Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Horse rides and cattle trails…a dime a dozen in Texas…but saddling up camels?

In 1857, there was one very glamorous expedition, so to speak, that left San Antonio and took 24 of the US Army camels and made it all the way to Los Angeles.

Doug Baum became fascinated with the historic US Camel Corps and established a unit of his own: the Texas Camel Corps. It’s up for hire—not to the military—but to folks interested in trekking alongside camels on an educational and breathtaking camel-assisted excursion through Monahans Sandhills State Park.

It fits exactly what everyone’s image, the romantic ideal is, of a desert. What we do out there guiding camel treks is overnight. We actually start in a public area and head way out into the dunes. There’s some coyotes up there, feral hog, deer. The wildlife is beautiful, but we go into areas where most folks simply don’t go. And you can thank the camels for that: they’re carrying all the supplies for us.

True, it’s a literal walk in the park, but don’t expect a walk in the park.

Just moving through the terrain, working with the camels. I teach these folks how to the hobble camels, how to lead the camels, how to kneel them down so they can load and unload gear. This may push some folks limits, and I think that’s fabulous.

Trek to our website for more on camel tours at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Joke all you want that Texas doesn’t have four seasons; you can witness some amazing autumn scenery at Lost Maples SP.

Autumn’s a good time to come to Lost Maples [State Park] cuz of the Fall foliage and brilliant colors we have here.

John Stuart is Park Superintendent. He explains that the leaves are charmed into changing color by the season’s weather, but where the real magic occurs is inside them, where a chemical process takes place.

Most of the year, when the leaves are green, you have a lot of chlorophyll in the plant; and that’s what actually feeds the tree and keeps it growing. And if the water supply is cut off and cold weather comes around, then the chlorophyll breaks down and leaves the other pigments remaining. On cloudy warm days, starches form tannins and they make it brown. And If it’s cold and sunny, then the sugars come to bear on the leaf, and they form with the proteins and it makes the beautiful colors we enjoy when we come out here.

It’s not just the colors that are special. They call them Big Tooth Maples because their leaves, though smaller in comparison to others, have deep cuts between its fingers. And you don’t find them many other places.

The Ice Ages wiped out most of the Big Tooth Maples across the continent. These are just surviving pockets. So they’re lost simply because what are they doing out there by their selves.

More on these magnificent trees at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you’re looking for a state park to visit this fall, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television show is here to help. Series producer, Don Cash.

So, November, we’re hitting a state park every week like we always do. One of the state parks is Lockhart State Park just south of Austin. They’ve even got a nine-hole golf course there that’s great.

We’re going to go to Purtis Creek State Park near Athens, Texas. And, it’s famous for fishing, but they’ve also got a very nice paddling tour.

We’re going to go to Choke Canyon State Park. It’s about halfway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

(bird call) You can view the birds. You catch the fish (there we go), and you can relax and just enjoy nature at its best.

The last state park we go to in November is Copper Breaks State Park, and it’s pretty close to the Red River up in North Texas, just up near Quanah, Texas. They’ve got part of the Texas longhorn herd there.

We do a program on Friday and Saturday called Meet the Longhorns. There’s two of them that will eat out of your hand, and one will even offer to give you a big kiss. Now, this isn’t just any cow slobber you’re going to get on you. This is authentic Texas state longhorn slobber. That felt weird.

Fall is a great time to get out to a state park in Texas. And, I hope everybody gets out there and enjoys it like I do.

So do I, Don. We have a list of stations that air the series at passporttotexas.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

After spending the summer indoors in self-imposed air-conditioned exile, the arrival of fall and the promise of cooler temperatures, are sure to beckon you outside again. Going on a hike in a state park is a simple and enjoyable way to reengage the great outdoors.

Many state parks have more than one trail from which to choose, offering varying levels of difficulty. If the park you are visiting is new to you, consider taking a guided tour to familiarize yourself with the terrain.

A hike is not a race. So, slow down and take time to appreciate your surroundings. State park trails are as varied as the parks they’re in. Some follow streams or take you into the woods, or onto rocky ledges, they are shaded or sun-drenched…. Be on the lookout for wildlife.

When hiking, dress for the weather. Always wear comfortable shoes and protective footwear. Use a hat and sunscreen to save your skin. Insect repellent is always a good call when hiking in heavily wooded and wet areas. And don’t forget to bring water. Experts recommend you have eight ounces of water with you for every hour you plan to be on the trail.

Find details about hiking and state parks at passportotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Thousands escaping Hurricane Ike found shelter at Texas state parks. Sarah Loden has one family’s story.

In Texas, 63 state parks provided free camping for over 5,900 Hurricane Ike evacuees, including 300 that went to McKinney Falls State Park in Austin.

I think a lot of evacuees have been here before, just recreationally, and they recognized it as a place to come to get away from the bad situation at home.

David Shirley, Park Superintendent, takes me to the park’s campsites where the Waterburys, a family of six, cook a breakfast of sausage and eggs on a portable stove—an all too familiar scenario.

We lived in Orange, TX when Rita hit, Orange was really devastated over that hurricane. And since then we just, you know, got a little bit more prepared. Two weeks ago it was Gustav. We went to the state park in Dallas… well the storm came in and we had barely set up camp 24 hours and the storm was coming right at us. So I figured this time I’d go west. I can’t afford to lay up in a motel for 2 weeks.

Uncertainty about the future remains. In the meantime, they’ve found comforts at the state park… they wait to have back home.

It’s not bad camping out. Here at the state park we have water, we have electricity, we have safety. My kids love it, you know. They love being out here. We were talking about going home the day before yesterday and the little ones are just, “oh, we gotta leave.” It’s just they like it out here.

We have state park information at passporttotexas.org.

Thanks Sarah… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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