| austin
sierra club outings
 
local
outings... |
 TUESDAY,
AUGUST 12th: CONDITIONING HIKE, DEEP EDDY & Swim. Easy
(No dogs, please)
Will meet at 6:30 PM and start at 6:45 PM. If you cannot find
parking at the Deep Eddy parking lot, then you could try under
the Mopac Bridge. Afterward will if you desire take advantage
of another one of Austin's spring fed pools. There is a small
fee to enter the pool. (There may be other surprises with
this hike). 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 Ave next
to EddyDeep 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
.
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 14th: BULL CREEK CONDITIONING HIKE
Meet at 6:30 PM for this moderate to strenuous conditioning
hike. For information on Bull Creek, check out this web site:
http://www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking/HikeDetail.asp?HikeID=12.
Learn about the various ecosystems of the park while getting
in shape. Directions are as follows: Northbound Loop 360 -
Go north on Loop 360 from the Loop 360/2222 intersection.
Take a right at the first light, Lakewood Drive. Take an immediate
left into the parking area (not a formal parking area, but
a dirt parking in front of Bull creek). From Southbound Loop
360 - From the light at westbound Spicewood Springs [Note:
Light at westbound Spicewood Springs is south of light for
eastbound Spicewood Springs]. Take a left at the first light,
Lakewood Drive. Take an immediate left into the parking area
(not a formal parking area, but a dirt parking in front of
Bull creek). For more information, contact Mark at
.
SUNDAY,
AUGUST 17th: WEEKEND WIND-DOWN - WALK TO THE WOODWINDS
Starting at Whole Foods, 525 N Lamar, near patio pond at 6:30
PM. The W6 features a 3-mile walk through downtown condomania
and along Lady Bird Lake, with an hour stop at the Long Center
to hear the free symphony concert. See http://www.austinsymphony.org/season/august/index.asp#cip
for more info. Recommended to bring a blanket, food, and
drink. OK to bring a well-behaved pet. Reservations not needed.
Niles
Seldon,
or Philip,
.
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 (however, that trip is now FULL), 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.
 TUESDAY,
AUGUST 19th: 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 6:30 PM. 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. For
more information, contact Mark at
.
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: (
)]
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 28th: GREAT HILLS CONDITIONING HIKE
Meet at 6:30 PM at Manuel's restaurant, 10201 Jollyville Rd
(between Great Hills and Braker Lane) for a 4-5 mile hike
along quiet city streets and the Great Hills greenbelt. We
will observe the coexistence of suburban dwelling, commercial
business, and natural areas and learn about the human impact
on the area. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Reservations
not needed. Niles Seldon,
.
SATURDAY,
AUGUST 30th: BARTON CREEK GREENBELT HIKE FROM BARTON SKYWAY
ENTRANCE - Moderate Difficulty.
Get in shape for upcoming major trips and learn about the
various ecosystems of the greenbelt while getting in shape.
We'll meet at 8:00 AM at the Barton Skyway trailhead and start
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. Bring water, snacks, good hiking shoes and sunscreen.
For more information, contact Mark at
. 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. If desired Taco brunch at near by restaurant
and Swimming in Barton Springs afterward (bring money).
|
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.
|
|
THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 4: BRIGHT LEAF CONDITIONING HIKE (no dogs please)
Meet at 6:15 PM and start hiking at 6:30 PM for 3.5-mile fast paced
hike. Wear sturdy footware and bring water. Learn about the various
ecosystems of the area while getting in shape. Go 1.1 miles west
on 2222 from the MOPAC/2222 intersection. Take a left on Creek Mountain
Rd (the first left past the traffic light at Mesa). Go 0.1 mile
to bottom of hill and take a right on Old Bull Creek Road. Go 0.1
mile and turn left through an unmarked gate. For more information
- Philip:
..
TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 9: VELOWAY PARK CONDITIONING ROLLER SKATING OR BIKE RIDE
(No dogs, please)
Get in shape for bike rides to work. Will meet at 6:30 PM and start
riding or skating at 6:45 PM. (From veloway.com) The Veloway is
southwest Austin's first trail exclusively for bicycles and rollerblading.
Located on more than 100 acres in the Slaughter Creek Metropolitan
Park, the Veloway is a 3.1 mile paved asphalt loop 23 feet wide.
It is totally free of motorized traffic. Riders ride in a one-way
clockwise direction. Helmets are highly recommended and required
for kids. The trail is open from dawn to dusk. The trail can be
accessed from Loop 1 Mopac, about a mile south of Slaughter Lane.
For
more information, contact Mark at
.
WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10: FARMERS MARKET HIKE
Meet at 6:30 PM at the Austin Farmers Market, corner of 46th street
and Triangle, in the Triangle Park http://www.triangleaustin.com/park/.
We will browse through the market, which features locally grown
and organic foods, then hike about 4 miles through the Hyde Park
neighborhood. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Reservations
not needed. Niles
Seldon,
.
THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 11: VIA FORTUNA CONDITIONING HIKE , (no dogs please,)
Meet at 6:15 PM, start hiking at 6:30 PM for four fast paced miles.
Bring water and sturdy footware. Learn about the various ecosystems
of the area 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: Philip:
..
