Top Texas Hill Country Hiking Trails For Spring

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Guest Author

Springtime in Texas beckons many of nature’s glorious creatures out of their winter shelters, and brilliant wildflowers emerge to grace the roadsides and fields statewide. The weather is simply fantastic, and the occasional spring shower can be energizing for those who take advantage of the state’s scenic nature trails. Put on your boots, grab ample water, and take a journey down some dynamic and inspiring hiking trails in Texas.

Perdenales State Park

Discover 20 miles of pure Texas hiking trails at this pristine and geologically unique state park. Running along the nicest parts of the Perdenales River, the park encompasses waterfalls, scenic overlooks, swimming areas, and generous facilities for the convenience of hikers and guests.
Eight-mile Wolf Mountain Trail is the most popular within Perdenales State Park, which takes you through a picturesque gorge and around Tobacco and Butler Mountains with a moderate hike. A shorter trail within the park leads to lovely Perdenales Falls and the Twin Creek area. Catch a glimpse of the endangered Golden-cheeked warbler, Painted Buntings, wild turkeys and many other bird species within the park during your hike. Continue reading →

See the great outdoors from above, take up climbing!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Guest Author

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Many people have fond memories of climbing trees when they were children; it was one of the best play activities to partake in. However the majority of us don’t climb trees as adults, it is an activity we tend to grow out of. However some jobs actually require climbing as an occupational necessity.

Some examples of these jobs include tree surgeons, pylon engineers, and rig workers amongst others. Some would say these individuals have the best jobs on earth. Not only do they get to work in beautiful natural surroundings, but they get a panoramic view from above. Now that beats most office jobs any day!

This post will cover various different types of climbing, and how it can help you appreciate the great outdoors from a different viewpoint. Climbing is becoming a much more popular activity both as a pastime and in terms of outdoor careers. Continue reading →

Alter Ego Project

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Guest Author

What if you were told that you can get the most stylish and efficient state of the art personal water filtration duo and give a family of five water for life at the same time? Well that’s exactly what the Alter Ego project is about: A highly functional piece of design that empowers you to create change in the world by helping reduce the inequity of clean water access.

Conceived by designer and water enthusiast Manuel Desrochers, the Alter Ego is a personal water filtration and hydration duo made of two components: Alter, the bottle and Ego, the water filter assembly. It was designed to accommodate the Urban Traveler and the Outdoor Enthusiast on a day expedition, as well as the Globetrotter and the Restless Backcountry Trekker for which access to clean water is a matter of survival. Continue reading →

Want To Be Purchase-Savvy When It Comes To Buying A Boat?

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Guest Author

If your answer is yes, then you’re definitely ready to become the owner of a brand new boat! Boating can be a fantastic way to get away from the monotonies brought forth by modern day living. You can just unplug yourself from the modern world and relax, sailing under the open skies, taking in the lucid air and basking under the glorious warmth of the sunshine. However, buying a boat is not as easy as buying candy, it does need some thorough research. There are some aspects that you need to look into in detail. Below are a few such aspects you should keep in mind while buying a boat.

Deciding on the type of boat

Before buying a boat, you need to make up your mind regarding the type of boat that you are looking to have. This will largely depend on your main purpose behind the buying the boat, or the kind of activities you are looking to enjoy. There are quite a few types of boats available – right from trawlers, to sport fishing boats, runabouts, cabin cruisers, to all-purpose fishing boats and many more. So once you find a boat type that suits all your major requirements, you can then go on to work on other crucial aspects such as the size of the boat and your overall budget. Continue reading →

How To Make A Simple Survival Kit For Hiking

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Guest Author

Regardless of the season, hiking is a strenuous hobby and can take a serious toll on your body. While many people do make sure they’re prepared for injury or emergency, there are still a good number of people who don’t think about what might happen if something goes wrong on their hike. This is why we’ve put together this simple compilation of the most important items to have on hand when going hiking.

