Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Pool was the first 50-meter pool to open in Austin.

I took my first swim lessons at Northwest District Pool in 1970, more than a decade after it opened as the first 50-meter Olympic-sized pool in Austin.

In the ensuing years, my sisters and I spent long afternoons there, leaving our belongings in wire baskets behind the entry desk, working up the nerve to jump off the high dive and buying ice cream sandwiches from a vending machine in a chain link shed.

The diving board and vending machines are long gone, but the pool recently underwent a renovation. And at noon on Aug. 9, it will mark its 70^th birthday with free entry and a community celebration.

The City of Austin purchased land for the park – at 7000 Ardath Street, the site of an old quarry – in 1955. The pool opened for a swim meet on July 28, 1956, and was formally dedicated on August 9, 1956. During the pool’s first month of operation, more than 31,000 people visited – more than visited Barton Springs Pool at the time, according to a press release from the city.

Read more: Why swimming in a lake, pond or river beats a pool every time

The park was renamed to honor former Parks and Recreation Director Beverly S. Sheffield in 2001. Sheffield’s daughter, Sally Sheffield Attaway, will speak at the Aug. 9 celebration, and other family members will attend.
Recent renovations included resurfacing of the 50-meter pool, new shade structures, upgraded fencing and lighting, and an improved entry area. Thankfully, the curved, open-air bathhouse looks the same, although it’s been upgraded with new fixtures.

The celebration starts at noon and will include a demonstration by the McCallum High School swim team and displays of historic photos and memorabilia. Snacks will be provided. Austin Parks and Recreation, Friends of Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park, Austin Parks Foundation and the Allandale Neighborhood Association are hosting the event.

Shield Ranch Barton Creek is located 20 miles west of downtown Austin. Photo courtesy Shield Ranch Foundaiton

Dream of scampering up and down rolling ranch roads in the Hill Country on a mountain bike?

Registration is open for this fall’s Wild Ride at Shield Ranch Barton Creek, set for Sept. 26. The ranch, a 6,600-acre property west of Austin protected through land easements, allows rare cycling access to the property. The ranch makes up about 10 percent of the Barton Creek Watershed.

Here’s a story I wrote about Shield Ranch for The Nature Conservancy a few years ago.

Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Shield Ranch Foundation’s Wild for Good Circle, which supports programs including Camp El Ranchito, which brings fourth- through twelfth-graders from low-income households to the ranch for nature immersion camps.

Shield Ranch will open to mountain bikers for Wild Ride on Sept. 26. Photo courtesy Shield Ranch Foundation

Participants can choose from 8-mile and 16-mile routes.

Cost is $150 and includes a $100 tax deductible donation to the Shield Ranch Foundation. Lunch and post-ride refreshments are included. (Cost is $50 for non-riders.)

The ride starts at 8:30 a.m.

Last year I hiked and swam up Santa Elena Canyon at Big Bend National Park. Charlie Gandy photo

I first got hooked on hiking as a kid, when my dad led me into the ravine at the end of our street in Northwest Hills. That led to longer hikes along Shoal Creek and the Barton Creek Greenbelt. But even I discovered plenty of new routes while researching my latest book, “Urban Trails Austin” (Mountaineers Books; $18.95.)

The guide, set to publish Oct. 1, highlights 40 trails in and around the city, from the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake to the Brushy Creek Regional Trail in Round Rock.

I’ve hiked over Whitney Pass on the John Muir Trail twice. Chris LeBlanc photo

The book is available for pre-order now here. I’m also planning several book signings. Stay tuned for more information on that.

I’ve spent the last couple of years sneaking in hikes whenever I can, and I’ve learned a lot.

The best trail if you’re training for a backpacking trip? The River Place Nature Trail.

The best trail for birdwatchers? The Hornsby Bend Trail.

The best trail if you want to take a dip when you’re done? The loop at Commons Ford Ranch.

The 224-page book covers these trails and more, including routes at Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park and along Onion Creek.

If you’re not familiar with my work, I’m a long-time journalist who spent 21 years at the Austin American-Statesman, where I wrote mainly about fitness and adventure. (Remember the Fit City column?) I’m happiest outside, and biking, hiking and swimming are part of my daily life. I’ve backpacked the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Trail in California, as well as routes through Glacier National Park and Big Bend National Park. Here in Austin, you can frequently find me on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, especially if there’s been rain.

Today I’m on the loose as a freelance writer. I focus on travel, outdoor adventure and environmental issues for about 30 publications, including Texas Monthly, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, The Nature Conservancy Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Texas Highways, and Texas Coop Power Magazine. Find links to my latest work at www.pamleblancadventures.com.