Ep. 332: Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma | RV travel camping hiking kayaking sightseeing Fort Sill
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2024
- Oklahoma has legitimate mountains! Who knew?
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, located in southwestern Oklahoma near the city of Lawton, has protected unique wildlife habitats since 1901 for bison, Texas longhorns, and more. It encompasses the Wichita Mountains, North America's oldest mountain range west of the Appalachians. While camping and kayaking at Lake Lawtonka, just outside of the refuge, we'll also tour the U.S. Army's Fort Sill, visit Geronimo's gravesite, down a burger the size of a dinner plate, hike The Narrows, climb Mount Scott, visit a wonderful museum and more. Come along!
Filmed: October 8-14, 2023
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:37 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
4:13 Mount Scott
6:47 Lake Lawtonka East Campground
9:42 SPONSOR: RVmattress.com by Brooklyn Bedding
11:30 Windsurfing Lake Lawtonka
12:53 Meers Store and Restaurant
14:01 Fort Sill National Historic Landmark & Museum
21:21 Kayaking Lake Lawtonka
25:07 Museum of the Great Plains
28:58 Hiking The Narrows
32:34 Wrap-up and what's next
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* Our campsite maps.app.goo.gl/VrxNCEUR44SZ1...
* City of Lawton Lake Lawtonka East Campground www.lawtonok.gov/services/fin...
* Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mo...
* Meers Store and Restaurant / meersburger
* Fort Sill National Historical Landmark & Museum history.army.mil/museums/TRAD...
* Museum of the Great Plains www.discovermgp.org/
* Hiking The Narrows www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ok...
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#RV #travel #camping #oklahoma #wichitamountains #rvlife #rvliving #hiking #kayaking #lawtonok #fortsill #usarmy #rvlifestyle
A few years ago three soldiers from Fort Sill went hiking in that area one February day. It turned into an 80 degree day. And one of the soldiers was bitten by a rattlesnake. The other two carried him down the trail, and got him to a hospital asap. He still lost his leg. So be careful when the weather is warm. And maybe get your dog snake shots if your dog is with you.
Yep, I definitely draw a hard pass on snakes. My head's on a swivel in places like that.
Wow! My husband myself and daughter have been to Wichita Mountains several times. We have not been there in many years ..after seeing this video we will go back to see the Mountains again as it brought back many memories! Thank you! We will also have a Meers Burger and fries. Thank you again as times right now can make us very depressed and this will uplift people!
Thank you very much! Most definitely return, for this is a very special part of Oklahoma.
Great video. If you ever come back you need to go into Medicine Park, right at the east entrance to the Refuge. It was a resort community back in the 1920s and now it has been reborn into a a little tourist town, filled with restaurants, antique stores, and tons of little bed and breakfast establishments. It also got a really cool walking path next to Medicine Creek that must be seen if your in the area.
We actually did, and it was adorable! The lighting was horrible at the time we were there, so we didn't film it. Thank you nevertheless for the tip!
❤ thank you
You are most welcome, Jamie. Thanks so much for watching!
I'm retired Army 24yrs. Sill is where I got my first uniform. Well done and thank you for showing our history.
Our pleasure, Jason. Thank you very much, and thank you for your service.
I went to Fort Sill as well for basic training. I was in the U.S. Navy for nine years, and then got out and joined the army and then had to do this again best two months of my life
@@leeproffitt69 thank you, too!
We have enjoyed camping at and driving through the area several times. We have never mustered up the courage to stop at the Meers restaurant. Last February we drove through on our way back from Big Bend to home-Kansas. West of Meers we encountered a large herd of elk-evidently escapees of the Wichita Mountain Preserve.
Very cool! The wildlife in that area is breathtaking, as is the natural beauty.
I live in Oklahoma and discovered the Wichitas about 30 years ago. I love the Wichitas. It will remind you of the Southern Front Range of Colorado or southwestern New Mexico. However, Meersburger got the nod on Best Burger before I moved to the state. It's good but there are many others that outclass it now.
@@stevenhaley443 that's impressive, Steven! We'll have to keep our eyes open the next time we're in your state.
