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austin sierra club outings

local outings...

BIKING eventCAMPING eventSATURDAY, MAY 2 THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 3 - MULESHOE CAMPOUT AND BEGINNER MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE

Limited to 12 participants. Come join us for a fun weekend at Muleshoe LCRA park, http://www.lcra.org/parks/recreation_areas/muleshoe.html. Meet at 10 AM at the park. Bring a mountain bike, helmet and your lunch for Saturday. Saturday dinner and Sunday's breakfast and lunch will be included in the price of $20 per person. The park also charges a $5 entrance fee that each vehicle group will be responsible for paying. Contact Katie at 280-3523 or if you want to go!

ICO eventWEDNESDAY, MAY 6 - INNER CITY OUTINGS VOLUNTEER MEET AND GREET

7 pm at Central Market on North Lamar, 2nd Floor. Come learn more about becoming a volunteer with the Sierra Club's outreach to urban youth - Inner City Outings. We'll have sign up forms, information about volunteer opportunities and share some of our experiences in helping Austin's youth learn about the outdoors and experience the beautiful word of nature that exists outside. Contact Ann Clift at or call 512-924-5358. Feel free to join us on May 7th to learn more about Inner City Outings.

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, MAY 7 - MARY MOORE SEARIGHT PARK HIKE

Meet at 6 PM for an hour hike at Mary Moore Searight Park, http://www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking/HikeDetails.aspx?HikeID=15. Meet atDOGS are OK! the trailhead. Optional dinner at a nearby restaurant after the hike. No reservation needed, just show up! This park is a beautiful gem in far South Austin. Contact Katie with any questions at 280-3523 or . (This is a dog friendly hike.)

 

TRIP PLANNING SESSIONSATURDAY, MAY 9th - SUNDAY, MAY 10th - OUTINGS LEADERSHIP RETREAT AND TRAINING

Outings leaders make our outings program work. Mark your calendar to join other Austin Sierra Club outings leaders for a weekend of sharing, team-building and education. Outings leaders will participate in outdoor activities and share their knowledge with new leaders. Optional training sessions will be offered for leaders who wish to advance their knowledge of leadership and safety topics or who wish to be certified to lead major outings. Awards will be presented and the contributions of high-acheiving leaders will be recognized. Sessions will be held at the picnic pavilion of Palmetto State Park near Luling, TX. This retreat is limited to certified Austin Sierra Club leaders. Contact Becky to register - .

HIKING eventSUNDAY, MAY 10 - ST. EDWARDS PARK CONDITIONING HIKE - Moderate Difficulty

Meet us at 5 PM for a 3.5 to 4-mile hike in the beautiful St. Edwards park off of Spicewood Springs Road. Learn about the various ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. This hike will begin at 5:15 PM. Meet in the parking lot located 2-and-a-quarter miles north of 360 on Spicewood Springs Road. The lot is on the west side of the road and accommodates about 15 cars. Be careful not to park at smaller lot just before you get to the bigger lot, or you may miss us. For more information, contact Cat at . Bring water and hat or sunscreen. Map to meeting place: http://tinyurl.com/9hxgd. See
http://www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking/Hikedetail.asp?HikeID=50 for a description of the hike area.

BIKING eventWEDNESDAY, MAY 13 - BIKE RIDE TO THE FARMERS MARKET

Meet at 6 PM for a 20 mile moderate paced (12-14 mph) ride thru quiet urban neighborhoods, with a stop at the Farmers Market. Riders should wear a helmet, practice safe riding, and have equipment to change a flat tire. For starting location in north central Austin, contact Niles Seldon, .

