Hike With NITRO

I’m really excited to announce that my friend Karen “Nocona” Somers has published the first ever hiker’s guidebook to the Lone Star Hiking Trail, a 96-mile forested footpath north of Houston, Texas.

She tells me that “all my profit will be donated back to the trail, which has struggled (despite its 40-year history) to be taken seriously by the US Forest Service and other organizations. Like many trails, it relies on volunteers for its continuing existance. I’ve agreed to handle some aspects of marketing and promotion, and this is one (perhaps pathethic!) attempt at getting the word out. If I can sell enough copies, the trail gains that much more legitamacy and support when it comes time to argue for its continued protection by the USFS. I’ve been working many years now trying to promote this trail, because its the only “long distance” trail in all of Texas. That’s a shame, but it’s also a start. I am also involved in a contributing to a hiking master plan for Texas that will propose more miles, maybe thousands of miles, of hiking trails in a state that definitely deserves and needs them. This trail may end up being only the beginning of a real long distance trail, one that spans the entirety of Texas. For now, it’s a nice place to take a quiet walk, especially enjoyable in the winter season.”

I am very excited for Nocona and I hope that if you are interested in hiking in Texas that you pick up a copy of her new guide book to the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Happy Trails!

Recently, on the blog The Simple Dollar, the blogger asked about activities that a parent can do during the winter to keep their child’s interest in the outdoors and nature.  The post got me thinking about how someone gets kids interested in being outdoors and how to foster that interest.

When I was in Texas over the Christmas holiday, my cousin Jordan wanted to go for a nature hike.  He loves the outdoors and knew that I loved going hiking since I had sent him 20 or so postcards from my CDT hike.  Since my plane didn’t leave until late in the afternoon, we went on an excursion.  It was Jordan’s mom (my cousin), Jordan and his two brothers.  We ended up going to a special place near their house, ok so maybe it wasn’t the most wild of all places but it had trees and mud and a stream.  It was perfect.  It was a drainage area put there to deal with rain water and has some designated green space on one side with a walking path to a park. 

We had a great time crossing the water, walking along the bank, looking for animal tracks in the mud.  It just goes to show you that you don’t have to spend tons of money on kids hiking equipment and tons of time driving to a National Forest or Wilderness Area.  Sometimes the best thing is to just get out and make the most of the time you have.  Engage their senses and let them play and discover what’s there.  But, maybe the most important part is just spending quality time with the kids and the people who are important to you.

I think the best way to get a child interested and enthusiastic about the outdoors is to show them how excited you are about it.  If you spend quality time doing something you enjoy with them, then they may grow to love it.  It doesn’t have to be a major production you could go to an area like I described and look for animal tracks or hike around.  You could do backyard camping trips so you get the feel of camping but without much planning.  Those types of activities could pique their interests enough that when the time comes to go on a big trip, they are ready and willing. 

So get out there, find a place close to home and explore it with those you care about!