No April Fooling Getting Wind Blown At Lake Wichita Park

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured on this first day of the fourth month of 2025.

The first day of April is being blustery at my North Texas location, with a cloud cover growing thicker, heading to predicted strong thunderstorms to begin booming later today.

I was not long out of my vehicle before quickly returning to remove the hat from atop my head, before a gust of wind could perform that service for me.

The Lake Wichita Park Veterans Memorial seemed sad to me, today, what with all the un-American nonsense going on. Arresting people without due process. Shipping the arrested out of the country to what amounts to being a concentration camp in El Salvador.

And as I was walking past the Veterans Memorial, listening to news on NPR, I heard a woman had been arrested in Georgia for not reporting a miscarriage. When will this insanity end?

 It has been quite some time since I have hiked to the summit of Mount Wichita. I had no moment of considering doing such today, what with it being hard to stay vertical whilst getting hit by wind gusts.

I suspect we are going to be having an exceptional stormy Spring, in multiple ways....

Final January Tuesday Nature Communing At Lake Wichita Park

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured on this final Tuesday of the first month of 2025, for some salubrious nature communing.

As you can see, looking beyond the statue and above Mount Wichita, the usual blue sky is totally covered in gray today.

The temperature was in the 50s when I was in the outer world. 

What with the fact that little rain has fallen of late, I don't understand why Lake Wichita appears to be at full pool. Did heavy rain fall west of Wichita Falls recently? 

I have yet to see anyone launch a kayak from the kayak launching dock, now that it is floating. The dock sat on dry ground for a year, or so, waiting for the lake to rise and float it.

Rain and thunderstorms are on our weather menu for the next couple days. 

Final 2024 Sunday Using Caution On Mount Wichita

On this final Sunday of 2024, it was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured for some nature communing under a blue sky with the air warmed to a t-shirt and shorts level of warm

When I see the signs warning that one should use caution when climbing the hill, it always causes me to think that I do not think things like hills usually need such a warning.

But, a good steep mountain might warrant such a caution.

And, since the mound I call Mount Wichita is the only thing remotely resembling a mountain anywhere within many miles, methinks the signs should be altered, with the hill word changed to mountain.

Soon after taking the photo of the hill warning sign I saw some mountain climbers braving the steep climb to the summit of Mount Wichita. I could not tell if they were being properly cautious.

After many many months of being nowhere near full pool, Lake Wichita looks to be totally in lake mode, as we head into the new year.

In the view of Lake Wichita in the photo documentation we are on the Circle Trail, looking west, well, maybe slightly southwest.

We are currently scheduled to have a couple more days of non-winter-like temperatures, and then with the new year arriving, so does a cold front.

Cloudy Sunday Stroll at Lake Wichita Park Without Kayaking

It was to Lake Wichita Park, and what would have been the shadow of Mount Wichita, had this 3rd Sunday of November not been totally overcast with clouds preparing to drip some rain.

The rain deluges earlier this month have raised the Lake Wichita water level, rendering the new kayak launching dock in total float mode for the first time which I have eye witnessed.

Though overcast, the sun was still able to provide enough warming rays to bring the temperature into the 60s, making for an extremely pleasant Sunday stroll.

Seeing that kayak launch today had me trying to remember what became of my inflatable kayak. I do not recollect it malfunctioning, and thus getting tossed. I do not remember the kayak making the move to Wichita Falls.

If Lake Wichita developed into regularly having enough water in it to float a boat, it might be fun to get a kayak again.

New Lake Wichita Park Kayak Launch Dock Finally Floats With Bug Bites

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured today on this final day of the 2024 version of April. 

Driving onto the parking lot, with Lake Wichita coming into view, I was pleased to see the lake level has greatly risen from the recent downpours.

And for what seems at least a year of being dry docked, the new Lake Wichita kayak launching dock is finally floating.

 
Walking out onto the floating dock for the first time I was surprised that the little wave action was making the dock a bit dizzying to walk on.

This dock will be basically a carnival ride with big waves, methinks.

That slot you see below the stair steps is the kayak launch pad. It slopes into the lake.

I cut my nature communing a bit short today due to being attacked by biting bugs. Of late, after one of my walks, I will find I've been bug bitten, but have never seen the biting bug.

Today, I saw them, multiple little black bugs on my arms. I swatted the first one I saw, which caused a burst of blood, like a mosquito bite, but these were not mosquitoes.

I have never had a mosquito bite in Texas. In Washington I never went a Summer without getting at least one annoying mosquito bite.

I may curtail my nature communing til a good HOT heat wave fries all the bugs...

Sunny Sunday In The Park With Mount Wichita

Rain dripped for many hours yesterday, along with a lot of thunder booms. But, on this third Sunday of the 2024 version of April, a clear blue sky has returned, with nary a cloud to be seen, no matter what direction one looks.

So, it was to Lake Wichita Park I drove today, hoping to see the lake level higher than the last time I was at this location.

Well, all that rain does not seem to have had much impact on Lake Wichita.

There were a lot of people in the park today, enjoying the sunny Sunday, including multiple people trying to catch fish, and having no luck hooking anything.

I do not recollect previously seeing so many hikers making the treacherous trek to the summit of Mount Wichita as I saw today.

I would think the brown color on the mountain would be muddy. I did not feel like finding out if that is the case.