 

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, MAY 14 - CONDITIONING HIKE, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT, HILL OF LIFE - Difficult

We'll meet at 6:15 PM and start hiking at 6:30 PM. Sections of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically challenging. Bring water and good walking shoes/boots. Directions: From south MoPac, take the Loop 360 exit and head west. Turn left at the light at the intersection of 360 and Scottish Woods Trail. The road on the other side of 360 from Scottish Woods Trail is called Westbank Drive. Go down Scottish Woods Trail until you get to a 'T' section in the road. Park along the road on Scottish Woods Trail because the other roads in the are much narrower. The entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt is just to the right of the 'T' intersection of Scottish Woods Trail and Camp Craft Road. Also check out the web site for more information about this trail: http://www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking/HikeDetail.asp?HikeID=3. Please bring good trail-worthy shoes and water. There are many rocks, roots and possible creek crossings to traverse. For more info please contact Mark at .

WATER outingWORK outingSATURDAY, MAY 16 - LADY BIRD LAKE WATER-BASED CLEAN-UP

Join the SIERRA CLUB and the AUSTIN PADDLE CLUB in a joint cleanup to ensure that Ladybird Lake remains beautiful and free of debris. Don't own a boat? No problem! An outfitter will provide one at no cost to cleanup participants. Join us for lunch at an area restaurant after the cleanup. The outfitter needs to know in advance how many boats to provide, so sign up through Keep Austin Beautiful at http://www.KeepAustinBeautiful.org/LadyBirdLakeCleanupMay16 by May 8 if you would like to participate. Led by Philip Russell & Phyllis Gruver. Phyllis will contact you after you are registered to clarify any questions you may have.

HIKING eventSUNDAY, MAY 17 - TURKEY CREEK DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE DOGS are OK!

We'll meet at 10 AM at the Nature Trail parking lot and begin hiking at 10:15. Directions- City Park road is just west of 360 off of 2222. Travel up City Park Road until you pass thorough gates announcing Emma Long Park. Shortly after the gates, you will see a small sign that announces the nature trail parking lot ahead. Park and look for our group. BRING WATER FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG. Bring snacks and dog treats, hiking shoes, a hat and sun screen.
Any questions? Call Jan at 326-2690 or email .

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, MAY 21 - CONDITIONING HIKE: VIA FORTUNA

Meet at 6:15 PM, start hiking at 6:30 PM for four fast paced miles. Bring water and sturdy footware. Learn about the creek and flash floods while getting in shape. To reach trailhead, go north on MOPAC frontage road from the light at Loop 360. (Do not get on expressway.) At 0.3 miles from light, turn right onto Tuscan Terrace. Go 0.1 mile and turn right on Via Fortuna. Park on right at first available space. For more information: Mark at .

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, MAY 28 - CONDITIONING HIKE AT BRIGHT LEAF

Meet at 6:15 PM and start hiking at 6:30. Take 2222 1.1 miles west from the 2222/MOPAC intersection. Take a left on Creek Mountain Rd. (The first left past the traffic light at Mesa). Go 0.1 miles to bottom of hill and take a right on Old Bull Creek Rd. Go 0.1 mile and turn left through an unmarked gate. For more information: .

HIKING eventSATURDAY, MAY 30 - HILL OF LIFE

We will meet at 8:30 AM and start hiking at 8:45. Sections of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically challenging. Bring water, sunscreen and good walking shoes/boots. You may consider bringing a swim suit and also a snack to eat. Directions: From south MoPac, take the Loop 360 exit and head west. Turn left at the light at the intersection of 360 and Scottish Woods Trail. The road on the other side of 360 from Scottish Woods Trail is called Westbank Drive. Go down Scottish Woods Trail until you get to a 'T' section in the road. Park along the road on Scottish Woods Trail. The entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt is just to the right of the 'T' intersection of Scottish Woods Trail and Camp Craft Road. Any questions? Call Jan 326-2690 or email .
Important Legal Notices:
  • In order to participate on one of the Sierra Club's outings, you will need to sign a liabilityLegal notices waiver. If you would like to read a copy prior to the outing, please see: Sierra Club Liability Waiver Form OR call (415) 977-5630.
  • In the interest of facilitating the logistics of some outing, it is customary that participants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, JUNE 4 - MARY MOORE SEARIGHT PARK HIKE. DOGS are OK!DOGS are OK!

