Dear Perimeter Hiker

It's time for another session of "Dear Perimeter Hiker"! Let's just jump right in, shall we?
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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

You tweeted that your shoes and socks have holes in them. Well, what does a worn out shoe from the Texas Perimeter Hike look like?

I like my Shoes New

Dear ILMSN,

If you regard the above picture, you'll see a small tear in the shoe toward the middle right of the photo. I noticed this when I felt a tingling in my foot. Looking down, I could see my pinky toe through both shoe and sock! Upon further inspection of my footwear and a quick calculation of the miles walked in them (over 400 miles... I got them after Palacios and then walked a lot of the beaches barefoot), I realize that it's time to retire said shoes. Hard to say what I'll replace them with though. More on that later.
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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

I notice your mileage is way down. How's that toe treating you?

Stay off the Foot

Dear SOTF,

After 50 plus miles, I've come to the conclusion that I fractured my toe as opposed to breaking it. It hurt badly the first couple of days out of Texarkana, but it's gotten much better since. I use two poles and do my best to keep the weight off of my left foot. In the picture above, I have used the "buddy system" of toe healing. Underneath the bandage is a slightly swollen and slightly bruised toe. It feels better but still has a ways to go.

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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

You haven't posted a picture of yourself anywhere. What do you look like these days?

Looks Aren't Everything

Dear LAE,

The weather has changed and with it any chance for looking even remotely like everyone else. The straw hat has been replaced with the stereotypical homeless head-hugger. The normally awesome Patagonia polypro has many holes in it, but since it does the job, I'm hesitant to invest in a new one. I'm wearing longjohns under my shorts now that the cold has come in (low 40s today in Paris, TX), and I imagine even these looks will change in the weeks to come.

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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

What are you doing for the holidays? Are you plunging ahead into the Panhandle or what?

Watching Your Progress

Dear WYP,

I am getting off the edge of Texas! I am spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends. I just hope I don't come back to an arctic Texas.

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Until next time, wanderers...

Good, Not Good

About a week or two ago, I was hiking along while chatting with a high school friend named Jacob Garcia. He was asking me various questions about the hike, what I was doing at that moment, what I'd be doing in the near future. There seemed to be no end to the questioning.

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Suddenly, I felt a distinct bodily urge and told Garcia that I had to go into the woods. Under normal city circumstances, this is when most people cut out. Not Garcia. "This is what I'm talking about," he said, "This is what people want to know about." I was unaware that there was any complexity to the process of "doing the business" outdoors, but I figured that if Garcia didn't know, there might be other Aggies out there who could benefit from a quick education about finding toilet paper substitutes out in the wilds of the Texas highway system.

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We at the University of Texas are well schooled in outdoor waste disposal, as the need occasionally arises on A&M campuses across the state. While I do not recall the specifics, nor do I wish to confuse the issue for any potential Aggie readers, I present to you "Good, Not Good," a quick-and-easy guide that should be comparable in academic level to that of any graduate school material you might encounter in the A&M university system.

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(Leave No Trace principles encourage backcountry hikers to dig a hole at least 6" in depth for your waste. You can do this with a stick, stone, or store-bought shovel. Deposit your waste, along with any subsequent wiping material, and cover it all up.

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When going potty on A&M campuses, most UT students reference the alternative Leave A Big Fat Hairy Trace principles. In this case, Leave No Trace rules may not be applicable.)

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A quick note: any material may be used to wipe off excess excrement. In an emergency, please feel free to use anything. However, if you are given the choice, some are better than others, as shown below.

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Without further ado, I give you "Good, Not Good." Enjoy.

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GOOD.

Large and pliable, this leaf will serve your basic needs.

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NOT GOOD.

More is not necessarily merrier.

In order to make a good square, you will have to use your thumb.

At the crucial moment, however, you will want to retract said thumb.

After that, it's between you and God.

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GOOD.

Different shape, same wonderful wiping potential.

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NOT GOOD.

Pine needles may have sap on them.

Unless you want to trade one sticky substance for another,

I suggest you find something else.

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GOOD.

Don't be fooled by the color.

If it's still on tree, it still wipes for me.

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NOT GOOD.

A bird's nest ushers stuff into this world,

so why can't it take it away?

Chances are high that after using this you'll walk away

with little bits of Mother Nature a tad too close to home.

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GOOD.

