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Glad you enjoyed the vid! Thanks for watching. Cheers!

Humidity levels in Texas can get unbearable during certain parts of the year, mainly late spring through early fall. It really depends on where you are though in the state on how humid it gets. East Texas is super humid due to the pine trees blocking wind from getting under the canopy and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Central Texas is hit or miss. San Antonio and North Texas can get super humid and hot. West Texas and up near the Panhandle are typically less humid than the rest of the state. If I’m home here in North Texas doing yard work for a few hours in the summer, I usually go through a full gallon of liquid between water, coconut water, and AF/NA beer. Today is supposed to get to 104F and a 30% humidity. That’s not that bad during the heat of the day. But, if you’re avoiding the heat of the day, do outside activities before 12p or after 6p. At 8a this morning we were at 79F and 78% humidity. Morning hikes can be downright muggy and the air thick. Timing is key. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Glad to hear the heat won’t be holding you back from enjoying the outdoors! I find that people just need proper knowledge and preparation to tackle most things. Fear of not knowing how or of failing holds too many wonderful people back from enjoying life. Share your knowledge and experiences and what’s worked for you and help others along their outdoor journey. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

It’s merino wool. I use it as a year round base layer. I made a video where I compare it to my synthetic sun hoodie. Which Sun Hoodie is BETTER? th-cam.com/video/8tl8UPRa6mU/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching. Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto Merino wool in the summer? Wow, that would have never occurred to me as an option. Thanks for the link, of course I’ll check it out.

I suppose, lol. Some of us are just gluttons for punishment. Thanks for watching!

Lol. Gulf coast here. If you wait until it's cooler, you get a grand total of two months to camp a year.

For sure, lol. I feel the more variation you have in your outdoor experience the better prepared you are for future outings. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you are. The more comfortable you are, the more apt you are to live in and enjoy the challenge of the situation rather than fret over the unknown. If you can do that, you’ll have more fun. And that’s what outdoor experiences should be….mostly! Thanks for watching! Cheers!

I’d recommend UPF 15+ as the minimum. Which, honestly, is about the level of simply putting on clothes, lol. In all seriousness, UPF 30+ is what I would look for and then decide how loose/close-fitting you want it to be. There are some fully synthetic and synthetic blend versions out there that can hit near 4oz. Unfortunately, most of the ones out there in that super low range are mail-order only, and they usually charge for return shipping. I’d recommend calling the manufacturer on a few and asking about how see through they are. You might find that UPF 30+ combined with a medium to dark color option is your best compromise. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Most, probably 75%, is jeep track or equivalent width. It’s a multiuse trail with loads of equestrian use….and sign, lol. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

No fee to camp on a National Grassland or National Forest. However, there is a fee to camp at Double Lake and Stubblefield Recreation Areas. Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto so that trail you camped on is free??? And thank you SO MUCH for informing me, I can't find the answer anywhere until you helped me, much appreciated!!!

I put together a few helpful links for you. Also, check out my vid reviewing the LSHT for more tips and resources. Cheers! -Helpful Links- National Forests and Grasslands in Texas www.fs.usda.gov/texas - go here for prescribed burn and closure notices Sam Houston National Forest www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/about-forest/districts/?cid=fswdev3_008443 US Forest Service - National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Official Facebook Page facebook.com/NFsandGrasslandsinTexas?mibextid=LQQJ4d Texas Burn Ban Map - Interactive tfsweb.tamu.edu/TexasBurnBans/ This only gets updated M-F -Video about the trail- th-cam.com/video/kwI3gL4dNcA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Ofo86LYTaydQBYoD

We used AllTrails for this. There’s a free version and a paid version. I used, and still use, the paid version called AllTrails+ You can download maps for offline viewing. If you set your phone(Apple) to Airplane Mode, your gps is still active and you can navigate within the downloaded maps. I feel like it’s reasonably priced for what you get out of it. That being said, out of curiosity, I’d like to try Onyx or Far Out Guides at some point. Those seem to be more popular for the Big 3 US trails. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Truth!

Woohoo!! Thanks for watching and subscribing!!!!

Those are all great pieces of kit! For both my puffy and my quilt, I went with Outdoor Vitals…. Puffy: Outdoor Vitals Novapro Men’s Medium Smoke Quilt: Outdoor Vitals Stormloft Down Topquilt 15F I love the features of the puffy. Ample pitzips to prevent overheating, zippered pockets, thumb holes on the sleeves, bungee cord on the hood. I know it’s heavier than some of the other puffy coats because of these things, but it’s incredibly warm! Not once on my Grand Canyon R3 trip did I find myself wanting for more warmth. Love the quilt, too! I really can’t say enough good things about the products I’ve bought from OV. Thanks for watching, Jason! Cheers!

