Desert View road was worth the time it took to make the drive and take the stops at viewing points for sure, but it wasn’t until the evening trip on Hermit Road when the sun was setting that the canyon really showed it’s “true colors”
It’s Fall now and apparently quickly turning into Winter with the temperatures dropping so quickly! This is my favorite time of year for backpacking and kayaking. It’s also the time of year that I begin to fight my number one outdoor battle…getting a comfortable night’s rest! I’m going to dedicate some blog space and gear testing time during this cold season to the pursuit of a comfortable night’s rest in cold weather.
I have to be ready at all times to carry or alternately chase after a 25 pound bundle of energy. Thank you Chaco USA for understanding and making these Z2s especially for the thrill-seeking Mothers of toddlers. What? You made them for river guides? The box must have said River Rats, I thought it said Rug Rats. Well, I would never have known if you hadn’t said something 
If I can’t manage a good night’s rest, I find myself dragging groggily around camp rubbing my eyes and gradually convincing myself to continue on with the planned activity. Since I simply CANNOT sleep well when I’m cold or uncomfortable, the ProLite mattress has dramatically tipped the scale in my favor.
My friend and I were happy to spot a young cow elk grazing in the bottomland beyond Ponca and made a note to check out the viewing area in the morning. Along the short gravel drive into the Lost Valley Campground, a beautiful buck grazed quietly on one side of the car and a couple of adult turkeys with ten adolescents in tow ran through the grass on the opposite side. Just ahead a squirrel jumped off the drive. Four species in as many minutes, we were back in Arkansas! I love the diversity of wildlife still thriving in the Natural State.
Hi, my name is Lesley and I’m a Chaconian. There, I’ve said it. I love my Chacos, like so many others. I’ve worn Chacos for countless adventures in countless places for more than a decade. I decided to join the ranks and write my own review.
The plan was to go South into the hills and hopefully encounter a few degrees of relief, find a two-day hike that would allow for a slower pace if it was incredibly hot, spend one night in the woods and hike out the next. Faced with these end goals, I usually turn to one or another of Tim Ernst’s publications.
Over 5 miles of well developed trails and beautiful vistas make for a good opportunity to get outside for a small hike. Many of the trails were loops and offered new ground to see throughout the hike. A good portion of the mileage is alongside a perfectly crystal clear stream that slips and falls over the rocky outcroppings in this glade area.
I guess when the leaves are off it can seem like there isn’t much to see, but I found lots of smaller views to take in that were beautiful in their own way. It was a simple hike, short enough that I only needed to bring along my Camelbak water bottle and still warm enough that my Helly Hanson Rapide soft-shell jacket was plenty of protection from the wind and cold.