| austin
sierra club outings
 
local
outings... |
SATURDAY,
MAY 10 - MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND ST. EDWARDS PARK CONDITIONING
HIKE - Moderate Difficulty
Get in shape for upcoming major trips. Meet us at 9:30 AM
for a 3- to 4-mile hike in the beautiful St. Edwards park
off of Spicewood Springs Road. This hike will begin at 9:45
AM. 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. 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.
For more information, contact Catherine at
or 775-1394.
TUESDAY,
MAY 13 - "YOU CHOOSE" BIKE RIDE
Where do you like to ride your bike on a spring evening around
Austin? North, south, or central? Colorful urban neighborhoods
or quiet country roads? Roller coaster hills or simple flats?
Racer’s pace or easy cruising? The ride will be chosen
on May 9 based on your input. All riders should wear a helmet,
have equipment to change a tire, and be able to follow a map
if needed - although we try to stick together. To cast your
vote and be informed of the group plan, email Niles
Seldon
346-8073.
THURSDAY,
MAY 15 - CONDITIONING HIKE AT ST. EDWARDS - Moderate Difficulty
Get in shape for upcoming major trips. Meet us at 9:15 am
for a 3- to 4-mile hike in the beautiful St. Edwards park
off of Spicewood Springs Road. Learn about the various ecosystems
of the park and examine the human impact on the area. This
hike will begin at 6:40 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. 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. For
more info please contact Mark at
.
SATURDAY,
MAY 17 - BARTON CREEK GREENBELT
Take 360 to the exit for Mopac going South. Stay on the access
road and park on the right side near the trailhead. Bring
water, sunscreen, snack and hat. We will walk a good pace
and walk 5-6 miles. Contact
Jan Adler, 326-2690,
for more information or to sign up.
WEDNESDAY,
MAY 21 - CLEAN-UP AT LOOP 360 BRIDGE BY LAKE AUSTIN
Meet at 6:30 pm in the parking on the west side of the road,
to the north of the bridge. We will hike around through the
scree-field brush and forest underneath the cliffs by the
Loop 360 bridge, and we will be picking up the overabundance
of discarded bottles and cans. This is very rough terrain
with a lot of loose rocks and brush, requiring both good fitness
and very stable balance. Required equipment: good hiking boots
or shoes, long pants, glasses for eye protection. Recommended:
long sleeve shirt, gloves, hat. We will *not* be picking up
broken glass.
Contact Bart at
.
THURSDAY
MAY 22 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 6:15pm, departing at 6:30pm for a 6 mile walk
along the creek.
http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/pr_bclp.aspx
Reservations not needed, just
show up. Join us for food and drink afterwards.
Niles
Seldon
346-8073.
THURSDAY,
MAY 22, CONDITIONING HIKE AT LONGVIEW PARK/STEPHENSEN PRESERVE
This park and reserve is in deep south Austin near Brodie
Lane and William Canon. We will meet at 6:25 PM and start
at 6:40 PM on a leisurely 3-4 mile hike. Directions: The trail
head and parking lot is in Long View Park at the following
address: 7609 Longview Road , Austin . Directions: From Mopac
head East on William Cannon. Turn right (south) on Brodie
Lane . Turn left at the second stop light onto Harpers Ferry
. At the end of the street is Long View Park . We will meet
in the parking lot. Links:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/parkmaps/images/longview.jpg
http://www.austinexplorer.com/hiking/HikeDetail.asp?HikeID=480
For
more info please contact Mark at
.
SATURDAY,
MAY 24 - CONDITIONING HIKE, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT, HILL OF
LIFE AND SWIM (Explorer Version) - Very Difficult (No dogs,
please)
Learn about the various ecosystems of the greenbelt and examine
the human impact on the area while getting in shape for major
trips. Bring a small bag to pick up trash as we go. We will
meet at 8:30 am and at 8:45 am begin a hard-paced hike down
the hill of Life and up the opposite hill exploring the far
side & back. Cool off with a swim afterwards. Sections
of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically
challenging. Bring water, snacks and good walking shoes/boots.
