Wichita Mountains Camping
with Japanese
April 2017 |
Back to Home Page
|
| |
|
| We love sharing our love of the outdoors with
others, especially with folks who wouldn't otherwise have the chance to
go. This time we took four Japanese students we met through the ELS
language center in OKC. The girls were on a college exchange
program, and Yuta, the man, was here on special assignment for his work to
learn more English. He learned more than that, as he had his first
rock climbing trip with us too! |
| |
|
Here we are on top of Mount Scott, enjoying the view.
This is: Minami, Maho, Miki, and Yuta.
|
 |
| |
The girls, cracking each other up. |
| |
|
Eric, leading the way with his ridiculously heavy backpack.
|
 |
| |
Down the hillside we go, thankfully we made it in a safe fashion. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Eric scopes out the situation |
The girls find a friend |
| |
|
On top of the world
|
 |
| |
Yuta took this fun shot of Eric's climbing stuff |
| |
|
Providing a belay for Eric so that he can set up a route for Yuta to
try.
|
 |
| |
|
| |
|
Taking in the scenery
|
 |
| |
Not sure about this climbing idea... |
| |
|
Eric is in his element
|
 |
| |
Eric giving the "trust the shoes" lesson before the actual climb |
| |
|
 |
 |
| And away he goes! |
Except for the part where his glasses fell off mid-climb, he did fantastic. |
| |
|
 |
The girls deciding that they don't want to try rock climbing.
|
| Success! |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| I love to capture the, "I can't believe I'm still alive" look each
person has after their 1st climb. |
The boys decide to continue climbing, but us girls are "over lith
it" as my nephew Brodie would say. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Instead, we go on a sight-seeing trip around the park. |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| The girls, looking down at the rushing water beneath them. |
Woo hoo! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| We found a large herd of buffalo right beside the road, it was really fun to
see them that close. |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
The light wasn't just right, but I snapped a bunch of
pictures anyway.
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| Next was the Prairie Dog town, my favorite part of the park |
These guys are so adorable! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Then we headed out to make camp and have our much-anticipated dinner. |
Eric gets the burgers sizzlin' |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Yuta's first (but not last!) hamburger for the evening. |
The gang enjoying the burgers |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Now Yuta takes over grilling duty while Eric helps the girls put up
their tent. |
Tent success! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| And of course, we had to have S'mores. These girls love their
sweets. |
Early the next morning, Eric begins work on his masterpiece - camping
breakfast. |
| |
|
Eric thinks the only reason I go camping with him is for the camping
breakfast.
He may actually be on to something there...
|
 |
| |
There were lots and lots of butterflies in the area that morning. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Beauty! |
Yuta has a good eye for a nice photograph |
| |
|
 |
This guy acts like he stepped in poop or something!
|
Back to the Prairie Dog town, because Yuta missed it on the previous
day.
And besides, you really can't get too much of the Prairie Dogs. |
|
| |
|
 \
More buffalo in the Prairie Dog area
|
 |
| |
Trying to get Yuta with the buffalo in the background, but they are just
spots. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Next we take off on a hike to the Charon Gardens area |
Hi ho, hi ho... |
| |
|
 |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
Pausing for a photo break
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| Here we are at the boulder field, which was as far as the girls cared to go. |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| |
Eric & Yuta explored a little further, Yuta provided these photos
of the cave-like areas
they explored, which are created by the boulders wedged together leaving
gaps below. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| There was just one spot of sunlight coming through, and this little
tree valiantly grew there. |
It's cool man. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The girls decide they want to go to that big boulder across the way
for photos. |
Here Eric served as a foot hold so they could climb up there. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Ta da! Maho! |
Miki! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Minami! |
Admiring the view |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Hey, it's me. |
Yuta looking very Zen in his perch |
| |
|
Eric moves so naturally through the boulder field, you'd think it was
flat ground.
|
 |
| |
We're hungry for lunch now, so it's time to head out. |
| |
|
 |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| We stopped for photos here and was going to have them stand on the rock
but... |
Then I saw what was at Eric's feet. A snake! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| We decided to scurry on back for lunch instead. It was good too! |
Last stop, the museum/info center where Miki imagined being attacked by this
fox. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Back to Top |