Map

Whether you’ve climbed a mountain once or 20 times, you should always have a map of the area with you when you’re hiking. If the sun goes down and you lose track of the path or you decide to venture off the normal path, having a map with you will ensure that even if you do lose sight of where you are, you’ll be able to find your way back with the help of the map. Continue reading →

Wild bird watching in civilized places

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Guest Author

Just for the reason that eagles and hawks do not always fill the skies in your area does not mean you have to give up bird watching. There are still a lot of species who make urban areas their home and can be seen around every house if you care to look closely. Here I have few tips for anyone who lives in an urban surrounding and loves watching birds for fun.
I love bird watching. And sometimes I also take photographs of birds. However, I am not a professional at it who spends hours, or sometimes even days, in a hideout waiting for birds to show up. I do it as a hobby, whenever I have some free time. And since I moved to the city few years back, I have not had much time to go off the city for my hobby. So instead, I started bird watching in surroundings that are common in city areas, such as public parks and other urban spaces.
The first thing you should remember is that many wild birds travel all around the world as the seasons change. And chances are that at least few of them will “take a break” from their journey in search for food, while some might even settle down on places they found on the way, before they reach their target destination. So even though you are living in an urban area, you will be able to see some wild birds roaming the skies around your house. Continue reading →

Emergency Communication Devices

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Guest Author

Consider what you would do if you were in a remote location and a companion was seriously injured. You might be trekking, hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, rafting, or just in a less-developed nation. All of you would help out your injured friend as best as you can; however you know that this individual needs medical attention. Do you have an emergency communication device? What is it? How would you utilize it?

There are lots of variables when contemplating which, if any, crisis communication device to carry. The increasing availability and decreasing price of mobile crisis communication devices is helpful, but can be confusing. This post concentrates on 4 of the most popular options available today: SPOT Satellite Messengers, Fast Find Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), satellite phones, and cell phones. Continue reading →

How to Pick a Hunting Knife

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Guest Author

Hunters, campers and all outdoor enthusiasts know that to survive in the outdoors you have to have a cutting tool that can perform diligently in the field. A hunter’s knife is an extension of his personality and possessing a quality sidekick ensures you can not only perform all the tasks needed but also tackle the elements. Choosing a hunting knife doesn’t have to be difficult and really depends on several factors.

What will you be hunting?

First you have to decide if your going after big or small game. For instance if your going after larger animals such as elk or deer your not going to want a pocket knife. Chances are you will want a larger more traditional fixed blade knife with a solid handle and durable blade that can handle field dressing and skinning as well cutting firewood, kindling and setting up camp.

I like to go with a drop point blade in this instance with a sawback spine capable of cutting through flesh and bone as well as cutting trees, kindling and other camp related necessities.

If your going after smaller animals like rabbit or squirrel then you might wanna go with a fowl hooked folding knife with a clip point blade. It is lighter weight and does not interfere when on the move. Continue reading →

How to stay safe when hillwalking

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Guest Author

Britain has some of the most beautiful hills in the world – people travel from all over to attempt hills in the stunning Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, just to name a few.

But hillwalking can be dangerous if you don’t prepare enough or have due respect for the British weather.

Check the weather report

Always look at the weather report and bring the right supplies. Black ice is a particular worry, as it can slip up even the most experienced walkers and isn’t easy to notice. If there are treacherous conditions or avalanches predicted, don’t risk it.

Bring the right supplies

Tayside Police have warned hillwalkers that while you should always look at the weather forecast before setting off, British weather is very changeable and hillwalkers should be prepared for anything. They famously had to come to the rescue of a lost hillwalker who set off on Perth’s hills without a map or compass, so don’t make the same mistake.

This check list should keep you right: Continue reading →

Tony Mangan heads for Australia

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Guest Author

There are few athletes or outdoor enthusiasts who could match the determination of Irishman Tony Mangan who is currently more than halfway through his plan to run around the world. This would be the perfect outdoor holiday for anybody with the skill, determination and the physical attributes of the Irishman who is currently in New Zealand – country number 18 on his list.

Enjoying the outdoors

Tony Mangan is no normal athlete as his curriculum vitae reads like a Who’s Who of super men all rolled into one. He began his love of running in his youth running 10 km and half marathons after moving to the US to take up competitive running. He has also held a number of running world records over the years, many of which are linked to extreme running marathons known as ultra running. Continue reading →


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