After spending the entire day in Little Rock on Friday at a conference, I was ready for some relaxation. When Steve had suggested that we go with a group of the guys he works with and their wives/girlfriends earlier in the week for a Saturday hiking trip, it sounded really good. I didn't get home until around 9:00pm Friday night and the idea of getting up early on Saturday was not looking so good. But we had committed!
The weather was promising to be mild, so off we went. It had actually worked out in a funny way on my drive back from Little Rock, as I call everyone in my cell phone to attempt to stay awake, that Glo and I were talking about the hike and she said she KNEW about a Lost Valley, but it was close to Harrison. She said it was near Ponca and I remembered Steve mentioning something about "Ponca" and she said there's a waterfall and a cave you have to crawl in to get to an inside waterfall. I knew that was totally the same Lost Valley then...but had not known we would be driving almost to Harrison!! She said I might give my brother a call and he might enjoy coming to join us because they used to hike and camp there often. So I did and he joined our group Saturday, which delighted Steve and I so much. I even packed his lunch, but I didn't have time to bake cookies or brownies as I would have when I was in sixth grade. (I used to love to bake for my big brothers - my most appreciative audience---at least when they didn't eat all of the dough first! Yes, Rachel, there were dough eaters before you, Greg and Mary Beth!)
We all met in Mountainburg. One family came from Stigler, Oklahoma to hike with us. It was an interesting combination, one family brought five teenagers and one couple brought a five year old. Everyone got along well and no one wanted to kill anyone by the end of the day.
What a beautiful park it is, along the Buffalo River. The recent ice storm had knocked out a lot of the trees and it was obvious they had cut back a lot of them to clear the trail again. Bet that was a fun job. So many huge cavernous areas where you could just imagine tribes of Indians and settlers from years ago finding shelter from the weather and other enemies. If those stones could talk! It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Around Ponca, there was an old settlement that a lady had lived in all of her life and she donated it to the parks dept. for historic preservation. Steve, I think, was looking this building over to see about buying it so we could move in it with a couple of acres....he was sure he could get a good deal on it! (haha) I think he would have to raise the door height if he stayed there for long, don't you think?
Here's a view at Steel Creek where we stopped for lunch.
One of the waterfalls at Lost Valley.
My brother, Hounie (nickname), checking out the size of what is left of the trunk they had to cut following the recent ice storm. I think he could hide inside of there!
Steve and I with Tommy (the ringleader) and John that he works with and their wives. We are inside this huge caverness area that has been washed out over the centuries by water. Very cool.We looked for elk that are in the area but only saw one at a distance, which I understand is how you want to see elk. My brother says they will just saunter across the highway, unlike deer that dart and run.
We all parted ways and headed home, making plans to do this again soon.
1 comment:
Looks just like I remember it. Glad you had great weather.
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