Meet at 6 PM for an hour hike at Mary Moore Searight Park, http:// www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking/HikeDetails.aspx?HikeID=15. Meet at the trailhead. Optional dinner at a nearby restaurant after the hike. No reservation needed, just show up! This park is a beautiful gem in far South Austin. Contact Katie with any questions at 280-3523 or . (This is a dog friendly hike.)

WATER outingWORK outingSATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - LADY BIRD LAKE CLEANUP

9 AM to 11 PM. Love Lady Bird Lake but hate the styrofoam washed up along its shoreline? Join Keep Austin Beautiful the Trail Foundation and the Sierra Club in an increased effort to put the finishing touches on this beautiful asset to our community. Volunteers will have a rewarding morning as they search high and low for every last bit of trash and get to know other lake enthusiasts. There are four starting locations for shoreline volunteers, and on-the-water volunteer will leave from the Texas Rowing Center and Zilker boat rentals (see registration link below for more details). For more information visit www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/LadyBirdLake. Register at http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/LadyBirdLakeCleanupJune6. To paddle with the Sierra Club, select the Zilker Boat Rentals location when you sign up. The Sierra Club contact for this event is Michael Portman, 457-4367.

HIKING eventSATURDAY, JUNE 6 - BARTON CREEK GREENBELT

We will meet at 8:30 AM and start hiking at 8:45 AM. There are some rocky slopes that may be physically challenging. Bring water, sunscreen and good walking shoes. Directions: from 360 south (Across from Barton Creek Mall), take the South Mopac exit but stay on the service road. Drive around a curve and look for the sign for the greenbelt entrance. For more information contact Jan at 326-2690 or .

HIKING eventSWIMMING eventSATURDAY, JUNE 13 - BARTON CREEK/SPRINGS HIKE AND SWIM: Moderate Difficulty

Join us for a hike on the Barton Creek greenbelt followed by a swim in Austin's best swimming hole: Barton Springs.  Come learn about and experience this environmentally sensitive area in the heart of Austin.  Meet at Zilker Park, near the front entrance to Barton Springs at 8:30 AM. Parking is free (this early) if you mention you are there to swim.  We will hike first (3-4 miles) and then swim ($3).  Bring water, sunscreen, and swimwear. Contact Dave via e-mail ( ) if you need more info. Dogs allowed on the trail, but not in Barton Springs.

HIKING eventTHURSDAY JUNE 18 - BRUSHY CREEK CONDITIONING HIKE

This far-north version of the Conditioning Hike series starts at Brushy Creek Lake Park, 3300 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park, TX. Meet near the bathrooms at 6:15 PM, departing at 6:30 PM for a 5-mile scenic walk along the creek. http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/pr_bclp.aspx Reservations not needed, just show up. Niles Seldon .

BIKING eventWEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 - MIDWEEK BIKE RIDE


Meet at 6:15 PM for a 20 mile moderate paced (12-14 mph rolling average) ride thru quiet urban neighborhoods. Practice safe riding skills, wear a helmet, and have equipment to change a flat tire. Join us for food and drink afterwards. For starting location in north Austin, contact Niles Seldon .

 

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, June 25 - VIA FORTUNA

Meet at 6:30 PM, start hiking at 6:45 PM for four fast paced miles. Bring water and sturdy footwear. Learn about the creek and flash floods while getting in shape. To reach trailhead, go north on MOPAC frontage road from the light at Loop 360. (Do not get on expressway.) At 0.3 miles from light, turn right onto Tuscan Terrace. Go 0.1 mile and turn right on Via Fortuna.
Park on right at first available space. For more information CONTACT Mark at .

