vettech2112

Can someone give me an idea of what the path is like at Hill Country SNA that would get me to the Wilderness primitive camping area?

I've been a day-hiker for a long time but this is my first overnight excursion. I was thinking of riding my mountain bike (and towing a wagon for the cooler) from the parking area to the camp site. Kinda figured I'd use the bike to get from trailhead to trailhead but do my touring on foot.

Any advice to a novice hiker/camper would be welcome.

BTW, Shannon, LOVE the pics. Definately has me exited about my trip in mid-May.

lost_but_found

the trail is relatively flat. it has few spots that may prove a bumpy ride for the trailer, but it shouldn't be too bad.

:confused:
why not just walk? i personally suggest that you leave the bike and cooler behind and enjoy a nice trek out there and do your day hikes from there. it is not too far from the trailhead at all.

we don't need no steenking coolers!!! :no:
you going to bike out a lounge chair and a tv too?!! :laugh:

just kidding! just trying to talk you into backpacking the right way. hcsna is an awesome place, you'll love it out there. hope you have a great time!

Shannon

Welcome to Wild Texas, vettech2112!

I echo lost_but_found's "relatively flat" comment, although the exact route I took to the Wildnerness Camp did involve climbing up Cougar Rock and down a short, very steep section of trail (steep enough to remind me of what "skiing" in hiking boots is like!) just prior to the last trail junction near the site. I took that route precisely to get some elevation gain in hopes of photographing some of the parks vistas (and enjoy some of the prevailing winds atop Cougar Rock).

Glad the photos are generating interest in the trip, though I cannot believe my trip was a year ago, now. I definitely need to get back into the saddle on my hiking and camping activities -- this is embarassing! The views from the various trails should be better than I had, since wildfires in Mexico during my visit made for a persistent haze.

I see nothing wrong with biking to the campsite and then hiking from there -- whatever way is best for you to enjoy the outdoors is the way to go, IMHO. I documented in my HCSNA trip report that I was more than a bit envious of how much more of the park the equestrians I met got to explore, due to their mode of transport (horses & mules). In my mind, biking to the site is probably the best of both worlds, and allows you to scout around easier than someone on foot. For hikers worried about bikers missing out on the views or wildlife, don't worry, there are plenty of rocks and ruts at HCSNA to slow bikers down a bit (and hikers, too, for that matter!)

I don't know how well bike trailers handle off-road travel. Since I've always car camped (even if I have the soul of a backpacker waiting to leap out!), I have, thus far, always had the convenience of a cooler. However, having it seems to make me bring more than I need when I do that (even for two people -- too much water? Check. too many snacks? Check... etc.) That said, you'll want to carry enough water to be comfortable and hydrated -- that's a given even at the "developed" sites at HCSNA, since there are no water faucets/spigots in the park (except perhaps for the horses at Chapa's Group Camp). Horses can handle the nasties in water better than the human digestive system, I think...

Anyway, I'll shush up and let others chime in. You're heading to a site I want to return to for an overnight, and at a good time -- before the weather gets excessively hot. Don't be surprised if you don't need a sleeping bag, though, except as padding.

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kai

yea... i can't imagine backpacking with a cooler. seems kind of sacreligious to me, but then again, its way too hot down here to go backpacking for me anyway, so who am i to judge? I think I would get half way there and be cursing the cooler though. then again, i drink my water at room temperature anyway...

Shannon

There are some good insulated water "pouches" and other packable containers that keep water cold surprisingly well, even in the Texas summer. Since I seem to have a big problem with heat exhaustion (Palo Duro Canyon being my worst experience, since it turned into full heat stroke), I bought an insulated CamelBak pack a couple years ago. My CamelBak's a low end model, but holds enough water to stay well hydrated on a 3 to 4 hour day hike in warm or hot weather. One "unsung" advantage of it over water bottles is you don't have to stop hiking and fumble for your holstered water bottles, you just reach for the bite nozzle and drink. One reason so many people get heat exhaustion or heat stroke is they only drink when they're THIRSTY, rather than drinking at regular intervals throughout their activity -- the latter is key to staying properly hydrated.

There are many models of CamelBaks, including some that integrate well into full size backpacks. I wear mine as a backpack (it has its own straps, but can also be slung inside a backpack), and then put my camera's shoulder strap on top of that; the bite-nozzle for my CamelBak then gets strapped within easy reach. REI has some snazzy new models of CamelBak bags online right now (I visited to see if they still sold my exact model, so I could provide a link to it for reference -- they don't. That's not to say it isn't still manufactured and sold, of course.)

For backpacking, I'd load up on as much water as I could comfortably carry unless I owned a reliable water filter (and backup water purification tablets) and had proven myself at locating reliable water sources.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

lost_but_found

i believe that it is supposed to be about 2liters/day. i may be mistaken though. and i think on average 24oz of food/day.

personally, i would look into a platypus over a camelbak. they are MUCH lighter and the big zips are very easy to clean. plus, they are clear and easier to see through if you are filtering water. they sell insulators for them as well.