Amazing!! The end knocked me out of my chair!!
Oklahoma is full of surprises, NPP! It sure was for us.
I also want to mention that there is camping on the refuge at Dorris campground. It has RV, tent and primitive spots. Ft Sill has an excellent campground that butts right up Lake Elmer Thomas (LETRA). It has a swimming beach that has slides and paddle boats. There is no access to the LETRA campground from the refuge, even though the Lake is on the refuge. The closest entrance is the Apache gate, across from the Love's Gas Station at the Highway 49 exit off I-35.
Thank you for that!
If this mountain range was a mistake in nature.. this was a spectacular mistake at that. History galore and scenery that makes you truly appreciate why mountain ranges are so truly special.
No doubt about it, MTL.
Great video thank you I may go some day
Thank you Bill!
Wow Marc, that was a prime time travel documentary! From the unexpected mountains, the military base, the kayak trip on the lake, finding the cool boat houses, the museum, then your hike through the narrows! So cool. Suzane
Thank you very much as always, Suzane!
Awesome episode Marc. Who knew. These states you have been traveling through creating content on their history and behalf should pay you a tourism gratuity! Fantastic work.
Thanks as always, bud! We appreciate it.
Missed the Live (knee surgery, all good) wish I could have caught. Born and raised in Ok, the Wichitas are my favorite place. My sunday school class climbed Mt. Scott, not walking up the road, climbed straight up. I was really glad to see you went to the canyon. Your videos just keep getting better and better.
Thank you! And congratulations on the rebuilt knee.
I climbed Mt. Scott like that once with my church group as well. I would never do that again. There were places where it was two steep to climb, so we climbed some trees like ladders to get to the top of some of the rocks.
Love your history lessons. 👍
And we love learning and sharing, Dave. Thank you very much!
Great show. Love the detailed history. Thanks GA
Thank you J!
Very nice, thank you
Thank you Deb!
now on my bucket list.
And it should be, Joe. We loved it.
WOW, didn't know they were older than the Rockie Mountaines!!! Been there a few times for some rock climbing trips!
Actually, the rugged Rockies are some of the youngest mountains in North America. The gently rounded Appalachians are the oldest, affected more by erosion over time than other ranges.
Great episode! I live in Altus which is about 55 miles to the west of Lawton. I always enjoy going to the refuge. Perhaps on your next visit you can visit Medicine Park and a few of the small lakes and old fisheries in the refuge. Keep up the excellent videos. 👍
Thank you Gregg! We actually discovered Medicine Park on our last day in the area, but the lighting at the time wasn't conducive to including the video shot there in this episode. We thought it was charming.
🎉 thank you for the very old 😢
I haven't kept up with your adventures but enjoy seeing you visit some of my favorites :)
Oklahoma is far from flat! I am sad that you didn't go just a little farther West in the refuge and do the Charons garden trail. They have a campground at Elk mountain and there are many miles of trails there. Charons Garden is very cool with caves made from boulders as big as houses in one section. Really one of my favorite parts of Oklahoma. The Eastern portion has the Quachita National forest as well with the TaliMena scenic drive very much worth a visit. Just across the state line is Queen Wilhelmina state park and lodge. They have a few camping spots as well and it is the second highest point in Arkansas.
I do enjoy the videos, safe travels :)
Thanks DFK! You're making me sorry that we missed Charons Garden, too. But as we always say, that gives us a reason to return. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video!
Thank you so very much!
Thanks for the great video, as always an excellent job. Thomas
Appreciate it as always, Thomas.
You do some of the best photography I have ever seen! Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Thank you so very much, Kat! You are much too kind.
Fantastic episode bud, another so nicely filmed and narrated upload!
Thanks as always Ervin!
I really enjoyed the drone footage following the wind surfer!
Thank you Scott! It was a little nerve-wracking to put the drone in the air when it was that windy, but it was worth getting the shot.
I can't wait to watch this one and see what myths I knew about, I grew up in Oklahoma and have been to Wichita mountians Dozens of times in my life, at all differrent ages. Even went there with a junior wildlife, nature class thing. So fun and cool. I nee dot get back to the outdoors soon, I miss them.
