gaines creek access (mopac) to sculpture falls and back, with some detours
Barton Creek - Upper North
- 5/29/2010
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Distance: 4.00 Miles
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lots of folks and dogs out enjoying the water today.
also ran into a couple who were picking up litter along the trail. i need to get myself one o' them litter-grabbing thingies!
my object today (in addition to a nice stroll) was to locate and view the old stone walls/fences (mentioned on page 152 of "60 hikes within 60 miles" 2nd edition). i found them easily enough (there are a few mtn bike trails that lead up to them), though mapping them will have to wait for another day.
has anyone mapped them before? i can't find much info about them online. i figure they're from an old ranch/farm, though the hiking book says "Local legend has is [sic] that these rock formations were part of a failed Spanish mission from the early 1700s."
to me they look like the sort of walls you build as you pull rocks out of the field so the plow doesn't bork on them, but they are in some interesting arrangements.
added some pictures. coords are included in the descriptions.
always great, even in the heat
Mayfield Park
- 5/28/2010
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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i love coming here, but somehow i always manage to come during the hottest part of the day. it doesn't stop the peacocks from squawking and strutting, and it doesn't stop me from doing a full round of all the trails. sometimes i start out thinking "oh i'll just swing down by the lake" and next thing i know i'm climbing up the bluff.
there are easy ways to go if you're with someone who can't scamper much, but there are also some trails that climb up a bit or have slightly slippery creek crossings, so you can have a mini adventure right here in central austin.
unfortunately i do not think this best-kept secret is very secret anymore. i don't begrudge other folks enjoying the observation deck, but i do frown at the increasing litter and empty beer cans.
next time i'll bring a trash bag.
360 to underneath mopac and back
Barton Creek - Upper South
- 5/27/2010
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
Duration: 1 hour
this is one of my favorite bits of the greenbelt. i love the part with the chain! although i swear i remembered that section as more treacherous than it appeared today. oh well.
met a lost runner and hopefully helped direct her back to where she started.
inspired by this encounter, i now carry small (4x6") maps of the trail to hand out in case i meet more lost people in the future. i think i can explain it better on paper than by waving my arms around and saying "360 that way! mopac that way!"
i still need to complete the rest of the south side on a future hike.
360 to airman's cave and back
Barton Creek - Lower
- 5/26/2010
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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first time i have hiked this section when there is actually water here! scrambling to the cave entrance is trickier when you can't just stroll along the dry creekbed.
saw a snake swimming along quite happily in the beautifully clear water.
not many people around today, or is this section not as popular?
i did run across evidence of a campfire :(
but not no litter :)
spyglass to zilker park & back
Barton Creek - Lower
- 5/25/2010
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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i always enjoy hiking the greenbelt. saw a few lizards along the trail and a smattering of college boys in the water.