Friday 1-8-2016, Milton Reimers Ranch

DSC_0895DSC_0898I was feeling good after the 8 mile hike that I took yesterday and the weather was still so nice that I decided to re-visit Milton Reimers Ranch in SW Travis County only this time, the plan was to take just a short walk and concentrate on taking pictures.

DSC_0829Well, with the best laid plans and all of that, I ended walking the entire length of the river trails bottom and top. I drove to the furthermost parking area with the intentions of exploring the trails around the “Wild Turkey Sightings” although I was not expecting to see any of them. This is also the entrance to the “Expanded Rock Climbing Area” on the very Northernmost  end of the Park.

DSC_0832The climb down into the gorge was a little tricky and I debated as to whether I should even try it. The little boy in me kept urging me on saying, “You can do it. Forget how old you are, you can do it”. So, I pushed ahead and carefully climbed down the rocks until I was on the trail. Once there, the trail was just fine and very walkable as I headed along it towards the Existing Rock Climbing area which is right at the very start on the Southern end of the park.

DSC_0887For most of the walk, the trail was very pleasant as it followed the river and I took several pictures of the wonderful views. There was one place as I was getting close to the Rock Climbing Area where the rocks had fallen right into the river making a very difficult climb up and over to continue on the trail. Once past that point, I headed up the gorge that was the way out with some trail very walkable and the other part a venture in rock climbing. The towering cliffs above me is where the young and foolhardy enjoy their sport of rock climbing. I could see the pitons that had been hammered into the rocks for all to use. That is not for me. I am not afraid of heights but I am afraid of falling or rather the heavy bump at the end of the fall. My frail old body just couldn’t take one of those sort of falls.

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At the base of this “Rock Climbing Area” is a large cave where the water over many thousands of years had washed out the softer rock from that above. See the picture below taken from inside the “cave”.

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I continued on up the gorge with several people passing me going in both directions. Some had finished their climb or their walk while others were just starting. Me, I was halfway through.

DSC_0906I finally made my way out of the gorge area which I have to confess, this part is one of the most difficult trails I have ever encountered for some time and is not for the weak of heart. I arrived onto the top trails, passing several people all trying to decide if they really wanted to go down that difficult trail.

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The upper trail back was a piece of cake compared to what the other trail had been like. It was a gravel finished trail and several other hikers were enjoying it. I finally got back to the furthermost parking area where I had started after covering another 6 miles and enjoying every minute of it.

DSC_0909I still didn’t get to explore the trails on the Northern end of the park and have that to look forward to.

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