Always enjoy your videos! Great job narrating and interesting content! Never disappoints!! Thank you!
Thank you very much as always!
Wow!!! Never knew Oklahoma was this purdeeee!!! Great video Marc!!! Thanx!!!
👍😃🍻
Thank you Mike! Oklahoma certainly surprised us as well. We look forward to exploring more of the state in the future.
Another excellent production! I loved learning about the military base and its history.
Thank you, Blake! So did we.
Another great video, so informative and entertaining. We always look forward to Wednesday nights . 😊
Thank you John! We enjoy those premiere events as much as I think our viewers do.
Thanks for giving us another great place to visit. Cool museums, nice small towns and a great hike, and it's close to home!! Great video.
Thank you as always, Diane!
Wow!! What an episode. You really relayed the history of this place to us viewers very well. Nicely done.
Thank you as always, Nigel!
Your voice and narration is great, nice work.
Thank you very much! And thank you for watching.
Now that’s a freakin awesome place to camp 😍 you know we love the water!! Can’t wait to go on the river in January with you 🙌🏽🔥🔥
See you soon
🤙🏽Ruben&Lori🌺
Oklahoma has some fine state parks. Very interesting video, thanks.
Thank you Julia, and thank you for watching!
Very nice campground on the water. The wildlife refuge looks like it has been effective. Nice job.
Thank you, BBB! Campground was wonderful, and the wildlife refuge spectacular.
Have camped there on many a camping trip. Great place!
It sure is! We loved our week there.
Wow! Ive missed some of your videos marc... again and again... im always enjoying watching all your videos.. it always amaze me as if i was there too. Thank you marc
You are most welcome, Madel. Thank you, and welcome back!
My mother hike to the top of Mt Scott when she a teenager with some classmates.
We will bring you to the top of Mount Scott tonight!
Gets windy up there.
@@arkansastraveler7698 uh-huh, it sure does.
Awesome place.Spent lots of time fishing there in the early 80s.Ft. Sill for almost 4 years.
Thank you for your service, Ron!
Excellent video and content Marc! I drove through OK from KS a few months ago and also did not realize how mountainous it was. Safe travels!
Thank you very much, Matt, and same to you!
I love it when I find a sweet spot. You definitely found a sweet spot. 👍👍👍 ……… Oklahoma is OK❣️
Yessir!
Man, you did an awesome job on research. That's a big ass burger at Meers. Great video. Thanks Don ( did you find out about the electrical issue was)
Thanks Don! We're still working on that, although I suspect that the real diagnosis work will begin once we settle back in SLC for the winter.
We are in OK now looking forward to the adventure
You'll love the Wichita Mountains area.
Next go visit the Kiamichi Mtns in SE Oklahoma. If venture there the 1st Week end in October , Stay in Hocatown at the Lodge on Broken Bow Lake . You will Love it. There Is a BigFoot Festival that weekend a short drive north west about 20 miles At he little town of Honobia. It's a nice venue and lots of vendors and eats ! Really enjoyed your video , Love the Wichitas ! Safe Travels ! Subbed . . . .
Wonderful tips! Thank you for that, and welcome aboard -- we're happy to have you along.
Currently stationed here at Fort Sill. I think that you put up great information throughout this video! (I learned a few things too!) Keep up the great work, friend!
Thank you sir! And thank you for your service.
The state of OK couldn't have done a better job! I occasionally an in Lawton and now I know I'll go and see more of the area. Thank you
Our pleasure, JD. There is a whole lot to see and do in that area.
The view from the Wichita Mountains looked great!
That was a hamburger!!!
What was the cause of the demise of windsurfing in the ‘90s?
We have a lot of people windsurfing in the Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge and some still doing it in the Bodega Bay Area where we live.
The prairie museum looked pretty cool.
The Narrows looked like a great hike.
Oklahoma, who knew?
Thanks for showing us a place we never considered.
