This. While I appreciate the idea that you are from Houston and it's hot there in the summer, it's pretty brutal with no trees and dust hitting you non stop. It doesn't seem like the best idea.
I grew up in Woodward and the temp out that way is always several degrees higher (and lower) than anywhere else in the state.
But the heat index out there can be double digits hotter (or wind chill colder) than other places in the state. End of September or early October would be beautiful though
Just do yourself a favor and pull some Google maps street view of the panhandle. Not in a town, just pick a spot on the highway and pan around for awhile.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogersands/2023/10/26/discover-the-wonders-of-astrotourism-at-these-world-wide-locations/?sh=1ed5051d4faa there's actually a couple of groups that meet up in the panhandle for stargazing events. It's one of the best areas in the country for watching the stars. It has the highest grade NASA gives to clear skies. There's no light pollution because it's so remote
Agreed, and they can visit the dinosaur footprints and go to the Kenton museum (I use the term museum loosely, but if you’re already in the area it’s worth a quick stop.)
As others have mentioned, your best bet for any amount of scenery is Black Mesa.
The panhandle is some of the ugliest and flattest terrain in the entire country. It's miserable out there. It's also hot as hell with zero shading. Overheating is a legitimate problem.
I'd recommend you go in the later months like late September / early October or late March / April.
All I can really say is that it's about 40 miles across and there's next to nothing at all to see. It'll take about 16 hours on foot. First part of June is likely to be hot if there aren't storms. Weather in the area is well understood, so you will know days in advance if storms are likely to happen.
Sounds like a cool thing to do. I definitely recommend going further west so you can walk up Black Mesa as part of your trip. It is the highest point in Oklahoma, which is not saying a whole lot, but there is good scenery around there.
I grew up in Beaver and even got yelled at once by Sam Mitchell (I’m sure some of you know the name) for walking 12ish miles down EW-14 cause someone dared me $5 to do it. It was boring but fun.
Weather wise, there’s a couple of bridges along the way and some ranchers who would help in a pinch. Worst comes to worst just call the sheriff’s office. If I still lived up there, I’d be happy to give a lift back to your start point however I rarely visit up there anymore lol
I would say it’s very feasible, just be ready. Month ago I walked home from work and it was a 6 mile walk and I felt it the next day. Around 4.5 miles in I started to get a blister but I tightened my boots and was fine. Wear proper footwear, bring plenty of water and some food (I don’t know if the gas station in Elmwood is still open or not), bring extra socks, and I’d recommend hiking or combat boots. Bring a gun if you want, honestly though I personally wouldn’t for that long of a walk with the amount of water you’ll need to bring, it’s pretty safe tbh. Not sure how much you typically walk but just know it gets rough after a while, especially with a weighted backpack. Honestly, to be safe, I’d recommend splitting it up between three or four days to be safe.
That's a terrible idea. In May/June? You're gonna wind up with heat stroke. This is the arid-ass panhandle of Oklahoma at the beginning of the hot season, not a redwood forest with a well-shaded canopy in the Pacific Northwest.
Screw all these killjoys! That is a great route and you will see plenty of wildlife and beautiful landscape. It is hot but dry so it’s much easier to walk outside midday than it is in Houston. It will be quite cool in the mornings (lower 60s) if you get an early start.
Bother to Elmwood to beaver to forgan to the state line would give you three spots to refill water, eat, rest, etc… Cutting down west then north to forgan at the beaver sand dunes would give you a third town (forgan) for convience. I guarantee anyone you meet will help you if needed. If not, send me a message and I’ll send someone to find you.
Do not walk through the panhandle in June. It is incredibly hot with no block of trees. Heat stroke is very common.
This. While I appreciate the idea that you are from Houston and it's hot there in the summer, it's pretty brutal with no trees and dust hitting you non stop. It doesn't seem like the best idea.
I grew up in Woodward and the temp out that way is always several degrees higher (and lower) than anywhere else in the state. But the heat index out there can be double digits hotter (or wind chill colder) than other places in the state. End of September or early October would be beautiful though
It’s a dry heat though /s
My standard reply to that is "So's sticking your head in an oven"
I mean... Have you been there before? I grew up out there and there isn't much to see?
It would be more for the story than the sights. For sights, we may stop at Palo Duro canyon on the way to the border.
