Lone star hiking trail

[t100]

Not kayak related....
Any backpackers on here have any experience on LSHT? A friend and I are planning a first time trip. All I need is a pack, in the process of getting him geared up. My questions are trail conditions, marking and should I get a GPS.
On a separate GPS note, I have put locations of "known" places in my phone app and noticed they are about 500'- mile off. These are old points. Do he points change over time due to earths rotation, or bad points?
Glad I talked my friend out of doing big bend in the summer for a first time out!
I'm planning on getting the book about the trail. Just want to arm myself with as much as I can before heading out on this adventure!
Any backpacking forums? I've looked around and have not found what I'm looking for.
Thanks in advance!
Jason

[beekeeper]

Please make follow-up posts as you learn more. I find this pretty interesting.

[Firefly49]

Hi, Jason. Hey...this is near my neck of the woods, lol! The trail is actually maintained by the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club. They have a Facebook page. Or go to http://www.lonestartrail.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Check them out.

Hope you see you on the river again sometime!

[Hirsch]

I occasionally use short stretches of it when I deer hunt and they are in good shape. I cannot speak for it all. Particularly if you will be near the Big Slough Wilderness stretch be prepared for mosquitoes.

[fisher of people]

I haven't done any backpacking on the LSHT, but I used to hike it quite a bit. Easy to follow in every section I've been on, you shouldn't need GPS. It does get overgrown in spots. It is a beautiful area, I used to especially love the area south of Double Lakes. How long are you planning on being out? I would plan on carrying all your water or caching some along the way, I would not try to treat water out of any of the creeks along the way, due to the possibility of chemical contamination. Also, though Big Bend is certainly not an ideal summer destination, east Texas is probably worse, it can be downright miserable. Not only can the mosquitoes be bad, as Hirsch points out, but there are some pretty nasty biting flies as well. It is very stuffy, not great conditions for sleeping in a tent, and many areas will be covered with poison ivy. Not trying to be discouraging, this is just not where I would choose to backpack in the summer! Unfortunately, there are not a whole lot of good forums right now, I used to spend a lot of time on the Backpacker forum, but they updated the software and ruined the site. This one is not too bad: http://backcountrypost.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I also like http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , but that is a more gear oriented site.

[Hirsch]

I apologize. I was confusing the 4C National Recreation Trail of the Davy Crockett National Forest. http://ouachitamaps.com/Four%20C.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[t100]

Thanks for all the info!! Planning on Memorial Day weekend so hopefully we won't be in dog day summer heat yet. Defiantly will be catching water along the way. Both my friend and I are water hogs!!

[t100]

Fisher of people, any recommendations for summer? Trying to stay a few hours of Austin.

[fisher of people]

Fisher of people, any recommendations for summer? Trying to stay a few hours of Austin.

Honestly, my summer backpacking trips these days are mostly in New Mexico, a long drive but I've hit an age where I don't enjoy sleeping in a stuffy tent when the night time temps don't drop below 80! Plus there's so much more public land and I love the mountains. If I were to stick closer to home, thought, I'd probably go either to Lost Maples or the Goodwater Trail around Lake Georgetown. Both will be hot, but not nearly as humid as the LSHT. Both have water for a good soak to help cool off. The Goodwater Trail is one of my faves, about 26 miles, perfect for 3 days, drinking water available along the way, nice backcountry campsites. It feels a lot more remote than you would expect, being right outside of Georgetown. Lost Maples, of course, is great, lots of back country campgrounds, but the park is rather small. Hill Country State Natural Area is a pretty nice place to backpack, but you have to carry all your drinking water.

[jackh]

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/sho ... ing-Trail-(LSHT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)-Thru-Hike
http://walkforawhile.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -2011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Im planning to do it solo early May. The LSHT club has all the maps on their site. I printed, laminated, and spiral bound them to take on my trip. You can join their yahoo group and post questions, very knowledgable and friendly bunch.

http://lonestartrail.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[t100]

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/sho ... -Thru-Hike
http://walkforawhile.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -2011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Im planning to do it solo early May. The LSHT club has all the maps on their site. I printed, laminated, and spiral bound them to take on my trip. You can join their yahoo group and post questions, very knowledgable and friendly bunch.

http://lonestartrail.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are you doing a through trip? As of now, think my friend and I will hike the Goodwater trail in Georgetown. Close by and not to long of a hike split into three days. Please post a report when you get back!

[jackh]

Yes that's my plan if schedule allows. I may have to break it in half and to it over two long weekends though.

[BlackRifle]

I Backpack the LSHT every chance I get!

[BlackRifle]

I'm headed out on the trail around 9 am today

[larry long shadows]

Kool keep us up on how it goes...

[jackh]

I'm headed out on the trail around 9 am today

How was it? Do you use a hammock?

[BlackRifle]

Trails were very muddy.

I don't use my Hammock when I take the dogs, but hammock camping out there is fantastic.


I didn't take very many pictures this trip. My Girlfriend and myself hiked from Trail head #1 to parking lot #6 for a total of around 18 miles.

[BlackRifle]

Mud mud mud.. and then more mud..

[jackh]

Looks fun, I hope to get the gf and dog out there soon.

[t100]

Thanks for the report! Like how you put the dogs to work. Bet they love hiking.