Government Canyon Hike - Finally!

[SA Bill]

After the aborted, left-the-wallet-at-home attempt 2 weeks ago, my wife and I went back to Government Canyon (GC) State Natural Area this morning. Aside from the heat, lack of breeze, humidity and the b@lls-to-the-walls mountain bikers...it was great!  Seriously, it's a great place as others have often pointed out here. There were lots of people there already when we arrived at 7:45am. Once we were on the trail, we didn't feel too crowded at all.

After processing in at the entrance and filling out the required paperwork (in triplicate!), we hiked up Wildcat Canyon as far as the High Lonesome Windmill and then returned the same way. All told we hiked 5.1 miles according to the GPS unit. We were pooped by the time we got back to the car...me especially since I had done 3 miles on the treadmill last night. It was already 91° by the time we got back to the car at 10:45am!

We hiked. Others race walked...I kid you not! Some ran...yikes!! And then there were the mountain bikers. It's been a long time since I hiked trails shared by mountain bikes. Now I don't mind mountain bikes...really. However, we were nearly run down several times by speeding bikers. Sometimes we could hear them coming and we gave way before they got to us. If we were talking, we sometimes didn't hear them coming until they were right on top of us. We had a couple of close calls. Most of the bikers were very nice and courteous. A few treated us like we were just in their way. Those were the ones going 30mph downhill...obviously adrenalin junkies.  We survived...none of the bikers crashed because of us...life was good.

The trail we hiked was typical Texas hill country topography. It had just enough elevation gain to make us work a little bit. At the top, the "windmill" was kind of a surprise...it had an antenna on top instead of a windmill vane. There was enough shade on the trail that we didn't get sunburned but the lack of any breeze made it uncomfortable in the heat. We were on the trail about 2 hours total. We plan to go back now and then to explore the rest of the trail system...more so once it cools off a little. Once the backcountry camp site is open, I'd like to backpack in for an overnight stay.

I didn't take many pictures Homero but here are a couple with my lovely wife, Donna, in them for scale. There are some truly magnificently huge trees on the land. BTW, everything was very, very dry out there. We really need some rain here in S TX! Anyway, until the next trip out there, when I promise to take more pics for Homero, here are a couple of pics that show what the land is like.
  Bill
 

[TheWildWestGuy]

If your wife is willing to go out hiking in this heat with you she is a "keeper" for sure!   TWWG

[homerboy2u]

If your wife is willing to go out hiking in this heat with you she is a "keeper" for sure!   TWWG

 WWG, took the words out of my mouth.Professor. With that lady you have for a wife, i can wait until your next trip for pictures...Bravo for you two...

[SA Bill]

If your wife is willing to go out hiking in this heat with you she is a "keeper" for sure!   TWWG

So true TWWG!
We started out backpacking together. Even spent our honeymoon backpacking in CO. We'll celebrate 28 years of marriage in August!  We dated 5+ years before we got married so she pretty much knew what she was getting into! 
  Bill

[SA Bill]

WWG, took the words out of my mouth.Professor. With that lady you have for a wife, i can wait until your next trip for pictures...Bravo for you two...

Thanks Homero!
There really wasn't much to take pics of. No flowers, no pretty views, no wildlife except a single squirrel. I'll go back in the fall after (hopefully) we get some rain and see what I can find. There have been some really nice pics taken out at GC so I know there is potential.
  Bill

[BigBendHiker]

Good for you, SA Bill!

Last Saturday, my son and I did Far Reaches and then returned on Sendero Balcones.   It is a nice park, but as you say, you have to watch for the mountain bikers.


BBH

[BigBendHiker]

After the aborted, left-the-wallet-at-home attempt 2 weeks ago, my wife and I
However, we were nearly run down several times by speeding bikers. Sometimes we could hear them coming and we gave way before they got to us. If we were talking, we sometimes didn't hear them coming until they were right on top of us. We had a couple of close calls. Most of the bikers were very nice and courteous. A few treated us like we were just in their way. Those were the ones going 30mph downhill...obviously adrenalin junkies. 

Agree that the mountain bikers can be a bit unnverving. We have found that most of them seem to be on Joe Johnston Trail.  Trails such as Far Reaches, Sendero Balcones and Wildcat Canyon seem to have fewer of them...

BBH

[SA Bill]

Agree that the mountain bikers can be a bit unnverving. We have found that most of them seem to be on Joe Johnston Trail.  Trails such as Far Reaches, Sendero Balcones and Wildcat Canyon seem to have fewer of them...

BBH

Yeah...I figured out after the 4th or 5th bike whizzing by that we might be on one of the more heavily used mountain bike routes. Next trip I plan to try Far Reaches. Maybe on a week day to avoid some of the "weekend warriors" on bikes.
  Bill

[BigBendHiker]

Far Reaches is a great hike.  Very isolated.  Few people on it at any time.  Last weekend, we saw no one else.  Two great overlooks - Chula Vista and Sotol Overlook on the trail as well.


BBH

[qkh178]

Yeah...I figured out after the 4th or 5th bike whizzing by that we might be on one of the more heavily used mountain bike routes.  Next trip I plan to try Far Reaches. Maybe on a week day to avoid some of the "weekend warriors" on bikes.
  Bill

Just a friendly reminder that the park is closed Tuesday-Thursday every week.  

[SA Bill]

Just a friendly reminder that the park is closed Tuesday-Thursday every week. 

Understood qkh178! I'm thinking of a Monday or Friday when I have a long weekend.
  Thanks!
    Bill