good climbing and lots of side trails
St. Edwards Park - Hill Trail
- 1/21/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 3.00 Miles
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Went out sans dog (she's too old to go up and down the slopes on this trail). Not really sure how far I hiked - kept straying off the "official" route to see where this path or that trail led. A roadrunner was hunkered down in the brush near the parking lot watching me watch him. Met up with a trio of grinning mountain bikers at the top (and heard them whooping during their descent). Will have to come back another time and walk around the preserve a bit.
footpath along the creek
St. Edwards Park - Creek Trail
- 1/17/2005
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Rating: N/A
Difficulty:
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
We strayed from the trail quite a bit, going down to the creek to look at rockface and waterfalls. One of these little paths goes right along the bank of the creek to a nice little stand of trees growing on a small island of sorts. Despite the trail's near proximity to Spicewood Springs, I was more aware of the trees than the cars. Willow, on the other hand, was more aware of the leavings of various critters. Ah - nature.
great neighborhood park
Dick Nichols Park
- 1/15/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
Willow and I would like to encourage all persons with dogs to pick up after your critter (quite a bit of leavings on/along this trail). That aside, I was surprised at how nice this trail is, being that it's in the middle of a well developed neighborhood. Not much traffic noise, and we only met 4 or 5 other folks out enjoying the day. Lots of tree-cover and birds (cardinals, mockingbirds, and some yellowish wren sized ones that wouldn't sit still). For days when you don't feel like trudging up and down hill, this little trail is a good one.
burbling creekwater and peeping cedar waxwings
Barton Creek - South Gus Fruh
- 1/13/2005
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Rating: N/A
Difficulty:
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Distance: 2.50 Miles
Duration: N/A
Cooler weather made even an old dog frisky so Willow and I headed out to spend some time amongst the trees. We stuck to the "official" trail mostly though we did stray down to the creek every now and then to look at the waterfalls.
One of these strayings took us down to a grassy bank where I sat in the sun and gazed up at the white rockface while Willow swam to and fro with a stick in her mouth. There were a few cliff swallows out. Also could see the remnants of climbing equipment so I guess this is a face folks scale though none were out today.
On the return trip we paused beneath some cedar trees trying to get a glimpse of the birds peeping and fluttering above us. After staring up for a bit one landed in view - a cedar waxwing. A whole pack of 'em, in fact. Not the sort of bird you see at your feeder in town, so a nice surprise.
I only met 3 joggers on the trail and the sound of MoPac-n-360 was easily dulled by the running water and wind in the branches overhead. What a lovely trail to be right here in town.
probably better in the spring
Balcones Canyonlands NWR - Warbler Vista
- 1/9/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
My wife read the little info pamphlet off as we came to waypoints - mostly it details plants along the trail which are a little tough to distinguish with the branches bare. Standing atop one of the viewpoints, it was kinda interesting to note how much noise a single car kicks out on 1431.