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...

After the visit to the Wichita Mountains, it was time to head back to Oklahoma City... 

On my way, I stopped by the Fort Sill National Cemetery to spend a few moments in reverence, honoring our Nation's Best.  God bless our Military men and women who offered and gave their all for our freedom. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give thee rest.  Matthew 11:28