Texas hiking?

“Ok, I used travel with my job and got to hike and backpack in some pretty great places but now I have taken an office position. My problem is I have to foot the bill for my travel now and time is a limiting factor so, where do you from the SE Texas (Houston) area go for BP trips? I live close to Brazos bend SP so I have a place for training and day hikes are within 2-3 hours from my home but I want some good 3 day BP trips. The Big Bend is on my list as is Guadalupe Mountain but they are both 10 1/2 to 12 hours away. I also like the idea of New Mexico but it's even farther.
I have a co-worker and a buddy that both want me to take them sometime but you know how that goes, they usally bail out. If there are any of you from the Houston area or on the way to a trail that want to share the gas/driving forsome trips I am game for trips from light mileage up to 20-30 miles a day. I have tried to find clubs in the area but to no avail. Any help is sooooo appreciated.”

“From Dallas, people used to go to OK and AR. Keep this up top and chappy will see it. He is involved with the Lone Star Hiking club. ChuckD shows up now and then, he's in your area, I believe. I'm originally sort of from NM. When living in Houston and Dallas, we just went to NM.”

“Yeah, Chappy would be the guy. He's pretty cool, always carrying a big shovel on his pack. It's rumored that he hikes out in a group but often returns solo. Not sure what that's about, but Texas is a big place.”

“Toejam is in TX. He goes to NM and CO for most of his backpacking. Does some killer drives though.”

“Check out our website lshtclub.com. Most, well darned near all, of our members live in Houston and the trail (120+ miler) is one hour north on 59 at Cleveland (eastern terminus) or west of 45 at the western end. Our web site has all the .pdf maps to see. We have two hikes a month (see schedule) and today we had around 15 show even in the rain, but it turned out nice. Quite a few are starting to do overnighters and thruhikes of about a week or so on the trail. Anyway, I live in Diboll, south of Lufkin and would love to get together for a hike if you would like. My email is at the bottom of the home page....lawpastor@......
Let me hear from ya
Prez. Jeff.......er, Chappy. But ignore Nimblefoot, at least two have returned......”

“Nowslimmer would be a little too gnarled and tough to cook. Who was the other?”

“I'm recording all these snipes. There shall be a day of accounting.”

“Better write 'em down if your memory's like mine, lol.”

“No problem here. I have some memory pills around somewhere.”

“I think you sent em to me,......i think.....”

“Thanks for the info and I would love to hook up for one of your outings. I need to get out more often.”

“will do...just check out the website lshtclub.com and see the hikes/schedules....then check out the section maps to see where you need to go for the next outing......Saturday, even in the light rain, we had 15 show. We are getting some new younger couples and singles to hike with us now and new members joining us.........”

“We'll be headed to Texas over Easter this year. I'll be checking that site for some dayhikes around Ft Worth area. Last year we went and saw the dinosaur tracks and hiked around there. It was cool. Texas is sooo different from Michigan it's like a whole nother country. =)”

“I haven't found any great backpacking within an 8 hour drive, so ya may as well go to the real mountains.

Sass, you were practically in my back yard. Trying to think of a good hike for you but drawing a blank. Try Lake Mineral Wells SP and the Ft. Worth Nature Center on the north end of Lake Worth.

eb13 - check out the Yahoo group Simple Hikers In Texas. Got a big campout this weekend. Hope to see ya there.”

“I tried to find it but all I found was that you have to be a member to view. I am interested in meeting you all and all so shoot me some details, thanks.”

“Thanks Toejam! Too bad we can't ditch the relatives and visit TTers, lol.”

“Know what cha mean, Sass.”

“eb - request to join. It's a formality to keep the spammers off.

This weekend is the group "annual hike" at Lake Georgetown. Here is a description of the hike:

http://www.texashiking.com/Hiking/HikeDetails.aspx?HikeID=25

There is a better map on the Simple Hikers site. The trail actually goes all the way around the lake. I'll be hiking around the lake from Cedar Breaks starting Fri morning. I'll camp at Walnut Springs Fri night - not sure if anybody else will be there. Will hike around the west end of the lake Sat to Sawyer Camp where the whole group will be Sat night.”

“I'll join soon but as for this weekend, I can't make it. I have an anual meeting (yea, go ahead) to pick board members for the lake I live on. We have to vote and yada, yada, yada.”