks on Lake Bastrop, a couple of the Lake Georgetown Army Corps parks, Krauze Springs, and last year we trekked a little further to Guadalupe River State Park which worked pretty well. Sadly Bastrop and Busecher were so badly damaged by the fires that they just aren't the same and they're off the rotation for the time being. We tend to stay close because of varying work schedules, it's just easier if it's not more than 2 hours away. So if anybody has a rec for a relatively close, RV-friendly park/campground for 4-5 families, I'd appreciate it.
June 5, 20187 yr Anton and not a longhorn seem to have you covered....but yeah like biff said you could also do a bit of the colorado trail...the collegiate loop is 160 miles so probably a little long for one week....leaving leadville and taking west collegiate trail over hope pass is supposedly one of the highlightsAnd indian peaks wilderness that anton mentioned is good...hike the short trail to hidden lake and camp there then can hike devils thumb trail for a longer hike 15 miles and jasper lake is a 10 mile round trip...and nederland nearby is a cool little townSent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk
June 5, 20187 yr Was doing some double checking since i didnt see it on antons map...its lost lake very close to the hessie trailhead at indian peaks wildernessSent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk
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