For more information on the trail, the leader and directions
to the trailhead, see previous hike. For
more info please contact Mark at
.
THURSDAY,
MAY 29 - CONDITIONING HIKE AT VIA FORTUNA
To reach trailhead go north on Mopac frontage road 0.3 miles
from the light at Loop 360. Take first right, onto Tuscan
Terrace. Go 0.1 mile and turn right on Via Fortuna. Park on
right at first available space. Meet at 6:15 PM, leave at
6: 30. For more information:
Philip:
.
FRIDAY,
MAY 30 - 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 8:30pm 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 Gail (email:
, 293-0388).
SATURDAY,
MAY 31. McKINNEY FALLS STATE PARK HIKE
Meet at 9AM at the Northeast Corner of the parking lot of
the Academy store at I-35 S and William Cannon. Bring money
for admission into the park, a snack, water, sunscreen and
a hat. We will walk around 5 miles. This is a hidden gem that
is seldom visited although it is so close to Austin. Swimming
may be possible, so you may want to bring a suit.
Contact
Jan Adler, 326-2690,
for more information or to sign up.
|
Important
Legal Notices:
- In
order to participate on one of the Sierra Club's outings, you
will need to sign a liability
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.
|
|  SUNDAY,
JUNE 1: TURKEY CREEK DAY HIKE (dog friendly)
Meet
at the Turkey Creek trail at 9:15 AM and will start at 9:30 AM for
a 3.5 mile hike. To get there, take 2222 west past loop 360 and
turn left at the first traffic light, onto City Park Road. Follow
the road south for 4.8 miles, into Emma Long Park, and turn into
the parking lot (right after a sharp turn in the road). Bring water
and good walking shoes/boots and your dog. Learn about the various
ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. Please contact Mark
Ferguson
to sign up. Check out: http://www.austinexplorer.com/hiking/HikeDetail.asp?HikeID=295
for location information.
THURSDAY,
JUNE 5: CONDITIONING HIKE, DEEP EDDY & YOGA - Easy (No dogs,
please)
Yes you read right YOGA, "restorative" yoga to more precise.
Will meet at 6:25 PM and start at 6:40 PM. If you cannot find parking
at the Deep Eddy parking lot, then you could try under the Mopac
Bridge. We will hike just over three miles then from a scenic overlook
a special guest has agreed to put us through a short yoga routine.
Also learn about the various ecosystems along the trail and examine
the human impact on the area. Wear sturdy footwear since we'll be
on steep steps and will walk over large rocks.
Directions are as follows: (Quick instructions: West on Lake Austin
Blvd from Mopac. Left on Deep Eddy Ave next to Deep Eddy Pool).
Take TX-1-LOOP (Mopac) SOUTH, take the LAKE AUSTIN BLVD exit onto
WINSTED LN (0.5 miles). WINSTED LN becomes ATLANTA ST (0.2 miles),
turn right on LAKE AUSTIN BLVD (0.1 miles), turn left on DEEP EDDY
AVE (< 0.1 miles). For more information, contact Mark at
SATURDAY,
JUNE 7: "National Learn-to-Row Day" at Austin Rowing Club.
It's free and it's fun. Come to Austin Rowing Club any time from
12-noon to 3:00pm and go out in an eight-person rowing shell for
an hour lesson. Row up and down Town Lake like the college crews
in one of those 61-foot long boats, with experienced rowers in the
boat showing you how. Anyone can do it. And its great conditioning.
You've seen them on the lake; here's your chance to try it for free.
Austin Rowing Club is near Four Seasons Hotel, at the end of Trinity
St., on the lakefront. That's on the trail, just east of Congress
Street Bridge, north side of lake. Please contact Jack Graham at
for information, or just come on down to the
lake. You can check out Austin Rowing Club (a non-profit organization)
at http://austinrowing.org.