HIKING eventSATURDAY, JUNE 27 - HILL OF LIFE

We will meet at 8:30 AM and start hiking at 8:45. Sections of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically challenging. Bring water, sunscreen and good walking shoes/boots. You may consider bringing a swim suit and also a snack to eat. Directions: From south MoPac, take the Loop 360 exit and head west. Turn left at the light at the intersection of 360 and Scottish Woods Trail. The road on the other side of 360 from Scottish Woods Trail is called Westbank Drive. Go down Scottish Woods Trail until you get to a 'T' section in the road. Park along the road on Scottish Woods Trail. The entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt is just to the right of the 'T' intersection of Scottish Woods Trail and Camp Craft Road. Any questions? Call Jan 326-2690 or email .

************** NOT A SIERRA CLUB SPONSORED EVENT ******************

PresentationSATURDAY, JUNE 27TH - Presentation - WANTED: Mountain Cedar, Dead and Alive
Elizabeth McGreevy, the "Cedar Lady," will give a presentation on the Mountain Cedar, aka Ashe Juniper. McGreevy will rely on updated and new research to show that not all cedars are bad and how they can be used to restore the Hill Country. The presentation will be at the Dripping Springs City Hall, Saturday, June 27. Visit website for more information and to prepay.
Website: http://www.landsteward.net

[The presentation listed above is not sponsored by the Sierra Club and the Club was not involved in the planning or subject matter. This announcement is provided as a service to our members interested in the botany of the hill country and wildlife conservation.]

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, JULY 9th - HILL OF LIFE

We will meet at 6:30 PM and start hiking at 6:45. Sections of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically challenging. Bring water, sunscreen and good walking shoes/boots. Directions: From south MoPac, take the Loop 360 exit and head west. Turn left at the light at the intersection of 360 and Scottish Woods Trail. The road on the other side of 360 from Scottish Woods Trail is called Westbank Drive. Go down Scottish Woods Trail until you get to a 'T' section in the road. Park along the road on Scottish Woods Trail. The entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt is just to the right of the 'T' intersection of Scottish Woods Trail and Camp Craft Road. Any questions? CONTACT Mark at .

HIKING eventSATURDAY, JULY 11th - TURKEY CREEK

We'll meet at 8:30 AM at the Nature Trail parking lot and begin hiking at 8:45. Directions- City Park road is just west of 360 off of 2222. Travel up City Park Road until you pass thorough gates announcing Emma Long Park.
Shortly after the gates, you will see a small sign that announces the nature trail parking lot ahead. Park and look for our group. BRING WATER FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG. Bring snacks and dog treats, hiking shoes, a hat and sun screen. Any questions? Call Jan at 326-2690 or email .

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, July 16 WILD BASIN CONDITIONING HIKE (No dogs, please)

Fast Paced Hike! Difficult Learn about the various ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Wild Basin entrance (end of parking lot) and start the hike at 6:45 PM. Wild Basin Preserve Address and Directions: 805 N. Capital of Texas Highway. The entrance to Wild Basin is on the east side of Loop 360 (805 N. Capital of Texas Highway). The entrance is approximately 1 mile north of Bee Caves Road, or approximately 3 miles south of the Loop 360 bridge over Lake Austin (Colorado River). If you are coming from north Austin, head south on 360 and make a u-turn at Wild Basin Road, then go north on 360 for 0.5 miles. The entrance to Wild Basin will be on your right after approximately 0.5 miles. For more information, contact Mark at . At the end of the hike we will look at alternative
energy options for our economy.

HIKING eventSATURDAY, JULY 25 - VIA FORTUNA

Meet at 8:30 AM, start hiking at 8:45 AM for four fast paced miles. Bring water and sturdy footware. Learn about the creek and flash floods while getting in shape. To reach trailhead, go north on MOPAC frontage road from the light at Loop 360. (Do not get on expressway.) At 0.3 miles from light, turn right onto Tuscan Terrace. Go 0.1 mile and turn right on Via Fortuna.
Park on right at first available space. For more information contact Jan at or 326-2690.