Ram
👍🏼👍🏾
Thank you as always, Ram. Windsurfing suffered from two afflictions: an incredibly steep learning curve, and an enormously high cost of entry. Different wind conditions required different boards, different sails, different masts, different booms. By the time you bought two or three boards, four or five sails, two masts and two booms, you are into it for $6,000 to $9,000, even in 1990s money. Sure, you could buy that stuff in phases, but the old stuff quickly became outdated and until you had a full quiver, you spent a lot of time sitting on the beach watching other people sail. By the time I got rid of my gear when we went full-time in the RV, I couldn't give the stuff away.
Very interesting!
We wish you and Mrs. Grand Adventurer and Zoe a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!
Ram and Kuuipo
👍🏼👍🏾
@@laughingram7287 Thank you very much, we wish the both of you a very happy and prosperous 2024.
34:00 Marc, and I stayed with you the whole way. I had no idea Oklahoma had that kind of topography. We will have to put it on our list for the next time we are heading that way. I can't wait to see New Mexico through your eyes...another one of our favorites states to visit. Stay safe !
Thank you so very much, George!
Come to Oklahoma end up on probation
One of my favorite places on earth. Buying a place in Medicine Park. 🤞. What an excellent tribute to the area. Thank you. 🙏
You're most welcome. Thanks for watching, and wishing you success in Medicine Park!
@@GrandAdventure Luckily most people have no idea about the Wichita Mtns…..even people from the state. I like it that way 😂
good show
Thank you as always, Norm!
@@GrandAdventureHarry and I are planning on seeing you all in Jan will be there the first of Jan to boondock with you all. Is this the same spot as the Q22?
@@normgibson6565 yep, same location. maps.app.goo.gl/LNkYMNsWr458oncW7
We look forward to seeing you both!
Great video one of our favorite places when we lived in Texas. We would often be in Wichita Falls and make the trip here for burger at the best burger place in west Texas. I dislike the Mt Scott road but the view is amazing.
We can certainly understand why it was one of your favorites, Donna. Thank you for watching!
I’m not sure if you have explored the southeastern part of Oklahoma. They have a few things that you may find interesting. Robers cave, Sulfur springs,Arbucle lake. Lake Murray has some of the clearest waters .
Thank you Joe! We will get there! Last week and this week were our first two stops ever in Oklahoma. We look forward to spending more time exploring more of the state in subsequent seasons.
If you think windsurfing has died you should spend some time in the Columbia River Gorge near Hood River, Oregon. 💨 Great video as usual! 👍
True, the gorge is one of the few places where the sport is still breathing its dying gasps. However, even there kiting has supplanted windsurfing as the sport of choice. It's a shame, really, because I have many fond memories of great days on the lake or the ocean. The steep learning curve, and the high cost of extensive gear were the nails in the coffin.
Headed the Medicine Park this weekend. Spent some time there as a kid growing up in rural Anadarko. Wife if excited to see the area.
Medicine Park was a wonderful little community! Our only regret is that we discovered it right at the tail end of our visit. It just gives us one more reason to go back! Have a wonderful weekend out there.
Darko guy ayyyyyeeee! 😊
New sub.
Happy to have you aboard, Steven. Thank you!
Oklahoma has 5 mountain ranges and also a mesa complex in the Panhandle with a max elevation of nearly 5000 ft
We sure didn't know, Alan. Oklahoma is far more diverse than we had anticipated.
@@GrandAdventure I wouldn't have known but I grew up there :)
The Black Mesa in the far panhandle is so far out of the way few ever go there but it's full of history all the way back to 10,000 B.C. paleo indians, dinosaurs, cowboys, bad guys, elk, mountain lions, bears, big horn sheep, you name it.
@@alanmiller4122that sounds like our kind of place. Added to our radar screen.
On my list when traveling across the USA. I’ll be bringing the sail for windsurfing or foiling!
Looks like the Marina is sheltered from the wind the day you were out on the water
Heading to White Sands?
Yes Thomas, the marina was very well sheltered. And Kent had both windsurfing gear and foil gear with him.
Nope, our next stop will be boondocking on the beach at Elephant Butte. Hope you'll join us for that next Wednesday!
