Memorial Day 2011

On most Sundays, after church, I go out for lunch with a group of fellow choir members .  One day the discussion was about travel in Oklahoma.  My friend, Leonard, suggested I check out the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, near Lawton, Oklahoma. 

On Monday, May 31, the hills were calling me...

Ten miles west of I-44 on highway 49, just north of Lawton, is the refuge entrance. There you will find a sign warning about the danger of getting too close to the wild Bison and Longhorn Cattle. Just inside of the refuge, is Mt. Scott, the second highest peak in the range, at 2,464 feet.

Managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this refuge is a transition zone, between the tall grass prairie to the east and the short grass prairie to the west. There are 59,020 acres of unspoiled, pristine wilderness, with granite ridges, scattered boulders, forests and prairies.  The animals are free-ranging, with the only fences on the outer boundaries of the refuge. This land has never been plowed, and looks like it did in 1901 when it was established.  Read more about it here:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains/

There are bison, longhorn cattle, elk, deer and prairie dogs.  I didn't see them all, but enjoyed my day very much... thanks for visiting!

Click the photos for larger view!

View from Mt. Scott

From the top...

 

                                            Bison

 Just beyond Mt. Scott, you will find the Holy City of the Wichitas.  This is the only construction inside the refuge other than the Headquarters and gift shop and a few dams.  The Holy City has a passion play set constructed of stone, a chapel and museum and gift shop.  The terrain is said to be similar to the Holy Land, in Israel. 

Collared Lizard

Bison will "go" anyhere they want to...

Another Collared Lizard

Scratching rock

Nature's camoflage

Wild Longhorn

Prairie Dog with the munchies

Helloooo....

Goodbye to the refuge...

Labor Day Road Trip

The highest point in Oklahoma... Black Mesa, in Cimarron County at 4,973'. 

Read about it here:  http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.631

Currently living in central Oklahoma area, I decided to explore the panhandle of Oklahoma over the Labor Day weekend.  Having learned that Cimarron County is the only county in the US that borders five states (Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas) I wanted to check it out.  I went through Texas into Oklahoma, then into Kansas, and back.  After spending the night in Guymon, OK, I drove to Kenton, OK, visiting the Black Mesa State Park, and then Black Mesa.  From there, I drove to the end of the paved road, turned left on the gravel road, stopping at the farthest north and west point in the state.  The marker is labeled New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. 

Tri-State Marker

I'll try to keep my truck out of the pictures from now on... 

I discovered a variety of vast prairies and farm lands.  Very flat in many places, but with rolling hills and finally high mesas.  All of this, with wide open skies, showcases a beautiful area of God's wonderful creation!   



Approaching Cimarron River and Black Mesa

Working on the energy crisis...

Prairie

Bison near Guymon, OK

Spraying...

Wide open spaces...

End of a wonderful day...

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I enjoyed that weekend, as I drove 845 miles, taking in new places and having time by myself to reflect on things.  Thinking about my life, my family and this great country we live in, I can only praise God and thank Him for His many blessings!