Haven’t had the opportunity yet to hike that trail. I hear it’s beautiful. Best wishes on your thru hike! Thanks for watching!

I hope my trail review helps you in your adventure! Thanks for watching! Cheers!

After the LSHT, I returned to my tried and true sock system I’d used for years….with little to zero blisters….thin, polypropylene liners under wool socks. The outer socks are still SmartWool, like in my hiking boot days, just an ankle sock versus a higher boot cut. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Silence has always been his nemesis 😜 Keeps the trail interesting and I couldn’t imagine the adventure any other way! Thanks for watching!

Can’t say I’ve experienced that….hiking or otherwise. Never put myself in that position where I “needed to sober-up quickly.” Hike/bike/ride/drive/live responsibly. On this subject, I personally stopped using the caffeinated Nuun during the hotter months because I found that it overstimulates my sweat glands making me SUPER itchy. I just caffeinate in the mornings now with 1-2 cups of Joe and that’s all I need. I do it more so for the warmth and brain jolt. It’s like most other things on-trail….find what works for you. Everything else is just noise. Cheers!

Caffeine actually causes dehydration because it increases kidney faction - urination so it's best to avoid it in hot weather, otherwise you'll need to carry even more water to replenish it

See previous response. Thanks for watching.

Interestingly enough, the grapefruit notes of American beers isn’t a new fad. Cluster hops are native to the US and are thought to be used as far back as the American Colonial times! They’re often described as grapefruit, piney and catty. Admittedly, they’re still an acquired taste with most of the imbibing public. Now, your top 3 NA beers….Heineken 0.0, love this beer from cans only. That’s on par with the regular version, too. The hops haven’t been skunked in the can versions. Stella, I’ve only had it from bottle. There’s a great NA beer in there somewhere. Unfortunately, each one, unless gotten directly from the case before it’s had a chance to sit under the fluorescent/LED lights, has been skunked. Corona, phenomenal NA! This one I’ve bought several times. Each time has been directly from a new case that has not been under UV lights. If you are jamming on some NA brews, check out Dos XX Lime Salt NA. Damn good beer! Refreshing during the summer and that salt is mighty tasty after sweating your tail off hiking ;) The same is true of Bravus Raspberry Gose. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto Interesting info and thx for the reply, however, I previously stated my top 3 (non-alcoholic lagers) and find it a shame that neither are American made, so I'll ask you, do you know of an (American made) non-alcoholic "LAGER" that can compete with my top 3?...I will add that I tried "Coors Edge" and as for a cheaper price NA, it's respectable and the best (of the cheapies), my top 3 cost nearly twice as much as the cheapies, but it's looking like you get what you pay for.

*correction*...I meant ("Athletic" Brewing Company) lol

Athletic Upside Dawn, Athletic Light, and Brooklyn Special Effects Pils NA are about the only ones I’d recommend amongst the domestically produced brews. Athletic only focuses on NA. They don’t brew full strength beers. Brooklyn has fantastic beer all around and their NAs are no exception. There are a few others popping up, but I haven’t found the drinking experience to be as well rounded when it comes to flavor, aroma, mouthfeel that resembles full strength counterparts. Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto Again good info & thx for the reply! However, as I previously stated, I'm not a beer expert, so I have a question that maybe you can answer: As I've stated , I associate (beer flavor) with I think is the "LAGER"....The question is, "what is the main ingredient that I'm tasting that makes the lager taste like a lager? (Is it mostly the barley? Is it mostly the hops? Or the yeast? ). What's the main ingredient that makes (miller & coors & budweiser & pabst blue ribbon) taste like "the beer flavor"?

Good thinking on the frozen water bottles. Trust me. Hiking for 3+ hours in that kind of heat….you’ll sweat buckets. Look at my pack straps towards the end of the video. They’re salt crusted. Everyone is different, though. Knowing this, for me, I pack several salt packets for day hikes and salty snacks. I adjust up or down based off the weather, temperature, and past experiences. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Do better research. That isn't how salt and water work. It is very difficult to have too much salt. Your kidneys will remove excess. If your salt drops too far, you will have trouble sweating. Which is needed for regulating temperature.

​@@michaelconnor1542how do your kidneys remove excess salt? Oh yeah, by excreting water... Listen to your own advice. Salt dehydrates you. Unless you need it (and have water to drink with it!), Don't consume excess salt!

