Maddy's Epic Birthday Hike - ENTIRE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT!!

Hey y’all, it’s my birthday week! And do you know what this crazy girl wants for her birthday?! To trek the entire 14.5 miles of the Barton Creek Greenbelt! Join Hike with Maddy ATX on Sunday, October 11 at 9:00AM, for an epic birthday hiking adventure. We will start at the Barton Creek Greenbelt Mile Marker Zero in Zilker Park, hike the entire 7.25 miles to the Hill of Life Trailhead, and then turn around and do it all again! This will be a long and challenging hike over rocky, uneven terrain, but we will keep a supportive group pace and take breaks along the way. I expect the full trek to take approximately 6 to 8 hours, depending on the group’s pace and how long we stop. Not ready to commit to all 14.5 miles? No worries! You are welcome to join us for as much of the hike as feels good to you. Since this is an out-and-back route, you can turn around earlier and return to Mile Zero whenever you are ready. If you plan to turn back early, please be prepared to navigate back independently or coordinate with another hiker who wants to do the same distance. Here's the details for the hike: 🥾 Distance: Approximately 14.5 miles ⏰ Start Time: 9:00 AM ⏳ Hiking Time: Approximately 6 to 8 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Mile Zero Trailhead near Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park (Click here to be taken to the exact Meetup location!) 🪨 Terrain: Rocky, uneven, and hilly 🐕 Dogs: Dogs are allowed on the Barton Creek Greenbelt trail; however, please be mindful of pups' ability to handle this long trek. If you bring a dog, please have a plan in place to care for your dog and please relay your plan to Maddy on how you plan to keep your dog safe through this hike. What to Bring - this is so important y'all! 💧 At least one gallon of water is required to attend the full hike. I trust you are all are aware of your water needs for this trek, so please, please, please bring enough water if you plan on doing the entire walk. 🥪 Lunch and several energizing snacks. Maddy will be bringing some snacks to share with the group during lunch time, but PLEASE bring enough food and snacks with you - we will be taking a lunch break! 🥾 Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes with good traction 🧢 Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat 🩹 A small first-aid kit and any personal medications 📱 A fully charged phone with the trail map downloaded 👕 Layers appropriate for the weather 🔦 A small flashlight or headlamp, just in case This hike is best suited for experienced hikers who are comfortable spending most of the day on the trail. Please honestly assess your fitness level before committing to the full distance. There is absolutely no shame in choosing a shorter route! The goal is to challenge ourselves, enjoy the Greenbelt, and have a fun and safe adventure together. Come celebrate my birthday in the most Maddy way possible: outside, moving our bodies, and surrounded by an amazing hiking community. Let’s see how far these legs can take us! I can’t wait to hike with y’all! 🥾🎂🌿