HIKING eventTHURSDAY, JULY 30 - GREAT HILLS HIKE

Meet at 6:15 PM, depart at 6:30 PM from Schlotzsky's Deli, 5105 Balcones Woods Dr (at Hwy 183 intersection, SW corner). Join us for a 4-mile hike with varied terrain ranging from humdrum suburbia to breathtaking wilderness. Guaranteed to see a waterfall. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Reservations not needed. Niles Seldon, .

OAKLEAF LOGO
Exploring Austin's green spaces on your own?

Check out this website which lists the Austin Nature Preserves. The site provides links to lots of the small pockets of green around the Austin area - great for a family afternoon nature outing. NATURE PRESERVES

dog no dogOk, about those dogs. First, let's establish that we love 'em, bless their furry hearts. Unfortunately, not all dogs are fully socialized and not all people share our affection for them. Because of some nasty instances in California (where else?) in which dogs not fully under the control of their owners managed to chomp a hike participant, Sierra Club National lawyers (who else?) have told us to restrict dogs from all outings unless the outings leaders specifically state that the hike is 'dog-friendly.' Please observe all restrictions on pets posted for an outing. If there is no mention of pets (either 'dog-friendly' or 'no dogs, please') please check with the outings leader before bringing Bowser along on a hike. Thanks. (woof)

austin sierra club outings

social events ...


These events will bring together Sierra Club members and potential members, both singles and families, in order to learn about, enjoy, and discuss the outdoors, our environment and issues related to both. Sierra Club Social Events may be led by a Sierra Club member who is not a certified Outings Leader.

Sierra Social eventFRIDAY, APRIL 24th - MEET AND GREET

Please join us for food, drink and live music at Central Market (40th and North Lamar). This is a very informal get-together open to both members and non-members. Learn about the Sierra Club, how to get involved in our environmental efforts, and share dinner with fun, environmentally aware diners. Feel free to stop by anytime between 6:30 and 8:30 pm and hang out with us. We'll have green balloons at the table to help identify us. We may be inside or outside depending on table availability. Don't forget to check out the upstairs balcony if you have trouble finding us! This is a great opportunity to meet fellow Sierrans and find out about activities currently happening in the club. Suggestions for activities you would like to see the Sierra Club pursue are encouraged. For more information contact Becky .

austin sierra club outings

major outings and fund-raisers...

Aninini Beach, Hawaii TripMajor Outings are trips longer than a weekend. A portion of the trip fee, after all trip expenses have been deducted, is returned to the Austin Sierra Club as a donation and is applied to club expenses such as the cost of the production of the monthly newsletter, The Austin Sierran. Major Outings are always led by qualified and certified Sierra Club Outings Leaders, all of whom are experienced leaders and are trained in Wilderness First Aid.

Major Outings are planned yearly by participating Outings Leaders at a special meeting in January. If you would like to contribute ideas for a major outing, inquire about a specific major outing or simply be kept informed of upcoming outings as they are planned, please contact the current Outings Chair, Becky Patterson at

Legally required notice: Seller of Travel identification number: CST 2087766-40 Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California .
The following MAJOR OUTINGS are currently planned for 2009. Watch this space for major trips as they are planned and developed. Details will be added as they come available.

These major outings are currently being planned. Watch this space for additional details as they become available or contact the trip leader to be placed on a contact list of interested participants.

  • JULY 10th through 18th - ANNUAL AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB TRIP TO THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS IN COLORADO.