Thanks for watching. Every individual will have very different hydration and sodium needs. However, there are a few knowns here: 1. Extreme exercise temps (100F+) 2. Excessive sweating can occur during periods of high temps, high humidity, 90+ minutes of sustained exercise (compared to “normal” 77F or 25C) 3. Sodium plays an integral role in maintaining water balance in and outside of cells 4. Sodium is the main electrolyte lost through sweating 5. Too low of sodium (sub 1,500 mg/day) causes more issues for athletes, and the general population, compared to higher intake amounts (3,000-5,000 mg/day) 6. RDI of sodium is no more than 2,300 mg, under normal circumstances - these are extreme circumstances 7. Excessive water consumption, without electrolyte replacement, WILL lead to hyponatremia, which can lead to death in extreme cases Sources: Effects of Sodium Intake on Health and Performance in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Sports pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8955583/ Water Requirements During Exercise in the Heat www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236237/ How Much Sodium Should You Have per Day? www.healthline.com/nutrition/sodium-per-day#bottom-line

It’s funny what becomes “normal temps” in which to hike. After awhile you get acclimated….to a certain degree. Perhaps “acceptable level of discomfort” might be a better description? Everyone has their limit. I find it exhilarating finding what my ALDs are. Pushing personal boundaries and such. Keep pushing yourself….but do it safely. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Thanks for watching! We’re getting a very brief respite from triple digits here in Texas today and tomorrow. One of the weather folks called it a “cold front,” lol….high of 99F instead of the 105-109F we’ve been having. Stay safe. Stay hydrated. Take it easy. It’s supposed to be fun, after all. Cheers!

Haha! Good point, indeed! I typically don’t hike with both anymore. I just sweat WAYYY too much, lol. I used both for a short while through a few seasons and determined it was overkill for me personally. I’ll still bring my shirt with me so I have something dry to wear while my hoodie air dries. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

It’s brutal hiking in triple digits….a little prep goes a long way. Shorts and short sleeve shirts are great for ventilation. But, you have to use and remember to reapply sunscreen every so often. Pants and long sleeves have their drawback in that you will sweat a ton more. Subsequently, you need to drink more. But, I do feel like there’s better evaporative cooling with pants and a long sleeve shirt. Honestly, it all comes down to what YOU feel works best for you. Mix it up and see what suits you and your situation best. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

The short answer is, yes, I plan on creating and releasing more vids this year. It probably won’t be until Oct/Nov, though. Unfortunately, just shortly after I released the 2023 update, we had a medical emergency in our family that desperately needed our full attention. We’re still dealing with on-going medical issues but hoping to get a break come the fall. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

It’s a really fun area. The swimming there at the beach is great post-hike! Cheers!

Those are the Men’s SATU Adventure Pants from Outdoor Vitals. Love mine! Thanks for watching! outdoorvitals.com/products/adventure-pant

For sure. I love going out there on a Sunday or middle of the week. It’s a lot less crowded and you usually have the trails all to yourself. So much to see out there. Most important thing is planning your water stops(filtering) or making trips back to the front country to use water spigots. I usually have been able to filter 1-3 liters year round. It’s a lot harder during droughts but usually I can find some in the creeks. Always keep 1 liter in reserve! Thanks for watching! Cheers!

Got these from Outdoor Vitals. They have them in women’s sizes and in a shorts version, too. Great stuff! Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching, Loie! I’m wearing the Ridge Merino Men’s Solstice Lightweight Pullover Hoodie. I did a video comparing it to another sun hoodie. Check it out. I go into more details about specs and how it performs. th-cam.com/video/AyQ-VgtFQXY/w-d-xo.html Here’s the link for the company that sells them, as well. I don’t make any commission on this. I’m just providing for ease of use. www.ridgemerino.com/collections/merino-wool-hoodies-mens/products/mens-solstice-lightweight-pullover-hoodie?variant=40009047146605 Cheers! Best wishes on the Camino!

@@ChristopherGalletto Thanks buddy! I’m excited! Keep turning out your awesome videos! They are helpful to so many!

Thanks for watching and subscribing, Jesus! Best tips I can give are: - get the guidebook, take pics of the summaries - get the AllTrails+ app, maps/gps work in airplane mode….saved my butt from going off trail several times - get a good, rechargeable headlamp for night hiking….there are “cat eye” reflective markers on the trees in the eastern half - join the FB group to stay updated on re-routes….the folks in their are super helpful and friendly Hope this helps! If you haven’t already, check out my vids from 2022: Lone Star Hiking Trail Thru-Hike Part I th-cam.com/video/LKlUVToBG4Y/w-d-xo.html Lone Star Hiking Trail - Review (Thorns & Roses) th-cam.com/video/kwI3gL4dNcA/w-d-xo.html Cheers!

Sun hoodies are just great pieces of gear! Absolutely love both for different purposes. Merino fabric just makes sense for lots of outdoor activities for its thermoregulation and low-stink qualities….and, as you pointed out, bug barrier! Glad you enjoyed the vid! Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!

The Petrified Forest & Winslow were completely impulsive detours, lol. Each was one of those, “Hey! Look over there!” and then jerk the wheel onto the off ramp, hahahaha! Fun times and even better memories!