THURSDAY
JUNE 12: SHOAL CREEK CONDITIONING HIKE
Meeting
at Bailey Park (Bailey Lane and 33rd street) at 6:15 PM near the
volleyball pit, departing at 6:30 PM, we'll hike along the Shoal
Creek greenbelt until sunset. Learn about the various ecosystems
of the greenbelt while getting in shape. Reservations not needed,
just show up. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Niles Seldon
.
 SATURDAY,
JUNE 14: 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.
THURSDAY,
JUNE 19: ST. EDWARDS PARK CONDITIONING HIKE - Moderate Difficulty
Get
in shape for upcoming major trips. Meet us at 6:30 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 6:45 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. For more information,
contact Mark 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.
SATURDAY,
JUNE 21: ST. EDWARDS PARK CONDITIONING HIKE - Moderate Difficulty
Get
in shape for upcoming major trips. Meet us at 9:30 AM for a 3- 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 9:45 AM. 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. 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. For more information, contact
Catherine at
or 775-1394.
SUNDAY,
JUNE 22: BIKE TOUR OF ORGANIC EATERIES
Starting
at 8:30 AM from Sun Harvest, 2917 W Anderson Lane (www.sun-harvest.com
), we'll ride 20 miles or so on quiet city streets with a coffee
/ bakery stop along the way. Riders should wear a helmet, have equipment
to change a tire, and be comfortable with a 12 mph minimum group
pace. Niles Seldon,
SATURDAY,
JUNE 29TH THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 5TH - AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB ALASKA CRUISE
We
have never offered this unique trip before. Join a very small group
of Austin Sierrans on a 65-foot cruise boat in the fantastic scenic
Southeast Alaskan waters just south of Juneau, Alaska for a 7-day
cruise featuring kayaking, hiking and some of the most incredible
wildlife-watching you will ever experience. Please follow this link
to the webpage for more details: ALASKA
CRUISE
THURSDAY,
JULY 3RD THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 6TH - ANNUAL DAVIS MOUNTAINS CAMPOUT
AND BIKE RIDE
see
details about this bike trip in the MAJOR TRIPS section below
or
click on this link: FT. DAVIS
THURSDAY,
JULY 10: 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
.
 JULY
11TH - JULY 20TH: ANNUAL AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB COLORADO TRIP - San
Juan Mountains, Colorado. For a much more detailed and extensive
description of this trip, visit the COLORADO
2008 trip website.
 SATURDAY,
JULY 12: PEDERNALES FALLS DAY HIKE
Hike
the 7.5 mile Wolf Mountain trail. Meet in the parking lot of the
old Albertson's (they closed) at the "Y" in Oak Hill,
formed by highways 290 and 71, at 8am for carpooling to the park.
Learn about the various ecosystems of the park while getting in
shape. Bring lunch, water, and a park admission fee; Possible swim
afterward. contact Mark at
.
THURSDAY,
JULY 17: CONDITIONING HIKE, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT, HILL OF LIFE
- Difficult (No dogs, please)
We
will meet at 6:30 PM and at 6:45 PM begin a hard-paced hike. Sections
of the hike are rocky and heavily sloped and may be physically challenging.
Bring water and good walking shoes/boots. Learn about the various
ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. 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, as there are many
rocks, roots and possible creek crossings to traverse. For more
info please contact either Mark at
SUNDAY,
JULY 20: CONDITIONING HIKE ON BARTON CREEK GREENBELT FROM BARTON
SKYWAY: Moderate Difficulty
Get in shape for upcoming major trips! Meet at 8 AM and start hiking
at 8:15 AM. We will travel upstream through the Gus Fruh area and
back traveling at a brisk pace. Distance is between 4 and 5 miles.
Learn about the various ecosystems of the greenbelt while getting
in shape. Bring water, snacks, good hiking shoes and sunscreen.
Directions: Barton Skyway is south of Town Lake just off of Mopac
between Bee Caves Road and Highway 360. Exit at Barton Skyway and
head East. At the end of Barton Skyway the road stops at Spyglass.