    Take a trip to the majestic peaks of southwestern Colorado during peak wildflower season. The mountains are covered in snow most of the year, but in mid-July, the snow has melted and the alpine wildflowers have a chance to cover the mountain meadows. We often hike through aspen forests, past waterfalls, alpine wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and even make our way through snowfields. Please bring your camera and lots of memory to record the spectacular scenery!
    Most hikes start at 7,500 to 10,000 feet in elevation and are from 3 to 12 miles in length. A few hikes will reach heights of 12,000 or even 14,000 feet. Some hikes are strenuous with steep trails, but evenings and nights provide time for relaxing and soaking in the local hot springs (entrance fees not included).
    The nearby town of Ouray is on the National Historic Towns Register with Victorian architecture and interesting shopping. Some people choose to take a day or two off from hiking to relax and explore this very scenic town, or to soak in the hot springs.
    Transportation: We rent 15 passenger vans from a local Austin business for our transportation, but we limit each van to 9 persons for passenger comfort. Its a long drive to southwestern Colorado, but the vans allow us to be very flexible and reach a lot of trailheads. Participants will receive a trip newsletter that discusses the hikes and there will be a pre-trip meeting to work out transportation and trip logistics.
    Base Camp: We have reservations for camping in Ridgway State Park; its a very scenic park with hot showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. We have 9 tent sites reserved and we are only allowed to have 2 tents per site, so this will mean that we have a strict limit on the number of participants. The tent sites are the best in the park with great views of the Mt Sneffels range across the lake below us.
    Weather: Be prepared for any type of weather! Base camp weather is warm in the daytime (70s to upper 80s) and cool (60s to lower 70s) at night. At the base of the hikes, the weather will usually be warm and sunny with temperatures in the 70s. At 12,000 feet, it can be windy with temperatures as low as the 40s and 50s, with showers and thunderstorms occurring frequently in the afternoons.
    Cost: For Sierra Club members, the cost is $400, for non-members it's $425 (or you may join for $25). Transportation, meals in camp, camping fees and a small donation to the Sierra Club are all included. For additional information, contact John Yarber,
    . Reserve your spot by sending a $100 deposit or the full trip cost to John Yarber, 5666 1/2 Oak Blvd, Austin, Texas 78735, with checks made out to the Sierra Club. Please contact me before you send a check, to be sure that the trip is not yet filled. This has always been a very popular trip and it often fills quickly.

  • AUG. 3-12. HIGH SIERRA BACKPACK TRIP (SPONSORED BY SAN ANTONIO SIERRA CLUB)
    This will be a 7-day backpack (Aug 4-10), but including travel days it will cover Aug. 3-12. It will cover over 60 miles in the Southern Sierras. Only experienced backpackers should consider this hike as we will go over 3 mountain passes (Bishop, Muir, Piute), totaling over 7000 ft of elevation gain. We will travel through Dusy Basin, LeConte Canyon, Evolution Valley, and McClure Meadow. Those considering this hike should be skilled in high altitude wilderness travel and all the preparatory work involved. Everyone is responsible for their own travel and food. Limited to 6-8 people. For information, contact Scott Wolfe email: or phone (San Antonio number) - (210) 724-2707.
  • LATE AUGUST: PACIFIC NORTHWEST CRUISE (SAN JUAN ISLANDS) ON THE DAVID B. Contact Chuck Byrd, .

  • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 - ANNUAL BIG BEND TRIP. Leader to be announced. Contact Becky at to be placed on the interest list.
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR BACKPACKERS: Disappointed that the Austin Group does not offer more backpack trips? Check out the outings available on the DALLAS SIERRA CLUB website. They frequently offer a lot more backpack trips than we do.
Are you a camping 'newbie'? Check out the Austin Sierra Club Camping Guide for information about what to bring, what to expect and some of the secrets of the woods that will help you camp like a pro. Click on this link: CAMPING

Can't find the outing you are looking for? Check out the special links to outdoor activities. The links includes paths to the outings offerings of other Lone Star Sierra Clubs around the state as well as to other non-Sierra Club outdoor outings organizations. Check it out at: ADDITIONAL OUTINGS LINKS
Antelope Canyon, Escalante TripWant to see what we see when we go on an outing? Check out the Austin Sierra Club Outings Photo Gallery and take a VIRTUAL TRIP with us.

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Last updated:  May 28, 2009   Content © 1999-2002 by the Sierra Club.