Lost Maples State Natural Area

 January 13, 2021

Today we are headed off to Lost Maples State Natural Area
and I am ready for a hike! 

The weather was perfect and the skies were so blue.

I really enjoyed this hike, it felt like the Texas one imagines, big open spaces, and a little on the dry side.

No sign is going to dissuade us, we have gone uphill plenty.

A friend had sent us an article on the 9 best hikes in Texas Hill County and it suggested doing the West Trail here.  I noticed on the map that the East Trail had all of the points of interest.  So, we asked the ranger at the Visitor Center and she said locals usually do the East trail.  I mentioned we were thinking of doing both and asked which direction would she suggest we go.  "Depends on if you want the long uphill or the short uphill."  So we opted for the short uphill and began on the West Trail.

The trail started out nice and wide with occasional water crossings that we used stepping stones that were already in the water to make our way across those points.

The trail narrowed a bit and began to ascend.

The scenery was gorgeous so we continued on the steep incline with few complaints. 

(Maybe we just stopped talking and concentrated all our breath on climbing,)

The blue skies accented the green juniper and dry grasses nicely.

At times the trail seemed to be all rocks.

The direction to go seemed clear even if the terrain of the path kept changing.

This looks rough, but was very enjoyable.  I loved being off on a hike, I missed nature.

Occasionally the path opened up wide.

The water seemed to come and go, but was always clear.

Here it was deep enough to support some plant life

and casted a lovely reflection.

At about 2 and a quarter hours in we made it to the end of the West Trail.

The perfect place for lunch with several picnic tables to chose from.

Here is the picnic area looking out on some water and a rock wall.

The temperature was in the low 60s, the sun was shining, a very good day.

After lunch we turn onto the East Trail and go straight up hill.

I believe the sign said steep and rocky terrain for the next mile and a half.

They meant it, it was rocky and straight up.

Jim's view of me climbing up

My view of Jim going up and the hills behind him.

But what a view when you got to the top.

The path on the left is the East-West Trail that leads back to the trailhead if you want to just walk the East or West trail, but we chose both.

This picture looks down to where we had lunch.

The East trail was also ever changing.

The section seemed like we were walking on dinosaur bones.

My new boots are very much appreciated today.  All of this rocky terrain and I feel great.

Hills all around, and still looking fairly green for January.

One of the points of interest is Monkey Rock.

When we came upon this profile on the left we assumed we were at Monkey Rock.

It looks like a monkey profile, No?

But after walking just a short bit more we came upon this definitive sign

and so we followed it to . . .

Monkey Rock, oh yes, this is definitely it.

Just like the sock puppet

And now it's time to go down, and once again the terrain is something new

Here is Jim working his way down some crazy rocks.

I am glad we went up the West side and not on this side

As an added perk to this great hike, we saw an armadillo.

He is very interested in digging up bugs with his snout so the tail end 

was all that we could photograph.

We cut over to the Maple Trail and encountered very large rocks.

This was a fun varied hike.  I liked it so much that I don't think the pictures do it justice.

So to recap, 8 miles hiked in 4 hours and 17 minutes,

averaging 32 minutes a mile - time for oohing, taking pictures and eating lunch.

A gain of 1,089 feet reaching a max of 2,266 feet 

January 14, 2021

So what does one do after such a great trail day?  

Rest and relax and a little laundry.

The laundry room here at the campground.

Two washers, two dryers and today no waiting.

This is the clubhouse right of the laundry room which is pretty empty as everyone is social distancing.

So Jim and I used it to do some looking up potential RV campgrounds for our next stop on our computers while the washer and dryer cleaned up our clothes.

After laundry I went for a walk around the campground.

Another great weather day with plenty of blue skies.

I have yet to cross this water it's a little too high, but I keep thinking about it.

And while I hike Jim reads uninterrupted at the campsite,

apparently he is better at relaxing than I am.