Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Enchanted Rock is a rock climber’s wonderland.

The park is 1,640 acres. The rock itself makes up about 640 acres of that.

Reynaldo Sierra is the Park Manager at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Based on the history of climbing in the park, modern climbing began during the 1930’s when some of the locals began to climb in this area. In the 1970’s, there was an expansion into climbing occurring during the park. Since that time, it has become and still is one of the more popular rock climbing areas in Texas and probably even the US.

There’s a route at Enchanted Rock for just about everybody.

Well the park has technical climbs, which are of course, the rope climbs, the face climbs and the crack climbs. And we also have bouldering, which is the free style climbing, an ample amount of it scattered throughout the park. Hundreds and hundreds for all age groups. There’s plenty of climbing available. It provides a little bit of everything to wet any climbing appetite.

More on climbing tomorrow.

More information at passporttotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The State Natural Area Partners group, or SNAP, raises funds for improvements to the Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera. Sometimes they collaborate with other groups to achieve their goals.

The State Natural Area Partners came to TETRA and asked for a partnership so that we could help them run a trail ride. And all the profits that come off the trail ride, goes into the pocketbook of SNAP. And they’ve put in many improvements in the park with this money.

Debbie Alley is a member of TETRA—the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association. March 14—16, the groups host the 5th Annual Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride at the site. It starts Friday night with registration, and a hearty dinner. The ride begins early Saturday.

You know somewhere between eight and nine o’clock we ride out, go up and down the trails, then come back to camp around noontime, and have a real quick lunch, and then we head out again about one, one-thirty, two o’clock. And go down a different set of trails. Then, Saturday night we have supper—it’s a potluck supper—which I remember doing as a kid. It brings back such sweet memories, you know? Then we have the live auction.

There’s another morning ride Sunday, and everyone pack out by noon. All ages and skill levels welcome, but you have to bring your own horse.

Find trail ride information, including costs, at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…remember: Life’s Better Outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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March 14–16, 2008 — Hill Country SNA — 5th Annual Spring Break Trail Ride — Join the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association and Hill Country State Natural Area Partners and help support the natural area. Arrive and get settled in on Friday afternoon, then enjoy Cowboy Chili (while it lasts!) on Friday night.

Begin Saturday morning with registration and Coggins check followed by a free breakfast for registered riders. Ride outs at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., lunch is on your own. The evening brings a Pot Luck barbecue dinner and silent auction.

Sunday morning registration and Coggins check for new arrivals, free breakfast for registered riders and morning ride out. Check out at 2 p.m. Fees $20 single day, $35 weekend, TETRA members $30, children 12-18 $10 single day, $20 weekend.

For more information, visit Hill Country State Natural Areas Partners or call (830) 796-4413.

Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride, Part 2 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you want something different to do with the family, consider the fifth annual Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride at the Hill Country State Natural Area March 14—16.

The only thing we ask is that you do bring your own horse. We do not have horses for rent.

Debbie Alley, a member of TETRA, the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association, http://www.tetratrails.com/, is one of the event organizers. She says don’t fret if you lack experience in the saddle.

We’ve had people show up that had never ridden before—and didn’t know the front of a horse—and you ought to see all the people all around them trying to help ‘em. And then we have people that have ridden since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. And they’re the ones over there helping the new ones.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

We hope that kids will show up. We cater to the children. We go out of our way to make sure that they get what they need. Like, we have short rides. We have a ride in the morning. Then we come back to camp and we have a ride in the afternoon and we come back to camp. That way, if the children get tired, they can stay in camp and not wear their parents out by getting bored.

We’ll have more on the ride tomorrow. Find event details and costs at passporttotexas.org.

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

March 14–16, 2008 — Hill Country SNA — 5th Annual Spring Break Trail Ride — Join the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association and Hill Country State Natural Area Partners and help support the natural area. Arrive and get settled in on Friday afternoon, then enjoy Cowboy Chili (while it lasts!) on Friday night.

Begin Saturday morning with registration and Coggins check followed by a free breakfast for registered riders. Ride outs at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., lunch is on your own. The evening brings a Pot Luck barbecue dinner and silent auction.

Sunday morning registration and Coggins check for new arrivals, free breakfast for registered riders and morning ride out. Check out at 2 p.m. Fees $20 single day, $35 weekend, TETRA members $30, children 12-18 $10 single day, $20 weekend.

For more information, visit Hill Country State Natural Areas Partners or call (830) 796-4413.

Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

San Antonio mom, Karen Spangrud, wanted to explore Texas with her son, and not break the bank. She decided to take him camping.

Someone suggested Garner State Park. And, how can you go wrong with Garner? So, we packed up our truck and off we went.

Karen didn’t grow up knowing about camping and recreational opportunities at Texas state parks, until she was invited to go on a camp out.

I first learned about Texas State Parks through a friend’s parents. The invited me to dinner, and to possibly stay over with them—years ago when I was in school. It was so much fun, I had never thought of doing it before.

When Karen became a mother, she knew Texas State Parks would be valuable to her son’s formative years. And his first camping tip proved it.

He was so excited to sleep in a tent. It’s not the same as a tent in the backyard. He woke up talking about the noises heard overnight [and wondered] if the deer had come by, [and] if the raccoons had come by. He has really developed an affinity for the outdoors, and he’s exploring climbing trees, he’s looking at the wildlife, looking at the scat—little boys think that’s really cool—and he’s really become quite a little naturalist, which is great.

What’s your story? Go to passporttotexas.org as Karen did and tell us what like to do in the great Texas outdoors.

That’s out show…reminding you that Life’s Better Outside…for Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Outdoor Story: Karen Spangrud Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

College students—take your spring break to the extreme; go on a camel trek at Monahans Sandhills State Park.

The camel treks at Monahans Sandhills State Park are pretty extreme adventures. This isn’t a short, quick tourist jaunt through the dunes… we’re talking 3,000 acres of sand dunes.

Doug Baum, who is the proprietor of the Texas Camel Corps, www.texascamelcorps.com, guides trek participants through this Trans Pecos region park on camelback. He says exploring the dunes is better aboard a ship of the desert.

The trip themselves focus on the flora, the fauna, the history and the prehistory of the Trans Pecos Region. The camels are carrying all of our gear so it really makes exploring through the dunes very easy. They’re carrying all the water, the groceries, the tents and camping supplies. It’s a really unique way to go through the dunes and experience that very unique part of Texas.

Due to high winds in spring, Doug forewarns spring-breakers that you will get personal with sand.

Springtime is beautiful in the Trans Pecos but it can get a little windy. You can expect sand to get everywhere. Folks should get very creative when they think of where everywhere means. Sand will get everywhere.

I think we get it. Find links to Camel Corps,www.texascamelcorps.com, at passporttotexas.org.

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

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