Eight Miles | Hike 15
Bell and I met some friends out at our favorite stomping ground for an eight mile hike from Sunset trailhead to Crab Eyes to Echo Pass up the south side of Elk Mountain to Apple & Pear and then Down Elk Mountain trail.
Eight Miles
Hike 15 | 03-11-2018
Bell and I met some friends out at our favorite stomping ground for an eight mile hike from Sunset trailhead to Crab Eyes to Echo Pass up the south side of Elk Mountain to Apple & Pear and then Down Elk Mountain trail. It was windy and magical really.
Bell climbs Crab Eyes | Hike 14
It would be hard not to notice that I got a puppy. Her name is Bell. But she's not just any puppy, she's a puppy who loves the Wichita Mountains like I do. She's an adventure puppy. I am a proud dog mom.
Bell climbs
Hike 14 | 03-10-2018
It would be hard not to notice that I got a puppy. Her name is Bell. But she's not just any puppy, she's a puppy who loves the Wichita Mountains like I do. She's an adventure puppy. I am a proud dog mom.
I went to meet some friends out for a hike Saturday and I somehow missed them at Sunset parking lot so Britney, Bell and I set out for Crab Eyes anyway. We ended up running into my friends Shannon and her brother Stacy while on Crab Eyes. Bell made it to the top! I'm so proud. Here's the photo story.
Apple, Bell, and Pear | Hike 13
I took my new puppy Bell on her first hike today. We went up the Elk Mountain trail and wandered down to Apple and Pear and back around through the Valley of the Boulders.
Apple, Bell, & Pear
Hike 13 | 03-05-2018
I took my new puppy Bell on her first hike today. We went up the Elk Mountain trail and wandered down to Apple and Pear and back around through the Valley of the Boulders. Bell impressed me the whole way. When we got home Bell somehow balanced on top of the couch and walk onto my shoulders while I was sitting at the dining room table. I think she was trying to show me what she learned.
The Big Hairy Crack | Hike 10
The Big Hairy Crack. I won't tell you where it is in the Wichita Mountains, but maybe I'll take you there someday. Maybe not.
The Big Hairy Crack
Hike 10 | 02-18-2018
The Big Hairy Crack. I won't tell you where it is in the Wichita Mountains, but maybe I'll take you there someday. Maybe not. Before you even get to the Crack you can crawl through a number of other small spaces. Many on your belly. If you are small enough to fit. I'm not. The last time I did it, there were multiple folks in tears and the fetal position. It's not as hard as it is intimidating. You crawl down and walk through this archway that leads you to the crack. After a short break, you Spiderman diagonally down a 50 foot crack (maybe less, maybe more) that narrows below you. You can easily imagine losing your grip and getting wedged in the rocks. We're not a bunch rock climbers here. Some of us have climbing experience, but we're really just of bunch of people who find solace and fellowship hiking together. We laugh. We get beat up. We challenge ourselves. We encourage each other. We inspire. We literally lend a knee and a shoulder.
photo by Shawn Bethel
North of Spanish Canyon | Hike 09
Four of us went on a Sunday hike in the blistering cold. We chose an area that tends to be a little warmer than the surroundings. I had one scary descent that got my heart racing. De made it look so easy.
Exploring North of Spanish Canyon
Hike 09 | 02-11-18
Four of us went on a Sunday hike in the blistering cold. We chose an area that tends to be a little warmer than the surroundings. I had one scary descent that got my heart racing. De made it look so easy. I found this gorgeous eroded pool on top of some massive boulders. You can spent years hiking in the Wichita Mountains and still find new and amazing surprises.
photo by De Cooper
photo by De Cooper
Five Dogs, One Spanish Canyon | Hike 08
On this particular day, five dogs pulled nine humans through Spanish Canyon just as we pulled them.
Five Dogs, One Spanish Canyon
Hike 08 | 02-03-18
Some hike for the physical exercise. Some hike for the spiritual. Some hike for the fellowship. I hike in the Wichita Mountains for all of the above. On this particular day, five dogs pulled nine humans through Spanish Canyon just as we pulled them. We were all a tight pack that day and we licked each other's wounds. I think we all ended the day a little better than we were before.
Hank the Stank | Hike 05
A group of is went out to Spanish Canyon with Hank and Dot, De Cooper's German Shorthair Pointers.