You will see the trail head straight ahead. You can park along the
roadside of Spyglass Drive. For more information, please contact
THURSDAY,
JULY 24: 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 6-mile walk along
the
creek. http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/pr_bclp.aspx Learn about the
various
ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. Reservations not
needed,
just show up. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Niles Seldon,
.
|

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
Ok,
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.
FRIDAY,
MAY 30 - 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 8:30pm 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 Gail (email:
, 293-0388).
|
| austin
sierra club outings
 
major
outings and fund-raisers... |
| Major
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
|
| Seller
of Travel identification number: CST 2087766-40
|
| The
following MAJOR OUTINGS are currently planned for 2008. Watch this
space for major trips as they are planned and developed. Details will
be added as they come available. |
- SATURDAY,
APRIL 26th THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 27th: BEGINNER BACKPACKING AT
ENCHANTED ROCK
Putting 30 pounds on your back, walking all day, then eating freeze-dried
food out of a bag is some people's idea of fun. Find out why on
our Beginner Backpack trip to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
Prior to the trip, we will receive a demonstration of the various
types of backpacking equipment at the REI Gateway location. Then,
after buying or borrowing equipment to get through a day and night
of primitive camping, we'll travel together by van to Enchanted
Rock, backpack to one of its primitive campsites, and learn first-hand
why many Sierrans consider backpacking to be the best way to experience
nature. Fee: $35 includes van rental and park camping and entrance
fees. No fee associated with the REI demonstration.
Contact Steve Funderburg (210-317-4186) or
for more information or to reserve your
place on the trip.
- May
8 - 18: KAUAI, HAWAII TRIP ( See details at: KAUAI
TRIP 2008.)
- MAY
15TH - 18TH:AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB MEMORIAL WEEKEND TRIP TO BANDELIER
NATIONAL MONUMENT
Explore
Northern New Mexico
This trip offers:
* Transportation by 15-passenger vans.
* Base camping and day hikes in Bandelier National Monument and
Bandelier Wilderness,
*Hiking in the Pecos Wilderness, with its beautiful mountains
and lakes
*Dining and sightseeing in Santa Fe (one evening)
*Visits to the local hot springs
Bandelier
National Monument and Bandelier Wilderness were formed from volcanic
eruptions, with canyons cut by ancient streams into the soft volcanic
ash. It was a lush land where the ancient Anasazis flourished
until they suddenly disappeared, leaving behind their kivas, ceremonial
grounds, and cliff dwellings. The elevations range from 5300 feet
near the Rio Grande river to over 10,000 feet in the Jemez mountains.
There are lush forests, canyons, waterfalls, Anasazi ruins, natural
hot springs, and wildlife in the areas that we will be visiting.
Hikes range from 4 miles to 18 miles for the Stone Lions hike.
The monument lies about 35 miles north of Santa Fe, so it is a
fairly long drive, but well worth the trip.
We
will also be hiking in the northern Pecos Wilderness (unless there
is still too much snow at these elevations to allow hiking), which
is much less visited than the southern portion. Hikes will lead
to high mountain lakes (about 11,400 feet in elevation) and beautiful
mountain scenery. The
trip cost of $250 for members and $275 for non-members includes
transportation, camping fees, and the Sierra Club’s delicious
meals in camp. To reserve your spot or to ask questions, please
contact
Tony Fuentes,
.