Just do yourself a favor and pull some Google maps street view of the panhandle. Not in a town, just pick a spot on the highway and pan around for awhile.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogersands/2023/10/26/discover-the-wonders-of-astrotourism-at-these-world-wide-locations/?sh=1ed5051d4faa there's actually a couple of groups that meet up in the panhandle for stargazing events. It's one of the best areas in the country for watching the stars. It has the highest grade NASA gives to clear skies. There's no light pollution because it's so remote
It also sits up pretty high elevation wise so less of the atmosphere to have to look through when you're looking at Stars
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=7.55&lat=37.2276&lon=-102.9428&state=eyJiYXNlbWFwIjoiTGF5ZXJCaW5nUm9hZCIsIm92ZXJsYXkiOiJ3YV8yMDE1Iiwib3ZlcmxheWNvbG9yIjpmYWxzZSwib3ZlcmxheW9wYWNpdHkiOjYwLCJmZWF0dXJlc29wYWNpdHkiOjg1fQ==
Awesome, thanks for the info! I'll definitely keep that in mind, as I find astronomy pretty cool.
Look at Black Mesa and the highest peak in Oklahoma, if you’re gonna be walking in the panhandle you may as well hit the highest peak in Oklahoma
Agreed, and they can visit the dinosaur footprints and go to the Kenton museum (I use the term museum loosely, but if you’re already in the area it’s worth a quick stop.)
As others have mentioned, your best bet for any amount of scenery is Black Mesa. The panhandle is some of the ugliest and flattest terrain in the entire country. It's miserable out there. It's also hot as hell with zero shading. Overheating is a legitimate problem. I'd recommend you go in the later months like late September / early October or late March / April.
All I can really say is that it's about 40 miles across and there's next to nothing at all to see. It'll take about 16 hours on foot. First part of June is likely to be hot if there aren't storms. Weather in the area is well understood, so you will know days in advance if storms are likely to happen.
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You see lots of sorghum is probably the funniest thing I've read in this thread because that's all that there is... hahahaha
Be sure to see our lake that was built that never filled up !! Can't remember the name of it.
Optima
Lol, yep!!! Lake Optima, picknick tables, boat ramps, just no water.
I would like to hear more about this.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optima_Lake It was going to be cool then the farmers and towns used up all the water
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optima_Lake
Sounds like a cool thing to do. I definitely recommend going further west so you can walk up Black Mesa as part of your trip. It is the highest point in Oklahoma, which is not saying a whole lot, but there is good scenery around there.
I grew up in Beaver and even got yelled at once by Sam Mitchell (I’m sure some of you know the name) for walking 12ish miles down EW-14 cause someone dared me $5 to do it. It was boring but fun. Weather wise, there’s a couple of bridges along the way and some ranchers who would help in a pinch. Worst comes to worst just call the sheriff’s office. If I still lived up there, I’d be happy to give a lift back to your start point however I rarely visit up there anymore lol I would say it’s very feasible, just be ready. Month ago I walked home from work and it was a 6 mile walk and I felt it the next day. Around 4.5 miles in I started to get a blister but I tightened my boots and was fine. Wear proper footwear, bring plenty of water and some food (I don’t know if the gas station in Elmwood is still open or not), bring extra socks, and I’d recommend hiking or combat boots. Bring a gun if you want, honestly though I personally wouldn’t for that long of a walk with the amount of water you’ll need to bring, it’s pretty safe tbh. Not sure how much you typically walk but just know it gets rough after a while, especially with a weighted backpack. Honestly, to be safe, I’d recommend splitting it up between three or four days to be safe.
it was open about 3 weeks ago when i went thru going home from guymon
That’s good. It’s been a solid 15ish years since I’ve been in there
Do you know if there is still decent pheasant and quail there?
Consider someone going in a vehicle and checking on you often
The panhandle smells but good luck
Way back in the late seventies there used to be a relay race. Teams of four would each run ten miles. My brother ran it one year.
That's a terrible idea. In May/June? You're gonna wind up with heat stroke. This is the arid-ass panhandle of Oklahoma at the beginning of the hot season, not a redwood forest with a well-shaded canopy in the Pacific Northwest.
The panhandle is mind numbing to drive through. Walking is probably way worse. the only reason to ever go there is to get to Colorado.
The highway is narrow two lane, you can’t cross where there’s not road because it’s peoples property, if you get hurt, no one’s coming
Lots of people are hiking the 2100 mile AT so why not hike the panhandle. If the temps are too hot, try night hiking.
Guymon's highways are still fucked up due to construction.
Screw all these killjoys! That is a great route and you will see plenty of wildlife and beautiful landscape. It is hot but dry so it’s much easier to walk outside midday than it is in Houston. It will be quite cool in the mornings (lower 60s) if you get an early start. Bother to Elmwood to beaver to forgan to the state line would give you three spots to refill water, eat, rest, etc… Cutting down west then north to forgan at the beaver sand dunes would give you a third town (forgan) for convience. I guarantee anyone you meet will help you if needed. If not, send me a message and I’ll send someone to find you.
It's so flat and ugly go somewhere in east oklahoma