Skinny leaves like this can still be folded into a workable square.

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NOT GOOD.

Recycling is a wonderful thing,

but this discarded scrap of aluminum can

is best left by the side of the road.

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GOOD.

A dark red leaf is still a good wiper.

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NOT GOOD.

A piece of tire might leave skid marks on you.

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GOOD.

Not my first choice, pine cones

are often a top pick on many NOLS courses.

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NOT GOOD.

Neither a fork nor a spoon,

this used spork probably wouldn't be a good idea

even if it were perfectly clean.

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And this concludes "Good, Not Good." I hope you learned something.

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Until next time, wipers...

The Wickiup

One of things I learned out on the BOSS survival course was how to build a wickiup (I'm finally adopting the correct spelling after writing "wikkiup" for several tweets.). A wickiup, or wigwam, is a temporary shelter used by Native Americans. If made correctly, a traveler can keep warm and dry even in low temperatures or rainy weather.

All of my wickiups took about 90 minutes to construct. They're surprisingly easy to make, though a little time consuming.

First, a rough structure is made out of branches. (In each of the wickiups below, I used a different overall structure.) The central branches must be strong enough to support a lot of weight, as the weight of the surrounding duff adds up. Second, dry duff (leaves and pine needles) is collected in bunches and laid around the structure much like shingles on a roof. Placed from bottom to top, the duff fills in the gaps and makes a warm protective cover. The thickness of this duff determines how warm the shelter will be, and more can be added to suit the situation.

Two notes: The structure we built in BOSS had another step. We added large pieces of pine bark between the structure and the duff for added support and protection against the elements. The bark also keeps duff from getting knocked down into your sleep area (and all over you and your stuff!). I didn't have any bark or any other substitute, so I just had to deal.

I also didn't put up a "door" to complete the insulation. A simple piece of fabric would have sufficed, but I preferred a little cool air circulating around my space.

. . .1st Wickiup from Behind, Hallsville, TX
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My first wickiup (shown above and below) was made with a long spine, much like the roof of a house. I placed long sticks on either side until I felt confident I could stack leaves and needles on top of it.
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1st Wickiup from Front, Hallsville, TX
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2nd Wickiup from Afar, Northeast of Marshall, TX
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My second wickiup (shown above and below) was made over a depression in the earth. Instead of a central spine, I laid branches horizontally over the depression until I felt they were thick enough to support the weight of the duff. Instead of layering the duff like shingles, I just threw it on top. The room I had in this one was the smallest of the three wickiups.
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2nd Wickiup from Front, Northeast of Marshall, TX
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3rd Wickiup from Side, Caddo Lake State Park, TX
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My third wickiup (shown above and below) was the only freestanding one I made. The structure was basically like an elongated teepee with many smaller branches shoved in between the gaping holes. Again, I layered the duff, and it worked out well.
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3rd Wickiup from Front, Caddo Lake State Park
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These structures were far from necessary, as the really cold weather is to come. But I had fun making them, and the practice was good. I know this experience will help me on a trip in the future. If I had known it a decade ago, I wouldn't have suffered with my cousin Benji who likes to snore all through the night. Such is life.

Until next time, adventurers...

In the News...

Well, while I'm trying to figure out exactly how my current library computer is failing to allow me to upload photos, I'll post a link to the Texarkana Gazette about my recent couchsurfing experience with Michael Boyd of Texarkana. The link is posted below:

Click here for the article and photo!

Until next time...

In the News...

As many of you know, I am writing a self-syndicated column for newspapers around the state of Texas. I'm always looking for a way to let people experience what I'm going through, and the columns serve this purpose.

Here are a couple of recent columns that came out. I don't enjoy having my work tampered with, and unfortunately, that's exactly what happened with one of the following columns. Technically, one of the following was edited, much to my dismay. Flow is very important to me, the idea that one sentence or paragraph rolls smoothly into the next, and if my work has to change, I prefer to make those changes with the flow in mind. Oh well.

I'll stop editorializing. Enjoy the articles.

For the article in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, click here. It is about the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

For the article in the Victoria Advocate, click here. It's about my encounter in Seadrift, Texas.

Until next we cross paths...

Dear Perimeter Hiker

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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

Has the BOSS survival course training helped you on this trip?

-Was It Worth It?

Dear WIWI,

When I participated in my survival course, I had originally envisioned it helping me in the western part of the state where the topography and climate would be more similar to that of Utah’s. I didn’t know if any of the knowledge would apply in my day-to-day living.