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 13: LAKE BASTROP, NEW 7-MILE HIKE AT LCRA PARK
Bring water & $3 for park admission fee. Learn about the various
ecosystems of the park while getting in shape. Optional lunch afterward
in Bastrop. Meet 8 AM at SE corner of Omni Hotel parking lot at
SE corner of IH 35 and Ben White. For more information:
Philip:
..
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 13th- BARTON CREEK GREENBELT- Moderate difficulty. The meeting
place is at the greenbelt entrance off of the South Mopac access road
which is off of 360 just south of Barton Creek mall. We will meet
at 8:30 AM and leave at 8:45AM. This is a beautiful hike and will
still probably have some water in the creek and certainly beautiful
sights. Bring water, a snack, sunscreen and a hat. For more information,
please contact Jan at
or call 326-2690.
THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 18: 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
.
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 20: INKS LAKE HIKE
Bring lunch and water. Meet at 8 AM at REI north Location (Capital
of Texas Highway) where we can meet and setup carpools. The park
is a panorama of cedar and oak woodlands, and pink granite outcroppings
in the Central Texas Hill Country. Learn about the various ecosystems
of the park while getting in shape. Deer, turkey, quail, numerous
songbirds, and other species of wildlife are abundant in the park.
I just may stay and camp overnight (Bring your own stuff). The park
website is http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/inks.
For
more information, contact Mark at
.
THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 25: 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 information, contact Mark at
.
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 27th - MCKINNEY ROUGHS HIKE – Moderate Difficulty
Meet at 8:30 am at the southeast corner of the parking lot of the
Omni Hotel at
IH 35 and Ben White for an 8-mile hike at McKinney Roughs. Bring
water,
sunscreen, a hat, lunch and $3 for park admission. This is a beautiful
walk with parts of the hike along the Colorado River. We'll stop
for lunch under an ancient pecan tree and get some great views of
the area from up on a ridge. For
more information, please contact Jan at
or call 326-2690.
|

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. |
- 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.
- THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 9 THROUGH MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 - MOUNTAIN BIKE AND HIKE
CAPROCK CANYONS STATE PARK AND TRAILWAY
See erosion carved spectacular landscapes at the edge of the Caprock/North
TX High Plains in the TX Panhandle. Dramatic scenery includes
colorful cliffs and canyons as we spend three days biking &
hiking through this beautiful region. Abundant wildlife includes
African aoudad sheep, bobcat, fox, golden eagles, 175 species
of birds & the official Texas State Bison Herd. Vegetational
communities vary from the sparse badlands, with their juniper,
mesquite, and cacti, to the abounding bottomlands with tall grasses,
cottonwoods, and plum thickets. The Trailway, converted from an
abandoned railway line, winds through cultivated fields of the
Texas High Plains, drops into rugged canyons of the Caprock Escarpment,
and winds down into the famous Red River Valley. We will bike
over many of the 46 former railroad trestles and through a unique
feature near the Escarpment - a 742-ft. abandoned railroad tunnel,
on the National Register of Historic Places as one of only a few
such tunnels in Texas. This tunnel is host to 50,000 Mexican free-tailed
bats! A 6.5 mile hike to explore "Fern Cave" will require
a 600 ft "extremely steep & rugged" climb to get
to. The $200/person fee includes transportation, bike transport,
all meals in camp, and camping fees. Contact Cathy Prescott at
512 567-1783 or via email at
. Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway
website: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/caprock_canyons/
- WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 26TH THROUGH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH - THANKSGIVING AT
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK - A SIERRA CLUB FUNDRAISER
Spend
the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in magnificent Big Bend National
Park, where you will experience the deep canyons of the Rio Grande
river, the vast openness of the Chihuahuan desert, and the awe-inspiring
views from the Chisos Mountains. Desert hikes will include remote
canyons, isolated springs, and unique geological formations. In
the mountains, we will find sharp contrasts as the plant and animal
life changes rapidly from the agave and lechugilla of the desert
to the grasslands and pinon pine, alligator juniper and live oak
at the higher elevations. Animals of the Big Bend include coyotes,
javelina, mule deer, hawks, golden eagles, and, very rarely, mountain
lions and black bears.
Base
Camp: Rio Grande Village, with restrooms, showers (until 6:00
pm) and which is a short distance from the Hot Springs. A second
camp will be set up at the Chisos Basin, surrounded by the magnificent
Chisos mountains.
Average
Thanksgiving temperatures are about 30 to 70 degrees, but we have
had temperatures as low as 16 and as high as 90 on some trips.
Transportation:
15-passenger vans, limited to 10 passengers for comfort. The vans
will leave Wednesday morning and arrive in Big Bend by the evening.
Vans will return to Austin on Sunday by about 6 pm.
Price:
$260 for Rio Grande Village ($285 for non-members), or $270 for
Chisos Basin ($295 for non-members). This includes transportation,
all meals in camp (including a big Thanksgiving feast), entrance
and camping fees. The fee is based on the current price of gasoline.
If the price of gas rises significantly, a surcharge may be assessed
at the time of the trip.
Pre-trip
Information: Participants will receive a pre-trip newsletter
in November with complete hike descriptions and an equipment
checklist. There will be a pre-trip meeting on Wednesday, November
12 at 6:30 pm (location to be determined). It is important that
you attend this meeting, as final transportation arrangements
will be made.
Please
visit the trip website at http://www.texas.sierraclub.org/austin/2008bigbend.html
for more information and the registration form.
Contact
Steve Funderburg at 210-317-4186 or
if you need additional information.
|
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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