Morning Comes to Elk Mountain

Morning Comes to Elk Mountain
Author: Gary Lantz
Publisher: Southwestern Nature Writing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781574415391

Organized as a series of monthly journal entries, Morning Comes to Elk Mountain is Lantz's response to ten years of exploring the rough and unexpected beauty of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. A combination of memoir, natural history, Native American history, and geology, this book is enriched by 20 color photos and a map to appeal to the seasoned visitor as well as the newcomer to the refuge. The national wildlife refuge that's the focus of the book was among the first established by President Theodore Roosevelt. He helped save the Wichitas from miners and land speculators, and instead the harsh yet scenic area became the nation's first bison refuge, established to keep this American icon from slipping into extinction. Today the refuge hosts more than a million visitors a year, most of them coming to hike the trails, climb the rocks, photograph bison and prairie dogs, or simply commune with a beautiful, wild area that remains a spiritual landscape for the Kiowa and Comanche Indians who call it home.

Oklahoma Hiking Trails

Oklahoma Hiking Trails
Author: Kent F. Frates
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2010
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 9780806141411

Oklahoma is well known as prime hunting and fishing territory, but red-dirt country also offers many opportunities for hiking, running, and off-road biking. Though trail guides for neighboring states abound, outdoorsmen Kent F. Frates and Larry Floyd found no such book for Oklahoma. The outcome of their collaboration, Oklahoma Hiking Trails, fills that void as the first comprehensive guidebook for the state. A welcome addition to the travel library of both locals and visitors, this illustrated guide extends a hearty welcome to hikers, bikers, runners, birders, campers, and photographers. For the amateur and expert alike, Oklahoma Hiking Trails covers trails accessible to the public across the state. This handy reference will take outdoor adventurers from Tulsa to Lawton and from Broken Bow to Boise City--and all points between. It includes such familiar sites as the Ouachita National Forest and the Wichita Mountains as well as lesser-known gems such as Black Mesa and the Oxley Nature Center. The authors also provide tips on how to prepare for any hiking adventure. Color photographs of trail sites identify landmarks to look for and highlight the natural diversity to be found along the state's hundreds of miles of public trails. Detailed maps, GPS coordinates, and clear directions ensure that the runner, biker, or hiker will get to the trail and stay on it. Each trail is rated easy, moderate, or strenuous. Providing a wealth of information to help you navigate your Oklahoma adventure, Oklahoma Hiking Trails offers big returns in a small, light-weight package ideal for your backpack.

The Sun Is a Compass

The Sun Is a Compass
Author: Caroline Van Hemert
Publisher: Little, Brown Spark
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2019-03-19
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0316414433

For fans of Cheryl Strayed, the gripping story of a biologist's human-powered journey from the Pacific Northwest to the Arctic to rediscover her love of birds, nature, and adventure. During graduate school, as she conducted experiments on the peculiarly misshapen beaks of chickadees, ornithologist Caroline Van Hemert began to feel stifled in the isolated, sterile environment of the lab. Worried that she was losing her passion for the scientific research she once loved, she was compelled to experience wildness again, to be guided by the sounds of birds and to follow the trails of animals. In March of 2012, she and her husband set off on a 4,000-mile wilderness journey from the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, traveling by rowboat, ski, foot, raft, and canoe. Together, they survived harrowing dangers while also experiencing incredible moments of joy and grace -- migrating birds silhouetted against the moon, the steamy breath of caribou, and the bond that comes from sharing such experiences. A unique blend of science, adventure, and personal narrative, The Sun is a Compass explores the bounds of the physical body and the tenuousness of life in the company of the creatures who make their homes in the wildest places left in North America. Inspiring and beautifully written, this love letter to nature is a lyrical testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Winner of the 2019 Banff Mountain Book Competition: Adventure Travel

From 35,000 Feet to the Appalachian Trail

From 35,000 Feet to the Appalachian Trail
Author: Rich Malagrifa
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2016-06-07
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1514491443

The Appalachian Trail, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world spanning 2,200 miles. Rich Malagrifa chronicled his journey through this legendary trail, interspersing it with stories of his flying adventures. In 2014, Malagrifa trekked the Appalachian Trail, an excursion that taught him many invaluable lessons on discipline and determination. He describes this real-life adventure in "From 35,000 Feet to the Appalachian Trail." The book includes snapshots of his career as a general aviation pilot, fighter pilot in the Air Force and commercial airline pilot. It is an interesting memoir filled with fascinating cross-sections of the author's life as a hiker and pilot and the interesting people that he met along the way. "From 35,000 Feet to the Appalachian Trail" is not just a personal narrative of a life well-lived, it is a universal tale of resilience, and the joy of a shared experience. This book will be of interest to people who enjoy nature hikes, high-flying adventures and inspiring true stories of dreams coming true.

Finding Sunset Peak

Finding Sunset Peak
Author: David Rollins
Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2021-11-18
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781954095427

Stranded deep in the Witchita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Wil Brooks never thought the family secret lost in time would find him again. Struggling to endure the wintry night, his daughter Laura would become witness to the mystery. Determined to protect her innocence, Wil becomes desperate for explanation. After a refuge hiker encounters a presence she cannot explain, an adventurous team of scientists come to her aid and cross paths with Wil and Laura. Frustrated and out of options, Wil must decide if he can trust the team and hope to mend the confusion he has created with Laura. When an old treasure map attracts sinister attention, the team is unprepared for the encounters that await them. Using their science to explore a peculiar occurrence coming from one of the mountains, they discover far more than expected. Can Wil repair with Laura and find resolve to the family secret? Will the team solve the mystery of their search and find the elusive connection within the Wichita Mountains?

Refuge Bouldering

Refuge Bouldering
Author: Ryan Sheldon
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2021-05-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9781892540621

Bouldering in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge