Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

You’re not saving the world, you’re just enjoying yourself and enjoying nature and hopefully sharing it with others.

Robert Rice runs the Hueco Rock Ranch. Rice says that the joy of rock climbing comes from the challenge.

If you enjoy the personal challenge, try to go up the hardest, most beautiful, appealing line to you and get there that way. And that’s why we climb.

There are different ways to get out on the rock.

Within rock climbing, you’ve got traditional climbing which is placing gear in the rock that’s retrievable as you go up it. A newer variation of that, you’ve got sport climbing. Sport climbing is where they use some sort of a drill and they put an anchor into the wall and it has a hanger on the outside and you can clip your carabineers to it and then you clip your rope to it. And then an even newer discipline of the sport is bouldering. And that’s climbing the detached boulders or shorter faces or roofs that can be protected with what we call crash pads. That’s basically a four foot by four foot three inch thick foam pad and the other participants, the climbers, become spotters.

Texas state parks have some world class climbs. Hueco Tanks State Historic Site attracts climbers from all over the world. For maps and more information on where to climb in Texas State Parks, visit passporttotexas.org

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
______________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to watch a video of Heuco Tanks State Historic Site.

Find a clickable map to Hueco Tanks State Historic site: http://www.huecorockranch.com/. [cut and paste URL into browser]

Rock Climbing Hueco Tanks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

The Upper Guadalupe Paddling Trail is in Comal County and the put in is Nichol’s Crossings. It’s one of our most exciting paddling trails to date.

The Upper Guadalupe Paddling Trail, the latest addition to a growing number of navigable river trails in Texas, opens April 30. Texas Parks and Wildlife Rivers Specialist Ron Smith says the new trail offers a challenging paddling experience for the family.

We have a lot of paddling trails. For the most part those trails are very family oriented and we feel like this new one is going to be the most challenging for the skill level of the paddlers.

Smith adds paddlers will test their skill on the new trail while they experience pristine views.

I was very impressed with not only the skill level that you need to have to go around some of the turns and through some of the rapids, but just the pristine nature–and the beauty of the animals you see. And you never know what’s around the next bend. The rock formations, the beautiful cypress trees and the different elements really make it a unique paddling experience.

Find more on Texas paddling trails at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Upper Guadalupe Paddling Trail Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Texas offers paddlers a growing number of trails.

The paddling trail program at Texas Parks and Wildlife is mostly about the people of the state of Texas and the communities that have these wonderful rivers running through them.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Rivers Specialist Ron Smith says communities and citizens benefit from paddling trails.

Our goal is to partner with communities and people of the state to bring more people out to these recreation areas and improve the access to these recreation areas. I think most of the people who use these accesses and waterways are wonderful folks who love the environment, who support our conservation ethic, and they can help the community by bringing economic factors and bringing more awareness to the water and what we should and shouldn’t be doing in those areas.

Find Texas paddling trail information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… our series receives support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Texas Paddling Trails Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Heat Stroke is a potentially life or death situation, so it’s an emergency medical situation.

Brian Farr is the director for Athletic Training Education at the University of Texas. He says the one of the defining symptoms of heat stroke is the internal body temperature.

About 104 to 105 and above is considered to be in the heat stroke area. That’s when you really start to see some organ damage and some other issues that can be life threatening.

It is important to treat someone quickly when they start to exhibit signs of heat stroke.

The number one thing is rapid cooling. That is the most important thing. So ideally, they’re submersed from the shoulders or the mid-chest down in a cold tub full of cool water. If you don’t have that, removing them from the heat into a shaded environment. Removing clothes within reason. You can apply bags to the back of the neck; the arm pits, the groin area, behind the knees. Something that will cool the person as quickly as possible and the second thing is getting emergency medical services there.

While heat stroke is a life threatening condition, Farr says it is also a preventable one. Visitors to Texas State Parks can help prevent heat stroke by staying hydrated and getting acclimated to Texas heat.

For more information on heat related illnesses, visit passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Outdoor Safety: Heatstroke Treatment Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texans with a passion for the outdoors may put themselves at risk for heat related illnesses this summer when the sun’s heat is at its most relentless.

But it’s not just the heat that puts Texans at risk. Brian Farr, the director for athletic training education at the University of Texas, explains…

It’s actually the temperature and humidity combination. One of the few ways that we dissipate heat is by sweating. If the humidity is very high, you’ll sweat but it won’t cool off and evaporate. And available on the internet are temperature guidelines. It actually puts you into different zones. There’s a white zone, it is safe, a yellow zone – be cautious and a red zone – you shouldn’t have activity at all.

Other factors increase the risk.

People, who aren’t used to the heat in Texas, aren’t used to exercising in that heat. So one of the easiest things to do is just get acclimated. Light exercise, gradually increasing so that you know that you’re ready for it and doing so in the heat. A lot of people, they’ll ride the bike or run inside of a gym where its nice and cool and then think that’s good enough, I’m training for the outside. So being acclimated. People who are overweight with body fat and even people who are heavily muscled, those are big insulators.

Farr also says that being hydrated, wearing proper clothing and getting enough sleep can help lower your risk.

More information about heat related illnesses at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Outdoor Safety: Heatstroke Risk Play Now | Play in Popup | Download