- SATURDAY,
JUNE 29TH THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 5TH - AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB ALASKA
CRUISE
We
have never offered this unique trip before. Join a very small
group of Austin Sierrans on a 65-foot cruise boat in the fantastic
scenic Southeast Alaskan waters just south of Juneau, Alaska for
a 7-day cruise featuring kayaking, hiking and some of the most
incredible wildlife-watching you will ever experience. Please
follow this link to the webpage for more details: ALASKA
CRUISE
- THURSDAY,
JULY 3RD THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 6TH - ANNUAL DAVIS MOUNTAINS CAMPOUT
AND BIKE RIDE
Join fellow Sierrans for hiking and bike riding in the cool Davis
Mountains, just outside Ft. Davis, Texas. We will car pool to
the campground on Wednesday, arriving in time to cool off at the
famous natural springs in Balmorhea State Park. After a refreshing
swim in the springs (the water is almost as cold as Barton Springs),
we will continue on to Davis Mountains State Park (roughly 30
miles away) and set up camp in one of the campsites reserved for
the group. If Saturday night is clear, we will have a chance to
visit the McDonald Observatory for a Star Party after dinner in
camp. We'll also plan a trip to see the famous Marfa lights one
night. Most people on this trip will want to bring along a bike,
but there are also several hikes and scenic old west towns in
the area. On Thursday bikers will ride all or part of the 75-mile
mountainous loop from camp, through the town of Ft. Davis, into
the foothills and the mountains nearby. The ride has been identified
by Outside magazine as one of the ten best bike rides in Texas,
and it certainly is. A sag wagon will provide support and riders
who do not want to do the entire mountain loop will have an opportunity
to accompany the through-riders part of the way before returning
to camp in the sag wagon. Saturday will include a bike ride from
camp to Balmorhea for another dip in the pool and again riders
will have the option of returning with the sag wagon rather than
coming home on their bikes after the swim. On Sunday, we will
have breakfast, clean up camp and leave for Austin. Folks interested
in seeing the Caverns of Sonora will have the chance to do so
on the way home. Contact John Yarber at
to sign up or to get more details. Cost
is only $75 and the group will be limited to 20 participants,
so don't wait too long to sign up.
- JULY
11TH - JULY 20TH: ANNUAL AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB COLORADO TRIP - San
Juan Mountains, Colorado.
Take
a trip to the majestic peaks of southwestern Colorado during peak
wildflower season. We hike through aspen forests and alpine meadows,
past waterfalls and clear mountain lakes, and we may even find
snowfields in the upper elevations. Bring your camera and a large
memory card -- the views are spectacular! 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 the
town and hot springs.
We will travel to Colorado in rented vans, leaving Austin on the
evening of Friday, July 11 and arriving in Ridgeway State Park,
CO on the afternoon of Saturday, July 12. We'll leave Colorado
on the morning of Saturday, July 19 and be back in Austin on the
morning of Saturday, July 21. This year's trip includes and additional
day so we can more time in the mountains and a more relaxed trip
back home.
Base
Camp: We'll camp at Ridgeway State Park - a very scenic park with
hot showers, restrooms and laundry facilities. We have reserved
9 tent sites, at an elevation of 6,950 feet with excellent views
of Mt Sneffels, with 2 tents allowed per site. Due to camping
restrictions, this may mean that we will limit the trip to 18
persons. Transportation:
We will rent 15 passenger vans and limit each one to 9 passengers
for comfort. The stoves, coolers, and food will be carried in
a trailer, along with most personal camping gear. 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 $425, for non-members it's
$450 (or you may join for $25). All checks should be made out
to the Sierra Club. Transportation,
meals in camp, camping fees and a small donation to the Sierra
Club are all included in this low price. This trip usually fills
up fast, so please get your reservation, along with a $100 deposit
in soon. Please Contact Tony Fuentes,
to make your reservation and ask any questions. For a much more
detailed and extensive description of this trip, visit the COLORADO
2008 website.
- SUNDAY,
JULY 20 THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 27 BACKPACKING IN THE GILA
WILDERNESS
The 560,000-acre Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico is
our oldest wilderness area. We'll hike through 27-miles of it
on the Redstone-Baldy Loop near the Arizona border. There, we'll
experience riparian to alpine environments while hiking through
the land of the ancient Mogollon Indians.
We'll be hiking 4 days and spending one day camping to relax in
the wilderness, fish, and day-hike. After hiking out, we'll stay
at the Palace Hotel in Silver City to refresh ourselves and visit
this historic mining town. This is a strenuous trip for experienced
backpackers. Fee: $275 includes transportation and one night at
the Palace Hotel. There are no hiking or camping costs, and the
cost for food is not included in the trip fee. The fee is based
on current gasoline prices. Should prices rise, a proportional
increase in the trip fee will be necessary. Contact Steve Funderburg
(210-317-4186) or
for more information or to reserve your
place on the trip.
