Topic

Wichita Mountains Overnighter


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums Campfire Member Trip Reports Wichita Mountains Overnighter

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #1236333
    Christopher Chupka
    Member

    @fattexan

    Locale: NTX

    I got one of the Monday thru Wednesday slots early this week for the Backcountry area of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The backcountry area is specifically called Charons Garden. It was very rainy, windy, and cloudy all day Monday and into Tuesday afternoon.

    I arrived at the parking area around noon and headed up to Twin Rocks Mountain.

    Twin Rocks Mountain

    The trail was cut off by this guy, who I had about a half hour conversation with trying to convince him of my sincerity that I offered him no harm. Each step I would take off my protected highpoint he would either turn in my direction or even take a step towards me.

    Buffalo

    Once he was a safe enough distance I sprinted to a rock across the trail to another safe rock high enough to be protected.

    After a quick scramble up the weather cleared a little while upon on top Twin Rocks.

    Scramble up Twin Rocks

    View From Twin Rocks

    View From Twin Rocks 2

    After an hour or so up top I found a sheltered campsite among the calf high wet grass and buffalo sh*&.

    Fly Creek and UL60 Quilt

    Cooked dinner on my stove and promptly fell asleep when the sun set. Woke up late due to rain and the fly left open, wiped off my quilt and tent floor and fell right back to sleep.

    In the AM followed the unnamed stream (river with all the rainfall) south down to Treasure Lake.

    Unnamed River

    Treasure Lake

    Had breakfast and then head back north from the Treasure Lake trail into the Boulder Fields.

    The trail follows the drainage into Treasure lake back uphill slightly.

    River Trail

    Waterfall

    Back to the parking area again I hiked up Elk Mountain.

    Elk Mountain

    Temps hit about 90 around 4PM, got bored and forgot my book, pulled 2 ticks off of me, wussed out and headed home.

    #1501491
    todd
    BPL Member

    @funnymo

    Locale: SE USA

    Christopher,

    How beautiful IS that place?!!

    I haven't heard of it until now. Lucky you…..and who hasn't bailed before!!??

    Great pics.

    #1501507
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Nice pics Chris. I still have yet to get up there. Missed a trip a couple months ago out there.

    #1501655
    Phil Barton
    BPL Member

    @flyfast

    Locale: Oklahoma

    Chris, thanks for the pics. I've been by the WMLR many times. But I've never made that hike. Now, I'll be waiting for the fall to come and have those trails on my list of places to explore.

    #1502215
    Justin McMinn
    Member

    @akajut

    Locale: Central Oklahoma

    The Wichitas have some great rock gardens. I just wish the park was larger. You can't really get away from everyone else. Me and some friends did a day hike up to Twin Rocks (a.k.a. "The Crab Eyes"). There are some great views of the plains from on top.

    There is also some rocks that have formed a cave by Elk Mountain. Trip Report for that scramble

    #1502232
    Dondo .
    BPL Member

    @dondo

    Locale: Colorado Rockies

    Wow, Chris! That is beautiful country. Thanks for sharing the photos. I can relate to your encounter with the bison because I had a similar situation with a moose. When I got back to town I told a friend that I was changing my trail name to "Dances with Moose". She replied that "Runs from Moose" would be more appropriate.

    #1503027
    Tom Clark
    BPL Member

    @tomclark

    Locale: East Coast

    Chris, you go to lots of very cool places. Thanks for posting!

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Get the Newsletter

Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light!

Gear Research & Discovery Tools


Loading...