In addition to bike riding and drinking coffee and playing music (although not very often these days) – I also enjoy a great hike. And so, a few weeks ago, while my girlfriend and I were at Davy Crockett National Forest, she recommended I add hiking to the list of topics to this blog! So, today’s post is going to cover our most recent. :)
We decided on two hikes for the weekend. One was at Davy Crockett and the other was Lake Livingston State Park. Both are fairly close to Houston, so it was a quick trip up to the parks for the weekend. An added bonus was that the weather was absolutely amazing for being outside and enjoying a good long hike / exploration.
Of the two trails we explored, the Davy Crockett was the more interesting / challenging / isolated. Lake Livingston’s trail system is designed for families and group walks. The trails are wide and flat with very little elevation involved. Davy Crockett had more traditional trail hiking paths laid out. We didn’t NEED our hiking poles, but they came in handy on a few rough patches.
Both trail systems are worth exploring. Something to keep in mind is that Davy Crockett is a National Forest. National parks usually forbid hunting, while national forests usually allow it. Dogs are typically permitted on national forest trails, but not those in many national parks. National forests may provide trails for motorcycles; national parks do not. Both agencies have designated wilderness.
I’d like to note some of the gear I’ve used on these hikes.
I picked up a pair of Keen Targhee III shoes about two years ago and used them on a small hike with some friends in Austin. However, the true test of these shoes came when we went to Palo Duro Canyon State Park for a weekend last January and we hiked up to Lighthouse Rock. The large toe box and grippy soles were exactly what was needed for a serious hike up and down the canyon. My feet were not sore or tired from the miles and miles of hiking we did and I can attest first-hand that these shoes are water proof!
The next bit of gear to highlight are the Leki Khumbu Lite Trekking Poles I picked up a month ago. Many times, while we’re on the trails, I’ll see people using trekking poles on steep embankments as well as long flat areas. Not only are they handy for checking around for snakes but they offer a lot of support when it’s getting near the end of the day and you need a little something to lean on while walking back to the starting point.
I like these poles quite a bit as they are super sturdy (I’ve put nearly all of my 160 pounds on them while climbing down an embankment), highly adjustable, and light! The poles are well designed, easy to stow away on your backpack when you don’t need them, and have metal tips (not sharp) that are easy to clean. Your knees will be grateful for the extra support. :)
Alrighty... look out below!! Here comes the photo dump!