Hank the Stank
Hike 05 | 01-14-18
A group of is went out to Spanish Canyon with Hank and Dot, De Cooper's German Shorthair Pointers. Hank is not nearly as skilled of a scrambler as Dot. Hank had been whining throughout the majority of the hike. De took Hank down this small slot canyon first which quickly ignited the entire group's uncontrollable laughter. Hank desperately wedged himself between the rocks and would not move. All the while Hank is farting out of anxiety. I named them "fear farts." De had to scramble over top of him to get him down. De ends up getting him to an upright position just inches above the ground and Hank still isn't aware. He clings for dear life. He's so scared that it takes him a while to even look at De.
Hank farted all day. It was so gross yet so funny. We had a great time. I'm looking forward to more time hiking with dogs.
Jan One | Hike 01
The Jan One hike has become a tradition for me. This was my third year in a row. My friends Britney and Jessica joined me on a cold morning. I think it was 7ºF when we woke up that day.
Jan One hike
Hike 01 | 01-01-18
The Jan One hike has become a tradition for me. This was my third year in a row. My friends Britney and Jessica joined me on a cold morning. I think it was 7ºF when we woke up that day. We hiked in Spanish Canyon because it always gets a bit warmer there. We laughed and found new places. I broke my GoPro first time out. Inspired by Jessica’s hikes in 2015, I decided I would do 52 hikes this year. Jessica tells me there’s a patch you can get. She says it’s based on the honor system, but she’d never wear the patch if she hadn’t really. That’s the just type of dirtbag I hike with.
Best of 2017 in Black & White
My best black & white shots of 2017.
My best black & white shots of 2017
Click any image below to begin a slide show.
Christmas Eve Eve in Spanish Canyon
Angie LaPaglia and I got away from wrapping presents for a while and explored some new places around Spanish Canyon on Christmas Eve Eve.
Christmas Eve Eve
in Spanish Canyon
Angie LaPaglia and I got away from wrapping presents for a while and explored some new places around Spanish Canyon on Christmas Eve Eve.
Solo Hike Around Mount Lincoln
I was feeling under the weather Saturday and didn’t want to make any of my dirtbag friends deal with my snotty nose, so I drove down for a five-hour hike on an overcast day.
Solo Hike Around Mount Lincoln
I was feeling under the weather Saturday and didn’t want to make any of my dirtbag friends deal with my snotty nose, so I drove down for a five-hour hike on an overcast day.
December Hike to Mount Mitchell Massif
A long 7.5 mile hike to Mount Mitchell Massif with Angie. We ran into the legendary rock climber Tony Mayse along the way. If you want to learn rock climbing from an expert go to guideforaday.com.
December Hike to Mount Mitchell Massif
A long 7.5 mile hike to Mount Mitchell Massif with Angie. We ran into the legendary rock climber Tony Mayse along the way. If you want to learn rock climbing from an expert go to guideforaday.com.
Rock Climber Tony Mayse
The Ultimate Crapshoot
I said it then and I’ll say it now, “Crapshoot is the funnest way down Elk Mountain.”
The Ultimate Crapshoot
After 2 years of planning and talking about it, we finally attempted The Triple Crown, and failed. But man did we fail gloriously. We discovered that if you do Crapshoot right, it’ll take you four plus hours. If you add the four plus hours it takes to finish The Chavez (which contains The Water Caves and The Rock Rooms), you have a very challenging course. I said it then and I’ll say it now, “Crapshoot is the funnest way down Elk Mountain.”
Crapshoot Scout Day 2
Day Two of De Cooper and I scouting Crapshoot.
Crapshoot Scout Day 2
Day Two of De Cooper and I scouting Crapshoot.
To see the shots from Day One, go to: http://www.toddeclark.com/blog/2017/11/20/crapshoot-scout-day-1
Crapshoot Scout Day 1
De Cooper and I started a long overdue scout of an area we call Crapshoot. For the last two years, De has had this idea of combining this tough hike with another tough hike we call The Chavez.
Crapshoot Scout Day 1
De Cooper and I started a long overdue scout of an area we call Crapshoot. For the last two years, De has had this idea of combining this tough hike with another tough hike we call The Chavez.
To fill you in, The Chavez is a hike named after our friend Josh Chavez, the originator of the route. It consists of parking at Post Oak and hiking up the south side of Elk Mountain to The Water Caves, then to The Rock Rooms, down The Slide and back to the car. The hike takes about 5-6 hours and can be physically draining. It’s my favorite hike in the refuge.
So De’s idea is to add Crapshoot to The Chavez making a hike that could last up to 7 hours plus through some of the most challenging parts of the Elk Mountain and the refuge.
Below are some shots of Day One. For shots of Day Two go to: http://www.toddeclark.com/blog/2017/11/20/crapshoot-scout-day-2
Getting Lost
I lead a hike to Spanish Canyon on Sunday. I turned right when I should have turned left. What a great mistake that turned out to be.