@@GrandAdventure already have the lake at Elephant Butte on my list, look forward to your episode next Wednesday
Mark, Thank you for another grand adventure! Could you please tell me the manufacturer/model of your kayak?
Sure thing, Larry. That's a 2018 Eddyline Fathom that we picked up in 2022. We explain more about it here: th-cam.com/video/jh5nPcKzI4E/w-d-xo.html
Thank You! @@GrandAdventure
Question are there any bears 🐻 or mountain lions 🦁 out there
Dunno, Shawn. I never looked into it. It doesn't seem like good bear habitat but black bears inhabit most of the US. It does seem like good lion habitat, but we truly don't know.
Great area, Marc. You really covered it.
I never got a chance to see any of this while staying in Lawton for a couple of months back in 2010.
I will definitely have to check it out in the future.
What areas were you allowed to fly the drone? Or should I say, what areas were you not allowed to fly the drone?
Gord
You can't fly on any National Park Service-managed land, most states' State Parks, or in airspace that's restricted due to proximity of airports, heliports, etc. For the latter you can request authorization, but here we are right now I've had an airspace authorization request pending with the FAA for the past 10 days (proximity to International Airport and Marine Corps Air Station), and they have yet to act upon it. I suspect I won't receive a decision until we're long gone from here.
That said, for ground restrictions like those imposed by the National Park Service or most State Parks, they can only prohibit you from taking off or landing from the land they manage. They cannot legally restrict the airspace above their land if you take off and land from otherwise legal adjacent land. That's no different than, say, a Cessna taking off from an airport and flying over a National Park. Only the FAA possesses the authority to restrict airspace. Despite this, I've had a NPS ranger try to convince me otherwise.
@@GrandAdventure Thanks Marc. That explains allot.
And this is what happens when someone doesn't know the limits of their authority... or worse yet, doesn't care to know.
It's called control freak syndrome.
Gord
@@gorrdd yep, fortunately I had already landed the drone when the ranger happened by. I was able to avoid an argument as I had plausible deniability. 😆
Was that “water-filled canyon” at the end of the video a river or a water-catch reservoir? Thanks.
That was West Cache Creek at a place called The Narrows: www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oklahoma/narrows-trail
@@GrandAdventure Thanks so much.
FJB
= native americans and faces
i am always amused by one fact!!
as it is known Americans Natives came into N. America from what is called now Russian Sibir through Bering strait about 10 *20 thousands years ago!
--------
but in modern Russia there is no faces among natives w/ such form of jaws.
most people in Sibir ( that are mongoilds) have round faces., redish skin color , and kind of roundish shape of jews.
same for chinese, or koreans, etc more or less!
but each time looking into pixs of Natives in N .America you can seee those square jawlines. you just can NOT see such ones in Russia, for example!!!
i find this amusing how evolution evolved.
Interesting observation.
My native wife's grandfather and her uncles all grew up on the refuge riding the park and working as tenders and rangers of the park. They lived in a little cobble stone house at one of the entrances to the park ,i think close to mears. Gus palmer commander and chief of the kiowa said that when he was a boy the Buffalo would herd right through their back yard,and his father choctaw bill would say you boys go put that dust on yourselves where those Buffalo came through ,it will make you strong. Grandfather gus said thst george would ride his horse right in the middle of them,and reach out and touch them. Grandfather said hollywood came to the indian city area looking for natives to cast in the old movie uprising if the commanche. The brothers and some others said ,we aint no commanche we are kiowa ,but we got ponies and we can ride . So they took em to the top of mt. Scott abd said we want you to ride straight down off of the mountain. The brothers all said damn its way to sterp,i dont know about this. Uncle george said how much you gonna pay us again. They told him and he ask if the 3:44 camera was rolling and they said yes. With a loud whoop uncle george said follow me to hell boys and down the mountain they went. So the uprising of the commanche was the the wreck less decent of the kiowa. Grandfather said at one time by permission of the state choctow bill made a Buffalo chase on his horse,he rode along side it and killed it at close range with his pistol. The people all cheered ,there wad much meat it was all shared and nothing was waisted.
Very, very cool personal tales, John. Thank you so very much for sharing those!