Hiking Henrick

Hi, I'm Henrick, hiker of the wilderness.

Hiking and backpacking in the woods is what I like to do most and I've made this website about the topic. Right now my site has some tips on gear to bring and some survival tips but I plan to add some info about destinations too later.

I also have another page dealing with campstoves.

Check out the list below, it contains important items to bring with you to the woods.

STEEL WIRE		You can do a lot of repairs with some steel wire.
FIRST AID KIT		It's good to have a first aid kit in case someone has some type of accident.
COOKING POT		A little cooking pot for boiling water and doing some light duty cooking is very important to have, especially if your water filter stops working.
FIRE TOOL		Pocket lighters are cheap and light, and fire is very important on a cold winter night. Bring at least three of them just in case one or two stop working. If your lighter gets jammed with snow it may not work until you remove the snow and dry it, so make sure your lighters are in a place where they don't get directly exposed to snow. Don't use matches, they run out quite quickly, and once they get wet they'll never work again.
WATER		A lot of people are switching to those hydration systems that have a bag of water with a hose that you drink out of, I would never trust my life on that, too many things that can break. Just use a sturdy plastic bottle such as a plastic US Army canteen or similar, they cost around 1 dollar and are absolutely perfect.
CAMPSTOVE		As far as I know there's not a single stove on the market that can compare to the Trailstove backpacking stove. The Trailstove weighs less than a pound, it burns wood that you gather on site so you don't have to carry any fuel, it has no moving parts. The design is extremely simple, it's a stainless steel cone with some holes in all the right places for air to go in and out and a screen for the wood, and a hose that you blow air into by mouth when you start it up. I think the big guys that are selling us fancy brand name stoves for big bucks would be embarrassed to make something as simple as this, but the simple truth is that the Trailstove backpacking stove that sells for about 20 bucks is a much better choice than any $200 ultra-light stove in the world.
TARP		As any hiker knows, a tarp is incredibly useful. You can make a simple shelter with it to sleep under. I normally don't bring a tent with me, I just sleep under the stars. But once in a while the weather turns ugly and then that tarp is real good to have around.
STRING		There's no reason not to bring some string, it weighs close to nothing and has a million uses.
FLASH LIGHT		Don't forget a good flash light or a head lamp. Many people say that you should always bring minimum 2 lamps but if your lamp is good just bring extra batteries and an extra light bulb.
COOKING POT		A light weight pot with a lid or some other type of similar water container is a quite important thing to bring to be able to boil water in case of an emergency.
FIRE TOOL		Fire is what will keep you alive in an emergency on a cold night. Use a regular disposable cigarette lighter and carry at least one extra with you in case of malfunction. Also carry a small magnesium block just in case.
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL		These tools come in a variety of models, generally Leatherman type tools or Swiss Army type knives. I myself have both a Leatherman Tool and a Swiss Army Knife.
TENT		I don't know why people are so obsessed with tents. If you are going during a cold time of the year then it's good to have one but in the summer time there's no need for one. Just bring a small tarp that you can suspend over yourself in case it rains.

DEADFALL TRAP

This type of trap is very effective but it will kill the animal that gets caught in the trap, so if you decide not to eat it you killed an animal for nothing. Only make a deadfall trap in an emergency.

You need the following things: A heavy log, a round rock, a sturdy stick about 1 to 2 feet long, a thinner stiff stick about a foot long.

Lift one end of the log up and support it with the sturdy stick. The sturdy stick in turn should be standing on top of the round rock. One end of the smaller stiff stick is placed between the rock and the sturdy stick, the other end should be suspended in the air right under the log, the stiff stick should be roughly horizontal.

Carefully place the bait on the stiff stick.

To make the trap more stable and more difficult to trigger you can cut the part of the stiff bait stick flat where it rests between the rock and the sturdy stick. You can also cut the bottom of the sturdy stick flat, it all depends on what size animal you are trying to kill.

This site is still under construction, I will be adding more stuff soon. For more outdoors info please check out everyone's favorite website: www.goingoutside.com .

I'd like to thank my boss for generously letting me host this site for free on this domain, thanks boss.

Big Thicket National Preserve

Beaumont, TX

The Preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 97,000 acres. Big Thicket was the first Preserve in the National Park System established October 11, 1974, and protects an area of rich biological diversity.

A convergence of ecosystems occurred here during the last Ice Age. It brought together, in one geographical location, the eastern hardwood forests, the Gulf coastal plains, and the midwest prairies.

December 15, 1981, the Preserve was designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program.

July 26, 2001, the American Bird Conservancy recognized the Preserve as a Globally Important Bird Area joining thousands of others around the world.

CONTACTS

Email - BITH_Administration@nps.gov

Fax- 409-839-2599

Write to
Headquarters
3785 Milam Street
Beaumont, TX 77701-4724

- or -
Visitor Center
6102 FM 420
Kountze, TX 77625-7842

Phone
Visitor Information - 409-246-2337
Headquarters - 409-839-2689

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Preserve Headquarters is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; closed on all government holidays. The visitor center is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily. Closed on Christmas and New Years.

Getting There
PLANE - The Southeast Texas Regional Airport, near Beaumont, Texas, has commerical airline service. Houston, Texas, about 100 miles from the Preserve, has two major airports served by a number of major airlines.

CAR - Enter Beaumont, Texas, via Interstate 10 and then take U.S. Highway 69-287 north from Beaumont. Seven miles north of Kountze, Texas, take FM 420 east and follow the signs to the visitor center.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - AmTrak and Commerical Bus transportation are available in Beaumont, Texas.

Weather & Climate
An average rainfall of 55 inches is well distributed throughout the year. Summers are warm and humid with daytime temperatures between 85 and 95 degrees fahrenheit with peaks to 100 or more. Moderate temperatures in the mid 50s to 60s are normal for winter. Spring and fall are very enjoyable and are the most pleasant seasons for outdoor activities. Wear comfortable outdoorwear, wear a broad brimmed hat, wear walking shoes, and carry rain gear.

Accessibility
The Preserve Visitor Center, the Sundew, Pitcher Plant, and Kirby Nature Trails are accessible. All picinic tables and rest rooms are wheelchair accessible.

Getting Around
Because the Preserve is composed of several units (land and water), one has to drive to each unit they wish to visit. The Official Map and Guide will assist greatly.

FEES/PERMITS

Permits
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING
Free! for 10 Days
Backcountry camping is available. Campers must have a valid Preserve issued Backcountry Use Permit to camp in designated areas. Permits can be obtained at the visitor center or Headquarters offices.

CAMPING

Backcountry Camping Only
Open All Year
Requires a valid, Preserve issued, Backcountry Use Permit (Form 10-404)
For More Information on this campground please call 409-246-2337

LODGING

Lodging is only available in nearby communities
Open All Year
The communities of Woodville, Kountze, Silsbee and Beaumont, Texas, all offer lodging.

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
BIG THICKET VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone - 409-246-2337
Location - Seven miles north of Kountze, Texas, in Hardin County, on U.S. Highway 69. Turn right on FM 420 and follow the signs.
Closures - Christmas and New Years Day
Exhibits - The Discovery Station will orient you to the world of Wildland and Prescribed Fire.
Available Facilities - Book sales, exhibits, theater, restrooms, pull through parking for large vehicles, and picnic tables.