- MONDAY,
AUGUST 18TH THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST - SAN JUAN ISLANDS KAYAK/HIKING
CRUISE
Join
the Austin Sierra Club for a spectacular cruise on a 65-foot boat
in the beautiful San Juan Islands. We will start from Bellingham,
WA and cruise to the San Juan Islands for four days and three
nights of hiking, kayaking and wildlife-watching.
Participants
will cruise, hike and kayak while living in comfort in the cabins
below deck, enjoying gourmet meals cooked on a wood-burning stove
by a master chef.
Birders
will love the variety of birds and waterfowl, including bald eagles
and murres, in the area and we will have a chance of spotting
some of the resident Orca pods, seals and/or a dolphin or two.
Best
of all, you will be one of only SIX passengers on board and the
boat will be at the disposal and direction of the passengers;
it will take us where we want to go in the islands. There are
two similar 4-day cruises available this year, one at the beginning
and one at the end of the Austin Sierra Club Olympic Peninsula
trip (see information below), so that people going on that trip
can either come early or stay late and extend their Pacific Northwest
experience without having to book an additional plane reservation.
Check out the SAN
JUAN TRIP webpage for photos and details.
- SATURDAY,
AUGUST 23RD THROUGH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST (LABOR DAY) - 2008 OLYMPIC
PENINSULA TRIP (Sorry,
this trip is now FULL. If you would like to be placed on a waiting
list in case a registered participant cancels, please contact
Celeste - see below)
Join
other Austin Sierrans as we hike and camp our way around the Olympic
Peninsula in Washington, one of the most incredible, rugged, beautiful
and varied wild spots in our nation. We will circumnavigate the
peninsula from East to North to West to East, visiting fantastic
snow-covered mountains, temperate rainforests, wild and scenic
Pacific beaches and forest trails deep in one of the largest National
Parks in the U.S. Along the way we will visit some of the most
awe-inspiring waterfalls you will ever see as well as the world-famous
Sol Duc Hot Springs and beautiful vistas of Lake Crescent and
Lake Quinault. Because the trip includes the Labor Day Holiday
as well as weekends on both ends, this will be a ten-day vacation
for only five days vacation time from work. Participants will
fly into SeaTac airport where they will be met by vans and transported
to the first campsite on the Olympic Peninsula. Cost per person:
$675 for Sierra Club members, $710 for non-members. Contact Celeste
Padilla (
) for additional details or to be among
the first to sign up for this trip. We don't offer this trip every
year, so you should make plans early to join us on our trip to
this fantastic destination. For detailed information about this
trip and photos of the Olympic Peninsula, see the OLYMPIC
PENINSULA TRIP PAGE.
- WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 3RD THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH- SAN JUAN ISLANDS
KAYAK/HIKING CRUISE (#2)
Join
the Austin Sierra Club for a spectacular cruise on a 65-foot boat
in the beautiful San Juan Islands. We will start from Bellingham,
WA and cruise to the San Juan Islands for four days and three
nights of hiking, kayaking and wildlife-watching.
Participants
will cruise, hike and kayak while living in comfort in the cabins
below deck, enjoying gourmet meals cooked on a wood-burning stove
by a master chef.
Birders
will love the variety of birds and waterfowl, including bald eagles
and murres, in the area and we will have a chance of spotting
some of the resident Orca pods, seals and/or a dolphin or two.
Best
of all, you will be one of only SIX passengers on board and the
boat will be at the disposal and direction of the passengers;
it will take us where we want to go in the islands. There are
two similar 4-day cruises available this year, one at the beginning
and one at the end of the Austin Sierra Club Olympic Peninsula
trip (see information below), so that people going on that trip
can either come early or stay late and extend their Pacific Northwest
experience without having to book an additional plane reservation.
Check out the SAN
JUAN TRIP webpage for photos and details.
- November
26 - 30: Annual Big Bend Trip (Leader TBA)
|
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 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
|
Want
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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