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| 7/16/2005 5:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Finding adventure close to home
By MISTIE HOUSEHOLTER
Leader Staff
Tara Putnam needed an activity to keep her busy during the summer off from teaching at Round Rock’s Robertson Elementary. Ben Struthers needed a group of friends to explore Austin’s many outdoor recreation hot spots.
Putnam found activities and Struthers found fellow explorers in Hill Country Outdoors, a local activity and social club for outdoor enthusiasts.
“It’s more fun doing outdoor stuff with a group of people rather than going hiking by yourself,” said Struthers, a Southwestern University graduate whose group of adventurous college friends moved away after graduation.
The club hosts two to four events daily (60 each month) throughout the year for its nearly 500 members from Austin, Round Rock and the surrounding areas.
Many of the activities involve hiking, swimming and biking but others are more extreme or rare: windsurfing, tree canopy swinging, bug tasting, hang gliding and caving. The members also meet socially to check out new restaurants, attend movies and play on recreational sporting leagues.
“We like to say ‘Your life is busy so let us help plan your social and activity agenda.’ During the week, there are a lot of the social-type events and on weekends we do bigger trips,” said Bill Talbot, who bought the club from founders Steve and David Dahill in November 2004. The Dahill’s also started two sister clubs, Bayou City Outdoors in Houston and DFW Outdoors.
The Hill Country club in 2002 was named the “Best Place to Meet People Outside of the Office” by the Austin Chronicle.
“We describe ourselves as weekend warriors. We’re not extreme athletes. Our tag line is ‘There is always something new to try and a fun group to try it with,’” he said.
Most people join the club because they don’t have friends interested in outdoor activities, have just moved to the area, or are from the area but were never aware of the various outdoor recreational opportunities.
“It is as great way to get out and experience all Central Texas has to offer and do it with a welcoming group,” said Talbot.
Victor Leal, Struthers, Putnam and two other members learned to windsurf Sunday at Bob Wentz Park off RM 620. Leal said he’s wanted to windsurf but would not have tried the sport or even visited the park on his own.
“If I weren’t in the group, I’d probably just do Town Lake and that’s it,” he said.
Contact Mistie Householter at 255-5827 or by e-mail at city@rrleader.com .
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