Hike: Elk Mountain Trail, Wichita National Wildlife Refuge OK, Wed., Nov. 26, 2014, 12:15-14:15CST
Distance: 3 miles Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Moderate due to elevation and boulders
Conditions: Bright blue sky. Temps in mid 50s with brisk wind, especially near the summit. Trails mostly dry with a few small puddles.
Thoughts/Observations:
Wonderful area to hike and explore. Igneous rock mountains rise abruptly from the Oklahoma plains. The boulders of all shapes and sizes add an other-worldly landscape to any hiking adventure in this refuge. Most of the basalt/granite rock is "grippy" making bouldering (scrambling) a bit easier. It can be rough on your finger-tips though.
Post Oaks are mostly "scrubby" due to rocky, thin soil, little rain, and windswept mountain faces. They were in their "Fall" coats of brown and red.
The lower temperatures eliminated the problem of bothersome insects and there were no snakes to be seen.
Used my iPhone as a camera with good success. One less item to take up the mountain.
Roxie (Rob and Diane's dog) really wanted to go with us, but this trail is not one for canines, too rocky and steep.
Ramblr App for hiking data again worked well: Ramblr Elk Mountain Hike
Distance: 3 miles Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Moderate due to elevation and boulders
Conditions: Bright blue sky. Temps in mid 50s with brisk wind, especially near the summit. Trails mostly dry with a few small puddles.
Thoughts/Observations:
Wonderful area to hike and explore. Igneous rock mountains rise abruptly from the Oklahoma plains. The boulders of all shapes and sizes add an other-worldly landscape to any hiking adventure in this refuge. Most of the basalt/granite rock is "grippy" making bouldering (scrambling) a bit easier. It can be rough on your finger-tips though.
Post Oaks are mostly "scrubby" due to rocky, thin soil, little rain, and windswept mountain faces. They were in their "Fall" coats of brown and red.
The lower temperatures eliminated the problem of bothersome insects and there were no snakes to be seen.
Used my iPhone as a camera with good success. One less item to take up the mountain.
Roxie (Rob and Diane's dog) really wanted to go with us, but this trail is not one for canines, too rocky and steep.
Ramblr App for hiking data again worked well: Ramblr Elk Mountain Hike
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