Wichita Mountains Overnighter

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Back to the parking area again I hiked up 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.