Buffalo National River Area

We began our day around 9:00 this morning heading towards the Ponca-Boxley Valley area. We stopped and got gas just down the street from the camp where the gas was $2.57 gal. The road to this area was gorgeous. I believe these leaves are definitely at peak. Our first stop was in Jasper where we stopped at the
Elk information Center. Here they gave us all kinds of information on the area, including some short hikes they recommended. They had a wildlife museum here too which was very interesting.

The first stop they recommended was Steel Valley. When we left the road to go to Steel Valley, we went down, down, down a road. When we got to the bottom, we were met with a beautiful valley where there were stone sides just above the bank of the river and we hiked a short trail where we shared the hiking trail with horse back riders. This area was beautiful!

We continued down the road and the next stop we came to was an area called Lost Valley. This was another hike that was recommended by the girl at the information center. She told us there was a difficult trail and an easier trail. It was only about 2 miles, but at the cross roads where you decide whether to do the difficult or easier trail, there was nothing to tell you which was which. So we just chose the one that looked the easiest from that point. One went straight up a hill and the other was straight. So we chose the straight one.......WRONG CHOICE!!! We ended up have to climb rocks up hill for about 1 1/2 miles! You can see the rocks on some of the pictures I have posted here, but pictures do not convey how difficult this was. I am proud that we completed it, but boy did I have to listen to Randall complain alot because he had wanted to

turn around before we ever even got to the difficult part and I just insisted that we go on. Oh well, maybe be lost some weight today, or at least we didn't gain any:)

The rest of the afternoon we continued on the scenic highway that we had been on. I can't tell you how beautiful it was!!! Every curve was more beautiful than the next.

Our main objective of going to this region today was to be in the Ponca-Boxley Valley area late in the afternoon so that we could see the elk herds that were supposed to appear in the fields along the highway. People just go up and down a section of highway (about 1 1/2 miles) watching for elk to come into the fields. We began doing this around 4:00. We saw the first couple of female elk way off the road around 4:30-4:45. We continued to drive the route. Around 5:00 we saw a bull elk and female elk closer to the road and I was able to get a picture of the bull which is posted here. Many people were sitting along the side of the road in front of one particular field. So we decided to park here to thinking these people must know that the elk come here. Randall had his window down and an old man who lived in the area said that as many as 20 to 30 elk would come into this field right around dark. He was absolutely right. Right about 6:30 all of a sudden about 15 to 20 deer came down off the mountain and entered the field together. It was so late, I was not able to get a picture of the herd. It had the largest bull we saw with this herd. I was able to get great shots of it on video however.

Once back at the camp, we grilled some steaks and had steaks, baked potatoes, green salad and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Yum!

We had a great day! We thoroughly enjoyed everything we did, except Randall was not fond (to say it mildly) of the hike at Lost Valley. He jokingly threatened to push me off one of the large rocks after we climbed it. I got to thinking later if he had done this, he would have told people that he lost Vallie at Lost Valley...Ha!

I'm tired and I am getting ready to get in my cozy little bed. It is supposed to go to around 40 tonight and I think I throw on an extra blanket.

Good Night!

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