Jan One | Hike 01

Jan One hike

Hike 01 | 01-01-18

The Jan One hike has become a tradition for me. This was my third year in a row. My friends Britney and Jessica joined me on a cold morning. I think it was 7ºF when we woke up that day. We hiked in Spanish Canyon because it always gets a bit warmer there. We laughed and found new places. I broke my GoPro first time out. Inspired by Jessica’s hikes in 2015, I decided I would do 52 hikes this year. Jessica tells me there’s a patch you can get. She says it’s based on the honor system, but she’d never wear the patch if she hadn’t really. That’s the just type of dirtbag I hike with. 

Christmas Eve Eve in Spanish Canyon

Christmas Eve Eve

in Spanish Canyon

Angie LaPaglia and I got away from wrapping presents for a while and explored some new places around Spanish Canyon on Christmas Eve Eve. 

Crapshoot Scout Day 1

Crapshoot Scout Day 1

De Cooper and I started a long overdue scout of an area we call Crapshoot. For the last two years, De has had this idea of combining this tough hike with another tough hike we call The Chavez. 

To fill you in, The Chavez is a hike named after our friend Josh Chavez, the originator of the route. It consists of parking at Post Oak and hiking up the south side of Elk Mountain to The Water Caves, then to The Rock Rooms, down The Slide and back to the car. The hike takes about 5-6 hours and can be physically draining. It’s my favorite hike in the refuge.

So De’s idea is to add Crapshoot to The Chavez making a hike that could last up to 7 hours plus through some of the most challenging parts of the Elk Mountain and the refuge. 

Below are some shots of Day One. For shots of Day Two go to: http://www.toddeclark.com/blog/2017/11/20/crapshoot-scout-day-2