M High's Logbook

Stats
Total Log Entries: 4 (Rank: 147th)  [List Them]  [Map Them]
Total Distance: 21.00 Miles (Rank: 164th)
Average Distance: 5.25 Miles

Average Rating: 3point5stars (3.71)
Average Difficulty: 2stars (2.45)
Average Solitude: 3stars (3.34)

Earliest Log Entry: 3/16/2008
Latest Log Entry: 10/24/2011

Average ratings are based on the published values and not the values entered in your own log entries.

Photos
No Photos found.
Log Entries
New Canyon Rim Trail
Seminole Canyon State Park - 10/24/2011  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4point5stars
Distance: 8.00 Miles Duration: N/A

There's a new trail under construction at Seminole Canyon, it's listed on the map as "Proposed Hike/Bike Trail", and is now about 90% complete.  I walked it this past weekend; you can access it about a half a mile down the Rio Grande Trail, the first chance you get to turn off to the left and just over the ridge that marks the 1882 rail grade you'll see a large cairn of rocks (about 4-5 feet high).  From here, you follow the trail that hugs the top rim of the canyon until it meets back up with the Rio Grande Trail several miles just before the first picnic table overlooking Panther Cave.  This part of the trail is not specifically marked, other than some rock cairns, but it is cleared of loose rock and very easy to follow.  It follows along the edge of the canyon, so not much elevation change, and also much more interesting views than the Rio Grande Trail (which is mostly a featureless desert slog).

From there, follow the Rio Grande Trail the last part of a mile to the end, where a new trail continues along the edge of the Rio Grande, then loops back to re-connect with the Rio Grande further up.  This trail is only about half-finished, the last part only marked by scant red ribbons in the vegetation.  This loop is about a mile long, then after reconnecting with the Rio Grande Trail, just follow it back to the starting point.

Standard riverside hike
Chalk Ridge Falls Park - 11/5/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A

With recent rains, the Lampasas River was running a few feet high and very swift.  Only saw about ten people in three hours.  The side trail leading to the small falls on the creek leading to the river was the most scenic - make sure not to miss the side-trip before the main falls.  The suspension bridge has been out for a couple of years now, and a sign leading to the bridge says trail closed - so to continue along the 'red' trail you pretty much have to get your feet wet crossing the stream, which can be several feet deep in places - the best and safest place to cross is 10-20 feet downstream from the little dam above Chalk Ridge Falls, where the water is less than a foot deep.  It appears that the red trail has not been maintained since the bridge fell, so there are plenty of fallen trees, overgrowth and a couple of places where the river has washed out the trail.  The further you go, the more tenuous the trail (since it is not maintained and not getting many visitors) - easy to follow for the first half-mile, but I lost it several times past the last marker - although it's not like you're going to get lost, since you're walking along the river's edge the entire way.  I went about a half mile past the last marker before turning around, before the second waterfall, at that point the trail was almost completely overgrown.  One very big minus - tons of trash all over the trail, everywhere -- both on the front (open) part of the trail, as well as the back (closed) part of the trail.  It needs a SERIOUS cleaning.  Lots of fall color.

Friedrich Wilderness Park - 3/18/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours

The trails at the front of the park are very easy, level, graded and sometimes paved (for wheelchairs), but further back in the park along the Vista Loop there are some pretty steep, rocky sections with a little bit of huffing and puffing.  Nothing particularly impressive, just a normal walk through the woods.  Constant highway noise (it's right off a major freeway), that does die off to just a faint background hum in the back half of the park.  Trails are extremely well marked and maintained (almost to the point of overkill).

Inks Lake State Park - 3/16/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: 3 minutes

Trail is very well marked (except for some of the green trail, where I have to do a little bit of trailfinding).  Easy hike, very little change in elevation, only saw a couple dozen people on a Sunday afternoon.  But civilization was never far away, lots of road traffic noises during most of the hike, plus powerlines.