There are two answers to this question:

As per direct knowledge, the answer would have to be an excruciatingly painful ‘no.’ Sure, I use a knot or two that I learned in my survival course when setting up my tarp, but I don’t make fire from scratch, haven’t caught a fish with my bare hands, don’t make my own rope, haven’t tried trapping wild animals with a figure four, don’t eat out of a wooden burn bowl, and haven’t killed and processed a large animal.

However, there is a certain quality to the course which falls under the realm of experience. In this regard, the course has done me a great deal of good. I’m confident in ways I don’t think I was before. I’m more analytical when it comes to making decisions about where to sleep and how to sleep. It’s impossible to quantify this aspect of the experience. For example, if I have no supply of food or water and am two full days from either and my feet hurt and the weather is against me, I’ll still remain upbeat. It’s hard to imagine having that kind of confidence prior to the survival course.
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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

What are you eating out there?

-Get In My Belly

Dear GIMB,

I carry snacks and basically just skimp on my meals. I’m passing through so many communities that I’m not worried about having tons of food or a truly balanced diet. Put another way, I’m almost always a day or two away from a nice sit-down restaurant. So why carry food on my back?

When I happen to be on a multi-day stretch toward civilization, I eat peanut butter, raisins, and bread. Right now, I’ve switched out the peanut butter for some Nutella. It’s been decent, but I really think the chunky peanut butter is where it’s at.
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Dear Perimeter Hiker,

What tech & navigation gear do you have with you? What kind of phone, GPS, maps, etc?

-Geeked Out On Technology

Dear GOOT,

I am not using much in the way of navigation gear. I have a standard road map and a standard phone. I do not use GPS or specialized maps. I originally carried a compass with me but cut it out of my pack due to non-use.

I have heard of people using the SPOT device to track their movements on various trips. I considered this, even so far as asking SPOT to sponsor me, but ultimately decided against it. Furthermore, walking alone doesn’t lend itself to bulking up on expensive equipment.

The one area that I might re-evaluate is my map carrying. I walked on the most beautiful side road a few days ago. Trees stood right by the road (instead of being cut back), parts of the road were flooded (which I enjoyed since it wasn’t raining), dogs ran up on me, people waved. I wouldn’t have known about the side road had my host not had a county map.
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Until next time, hikers…

Books on the Texas Perimeter

I typically hike with a book and catch a few pages both on the road and curled up in my bag at the end of the day. Below are a few of the books that I bothered to lug with me, books that broke my back but helped remind me of the wonder of it all. Enjoy.

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Thalia, Texas is the fictional setting for The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry. It's a one-stop-light town where old habits die hard and time seems like it will stretch for an eternity. The focal point of the novel centers around the lives of its high school kids, for in their hands rests the power to break the cycle of small town existence. As the book unravels, you find out the sad and uneventful reality about its adults... that they have been trying to break the same cycle for their entire lives. A well-written and enjoyable book.
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The cover doesn't say a whole heck of a lot, but within the pages of Tales of Old-Time Texas, J.Frank Dobie (of Dobie Center fame in Austin) spins dozens of yarns he heard over the years about the Lone Star state. The stories are mostly from the 19th century and highlight the people, the animals, the weather, and tales of lost Texas treasure. My favorite chapters cover the outlaw Sam Bass, honeybees in Texas, and the Woman of the Navidad. The tales are decidedly lighthearted, but they capture the essence of an era all but lost to the passing of time. A delightful and compelling read.
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Author and sports fan H.G. Bissinger wanted in the late 80s to visit an American football stronghold, some place where the community came together and lived for the thrill of the sport. He found such a place in Odessa, TX, where each week would pull in 15,000 to 20,000 fans on Friday night. During th 1988 season, Bissinger lived in Odessa, conducted hundreds of interviews, went to every game, followed the players on the field, at school, and at home, and ultimately produced Friday Night Lights, a work of such profound journalistic depth that I had trouble not rereading the entire thing a second time. Many issues come into play, such as the intensity of the game, the sincerity of the major players and coaches, the fanaticism of the town. However, the story becomes much more compelling when issues of racism, grade tampering, and community harassment are woven into the story, glaring and as bright as those Friday night lights. A fantastic piece of non-fiction and a must-read.
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Until we meet again...