Thanks for your support, and I’m happy you’re enjoying the vids!

The Ouachita Trail is absolutely on my radar….looking at a possible 2024 thru hike! Haven’t been able to get ahold of the trail guide. It’s been out of stock for awhile now. Thanks for watching!

For sure! DVSP is my go-to testing ground for gear. Great diversity of terrain. Haven’t made the rounds to all the backcountry sites, yet. Looking at site 5 or 6 next time. Look like they’d be great sites on a clear night for some stargazing! Thanks for watching and subscribing! Cheers!

Glad you enjoyed it! Got Part 3 coming soon! Thanks for watching!

We started down SK on Oct 25th. It snowed a couple inches on us in New Mexico on our way out there. Kinda made us nervous about what we were going to see when we arrived to the GC. Here’s my LighterPack list(also linked it in the vid details). When I weighed in at the Backcountry Information Center I was about 28.5lbs. lighterpack.com/r/6azb5v Thanks for watching! Got a couple more vids coming out on our trip. Cheers!

Got another couple of videos over the next few weeks. Keeping my yellow jacket for warmer temps, lol. It’s super light on warmth. Glad you liked the vid! Cheers!

Day 1 was brutal on the knees and calves. It wasn’t until day 2 that I felt it in my quads. LOTS of stretching once we arrived in camp. This was such an amazing adventure! I’ll do a vid later down the line around what I did to prep for this trip. Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!

A great trip indeed! We’ve been backpacking buddies since our early Scouting days in ‘98. Always a memorable time! Thanks for your continued viewing support, Son in Law! I’ll announce 2023 trip plans nearer the end of the year….one of them shouldn’t be a surprise, lol. Cheers!

Thanks for watching, Jeff! Keep an eye out for the next video. Dropping these about 1 week apart as I edit and publish them. Such an awesome trip!

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching!

You can be in great shape and have all the highest rated gear, but you’ll derail an otherwise good trip with a defeatist mentality. Mental attitude is the best gear you have no matter what you do in life. Plus, it’s free to work on and you have it no matter where you go. Thanks for watching! Cheers!

For sure. Neither one of these is the lightest, by any means. The OR Echo, for instance, is only around 4oz/115g. It’s also only 15-20upf due to the thinner material. It’s not as odor resistant, too. Texas is the fourth sunniest state(AZ, NM, NV being 1-3) and trade offs will always play a part in gear selection. UPF rating, breathability, quality, and minimalist features were all key when making my decision that suited my geographical needs. Thanks for watching, Lexu!

Glad you’re enjoying the vids and thanks for subscribing, Stephen! I’m going to have to pull out the Philmont map and look at our itinerary….still have it over 20yrs later, lol. It’s where I truly fell in love with backpacking and the awesomeness of going somewhere so breathtaking that you just don’t get with car camping! You earn the views with hiking and backpacking. Paid for in mosquito bites, blisters, sore legs, and sweat. Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto Same! Training hikes and Philmont is where I truly fell in love with backpacking. I was crew chief and still have all my maps and crew itinerary from the trip in the same ziplock bags I used on trail. Great times! ✌🏻✌🏻

Sounds like a glorious day on trail! Spent some great weekends at Ray Roberts Isle du Bois during my university days. The Greenbelt Corridor is another good one to hike up that way. Thanks for watching, Irreverent RN! Gotta try a frozen isotonic on my next hike. Been doing that on my summer moto trips and it works great! Thanks for the tip! Cheers!

@@ChristopherGalletto no shade on the green belt but I love to ride my bicycle there in the winter!

Glad you enjoyed the video! When you truly love doing something, you find ways to continue doing those things, despite the obstacles. Just passing my personal experiences along so others can enjoy their time outdoors, as well. The outdoors can be a fun, almost magical, place when you are properly prepared for the challenges it throws your way. Thanks for watching Quid2005. Stay safe out there!

Thanks for watching, Jake! Glad you liked the vid!

Thanks for the recommendation, Jeff! I’m always on the hunt for something to aid in relieving that demon itch, lol! But, if there’s something out there that gets rid of the oils as well, that’s a HUGE bonus and game changer! Can you elaborate a little more on your experiences? Btw, I already have some coming in the mail! Thanks for watching, Jeff!

@@ChristopherGalletto We live on rural property in South Texas. We have poison ivy and poison sumac on our property. As long as we were long sleeve shirts and pants we don't get it on us. Sometimes our dogs will run through the poison ivy or sumac and get it on their fur and then it gets on us. As long as we catch it early it is not a problem. If we don't the TecNu Extreme works great on getting rid of it.

Thank you Jeff for sharing! Definitely going to keep some on hand. There’s a lot of poison ivy here in North Texas. I felt like I was tiptoeing around and dodging it the whole time on one of the recent trails I went hiking. Cheers!