Getting Lost
in Spanish Canyon
I lead a hike to Spanish Canyon on Sunday. I turned right when I should have turned left. What a great mistake that turned out to be.
Women of Rock
I went on a great hike to Granite Mountain in my beloved Wichita Mountains with Angie LaPaglia, Paulina Ćwik, Britney Neubecker, and De Cooper. It’s a longer trek than some with a lot of small spaces to crawl through. At some point the term “Women of Rock” came to mind as I had this amazing adventure with three tough women.
Women of Rock
and De Cooper
I went on a great hike to Charon’s Garden Mountain in my beloved Wichita Mountains with Angie LaPaglia, Paulina Ćwik, Britney Neubecker, and De Cooper. It’s a longer trek than some with a lot of small spaces to crawl through. I was the largest so there were some spots I could not make it through but was there to document as much as I could. At some point the term “Women of Rock” came to mind as I had this amazing adventure with three tough women. They were crawling through rough places I couldn’t make it through. We were all banged up and some of us were bleeding, we faced fears, but we loved the adventure. These three strong women made me think of all the other tough women I hike with like Claire Bridges Springer, Lisa Middleton, Jessica Peterson, Shannon Trout, Amberlee Darold, Susanne Bogle, Rachel Hunter, Breeze Kelley, Sophy Hackney, Anna Paraskevopoulos, Betsy Hunter, Cat Cray, and more. I salute you all, you “Women of Rock.”
Solo Hike to the Rock Rooms
My friend, the proliferant John Reenan, asked me the weekend before if I had ever explored or ascended the northwest part of Elk Mountain. I realized I never had. I was freed up this past Sunday morning so I decided to take a solo hike there so I could tell John that I had indeed explored that area.
Solo Hike to the Rock Rooms
My friend, the proliferant John Reenan, asked me the weekend before if I had ever explored or ascended the northwest part of Elk Mountain. I realized I never had. I was freed up this past Sunday morning so I decided to take a solo hike there so I could tell John that I had indeed explored that area. Aaron Manuel was in the Visitor Center that morning hanging out with Randy Hale. Aaron said it was the fastest way to The Rock Rooms. Randy showed me a photo of where I needed to turn and I was off.
The weather was perfect. The hike up was unfamiliar and since I was alone, I was more cautious than I usually am. I had never been in The Rock Room alone before. It was fantastic. I barely saw a soul. I spent some time with some bats and I poked a copperhead with a stick and watched it magically split into two (I didn’t initially see there were two). I got back to my car just before the rain started.
Conquering the Chavez
My girlfriend Angie had a friend in from London who had seen our pictures and wanted to check out the Wichita Mountains for herself. We decided to take her on one of the toughest hikes in the refuge. We call it “The Chavez.”
Conquering the Chavez
My girlfriend Angie had a friend in from London who had seen our pictures and wanted to check out the Wichita Mountains for herself. We decided to take her on one of the toughest hikes in the refuge. We call it “The Chavez.” Eight of us went up. Five of us went it through The Water Caves. It started raining and the rocks became slick. De and Blake took off to rescue four UCO students stuck on the west side of Elk Mountain. I had to lead the group off the mountain. The six remaining hikers went through The Rock Rooms. My rope was being used on the rescue and the popular route down the mountain requires a rope at one spot. It was starting to rain again and the rocks would get slick again. I know a way down The Side that doesn’t require a rope. It’s a little intimidating. I’m sure all five of them were cursing my name, but we all made it safely down. I’m pretty sure all of us were bleeding a little. Randy brought Blake and De back to Post Oak. The rescue was a success. After six hours our friend from London went home with some scratches, bruises, and a glorious adventure. Ah, the dirtbag life.
Mount Lincoln with JB
I hiked with my friend JB on September 9, 2017 to Mount Lincoln. I finally found the spot I have been looking for. JB alley-ooped his pack into 50 foot crevasse. That spawned a return hike a few hours later in a rescue attempt.
Mount Lincoln with JB
I hiked with my friend JB on September 9, 2017 to Mount Lincoln (a spot I have been exploring for several weeks now). It was an eventful day. I finally found the spot I have been looking for. I am calling it Claire’s Crack after my friend who told me about it. On the return hike, JB alley-ooped his pack into 50 foot crevasse. That spawned a return hike a few hours later in a rescue attempt. JB was too beat up to attend. The hike was pretty rough. Myself, De, Britney, and Kevin hiked out there with some parachord, a bike hook, and some tape. We successfully rescued his pack along with wallet. We made JB buy the celebratory pizza. I didn’t get many pictures of it all. I got too busy. However, videos of the rescue exist on Facebook.
