Everything you need to know about Lost Maples, and why it’s the place to take pictures.  As autumn slowly comes end, we are all looking for places to take those last minute fall photos. Lost Maples, a state park in Vanderpool, TX, offers great hiking trails as well as a perfect place to take pictures.
Lost Maples has multiple trails throughout the park. The main trail is the East trail. This trail offers a rugged hiking experience, so wear proper attire. Along the East trail, there are also mini trails such as the Maple trail, which is a perfect place to take fall photos. Not only are there separate mini trials along the main route, but there are also small patches of Maple trees along the hiking trail. The East trail starts off at a very low elevation, but gradually gets higher. At one point in the trail, about halfway, the elevation gets really steep and there are a lot of loose rocks. It’s for these reasons that the park rangers highly recommend wearing proper hiking shoes, or trainers. For about ¾ of a mile, the hiking trail remains steep, and eventually flattens out. From here, hikers have the option of either turning around or continuing onto the outlook trail. The outlook trail offers a really scenic overview of the park and surrounding valleys. The overlook trail also connects to the East/West Trail, which is like a part two to the East Trail. The East/West trail starts at the top of the hill and gradually goes down. On this trail you get to see the whole park, as well as see the lake and the trail of maple trees. If you are not a fan of hiking, I recommend starting with this trail, and walking all the way to the lake and back. This way you will be able to take an ample amount of pictures in the leaves without having to do any of the hiking. It is recommend to go to Lost Maples within the next few weeks because the leaves are still red and the weather is finally cooling down. If you do plan on going to Lost Maples, bring some friends. There are not many signs posted on the hiking trails, making it easy to get lost. Also, bring plenty of water and food to eat, as the hike can take about three to four hours. As far as clothing goes, wear layers of light clothes. If it gets too hot during your hike, you can shed a few layers and it will still be easy to carry. Also wear proper shoes to avoid straining your legs and blistering your feet. The loose rocks make it a lot easier to fall if you’re not wearing the correct shoes. Zahra Soniwalla Online Editor-in-Chief
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Existing Through Music I went to Mala Luna with very high expectations. And, seeing as it was my first ever music festival, those expectations were outer space high. I wouldn’t exactly say that I am an expert on rap, and I wouldn’t say that I didn’t know who Future, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Playboi Carti and Ugly God were. Now, if that were the case, you all can just assume I’ve lived my life under a rock. But, I definitely would say I was a little more acquainted with their R&B portion of the festival, such as Khalid and Kali Uchis. Now, as far as music festivals go, they aren’t just limited to their music. Food, venue, and the people are a big part of that community as well. Would San Antonio be able to have smooth sailing like they did at last year's Mala Luna Festival?
Day 1: A smooth and early arrival made traffic non-existent and parking a breeze, which Brooke and I would later learn to appreciate, seeing as we would make many trips to her car over the exhausting time period of being there. Upon arrival, entry past the gates was speedy. Minus some minor setbacks, Brooke and I eventually made it inside, unscathed. At this point, we just wanted to listen to the music, so we headed towards the Beat Stage where Isabella Rodriguez was said to start at 1:50 and end around 2:10 p.m. We scrounged some chilli fries off of a friend and were pretty much set for the time being, until later when we fled back to the car and ate some Lunchables and Veggie Sticks. The crowd didn’t really start to pick up until around 4:50-5:20 when Ugly God performed. When the sun set is when the Mala Luna festival really started. The lights began to fill the night and the full extent of the stage decorations were finally revealed to us. After a very “lit” performance done by Playboi Carti, DJ Carnage was up next. I made sure to be tucked deep into the crowd, so I could really feel the vibe. Brooke and I were at each other's side, bouncing on our musical high, urgent for the stage crew to be done setting up and for Carnage to be outside already. When he finally stepped out, I could feel my smile ear to ear. At first, the music was at an innocent tempo, everyone was swaying, and then the beat dropped and I ended up leaving with a very bruised ankle, a new found love of personal space, and a best friend who thought writing her name and number on my arm was the best way to keep me from getting lost. Again. Day 2: Day two was very short lived. We started the day late which made for a rocky start. Traffic was a parking lot, and the heat factor was rising second by second. Parking wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t close either. Brooke and I arrived around late 5:20, and 5:30 was the set time for my favorite R&B performer, Khalid. Despite being a little ways back, hearing his voice live was somewhat like a spiritual awakening. He started off the night with his song “Another Sad Love Song”, which brought the whole festival together. I instantly became friends with everyone surrounding me, enjoying the music just as much as I was. He ended his performance with “Location” and peaced out to a very satisfied crowd. At this point, Brooke and I were so exhausted from the day before that we cut our time short and said our own little goodbye to Mala Luna 2017. Those two days were unbelievable, if I could relive them, I definitely would. Mala Luna means Bad Moon, but nothing about those music filled nights with my best friend was nearly bad. Mikhal Canoot Staff Writer What is high school appropriate |
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