Have I ever made mention of the fact that Mount Wichita, a manmade mountain, was made from mud dredged from Sikes Lake, back in, I think, the 1990s. 

Methinks Sikes Lake needs to be dredged again, with another mountain made next to Mount Wichita, making for twin peaks...

Friday Lake Wichita Park Walk With Windy Waves

The second Friday of the 2024 version of April is another totally clear blue-sky day at my location in North Texas.

It was to Lake Wichita Park I drove this morning to do some high speed walking in order to get me some endorphins.

Recent rain has made Lake Wichita not quite as dried up as it has been for months. But, insufficient rain has made its way to the new Lake Wichita dock which has been waiting a long, long time to float for the first time.

I think the purpose of this dock is to serve as a kayak launch pad, if the lake ever gets enough water to float a boat.

A steady strong wind was a-blowing today. You cannot tell it via the photo documentation, but the wind was whipping up waves with whitecaps. 

No one was seen trying to surf the waves...

Windy Monday Lake Wichita Walk With No Rain

Due to wind and rain, yesterday's nature communing took place in the dry confines of Walmart. 

Today, on this final Monday of the 2024 version of March, blue sky has returned, but the strong wind remains blowing.

So, it was to Lake Wichita Park I drove today for some windy nature communing. Which would make that Mount Wichita behind the soldier saluting on Wichita Falls Veterans Memorial.

The rain the past couple days rendered walking on the grass to be a bit muddy. My shoes were caked with mud before I realized I was walking over terrain not conducive to mud-free walking.

Tomorrow there we be some sort of dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of the new entry road and parking lot at this location. I do not recollect ever hearing of a parking lot dedication ceremony before.

I likely will not be in attendance at this ceremony....

Lake Wichita Park's Mount Wichita New Parking Lot Finally Open For Business

At my old age it does not take much to please me. Way back before Thanksgiving of 2023 a paving project began in Lake Wichita Park, installing a new entry road and parking lot.

The project was estimated to take around five weeks to complete.

And now, several months later than five weeks, the project is complete, and the new parking lot is open, giving close access to the towering monolith known as Mount Wichita.

I was at this location just two days ago, and found the entry still blocked, so, it was pleasing to return today to find the parking lot open, with a lot of others also enjoying finding the parking lot open.

I know a new parking lot seems like no big deal. But, this location has been annoying since I first discovered it soon upon moving to Wichita Falls. Prior to its current brand new condition, the road and parking lot was a pothole infested, dirty, dusty, rocky mess, requiring going real slow and carefully navigating around the worst of the potholes.

Extremely windy today, with the temperature in the 80s. I had a mighty fine long walk, acquiring oodles of endorphins via the aerobic stimulation...

Pleased To Use Caution Today At Mount Wichita

It has been a few days since I acquired myself some endorphins via outdoor aerobic activity, due to the return of semi-winter-like weather. Chilly, windy, overcast, with some drippage and thunderstorming.

But, today, on this second Monday of the third month of 2024, with ten days til the arrival of Spring, it was back to Lake Wichita Park I ventured, for a long walk around Mount Wichita.

I was not the only one out having themselves a mighty fine time today under the clear blue sky.

I saw a kid and his dog make their way to the summit of Mount Wichita. The kid's mom made it about halfway before giving up.

Hiking to the summit of Mount Wichita looks like it should be easy.

It is not easy.

Ascending gets the heart beating fast, descending is treacherous, way too easy to twist an ankle or take a tumble.

Hence the multiple signs advising to PLEASE USE CAUSTION WHEN CLIMBING HILL.

I do not know why the only thing slightly resembling a mountain, for miles in any direction, is referred to as a HILL. 

Taking My Facebook Aggravation To Windy Lake Wichita Park

The view you see here is looking southeast at a backwoods vantage point in Lake Wichita Park. My destination this morning, after spending a few minutes being aggravated by Facebook malfunctioning.

That water you see is not Lake Wichita. It is a large pond which currently is mostly dried up.

The temperature has cooled from yesterday's balmy 80s.

In the 60s today with a strong wind blowing.

Fast walking got me sufficient endorphins to end the bad mood Facebook had put me in.

And now Facebook is back behaving properly...

Monday At Lake Wichita Park With Mount Wichita

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured on this first Monday of the second month of 2024.

Recent rain has raised the lake level a little, but the lake still needs a lot more water before the new dock, which was installed months ago, is able to finally float.

I think I have made mention previously of the fact that my location in Texas is extremely flat. No mountain range to be seen. In the above view you are looking west across the west end of Lake Wichita. That non-floating dock is visible on the right.

At the location where I was standing when taking the above photo, I could make a 180 degree turn to see the only thing that comes even remotely close to being a mountain, for many miles in any direction.

And there is is. Mount Wichita. Also known as Murphy's Hill. Looking at this "mountain" one might think a PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN CLIMBING HILL warning would not really be needed.

Well. Mount Wichita might not look like it presents any real danger. But, it is way steeper than it looks.

One must tread carefully both going up, and especially going down. It is extremely easy to trip on the eroded ruts.

I rarely make my way to the Mount Wichita summit anymore, due to not wanting to experience twisting an ankle, or worse...

The Return OF Blue Sky & Warm Air To North Texas

On this final Sunday of the first month of 2024, it was back to Lake Wichita Park I ventured today for some fast-paced endorphin acquisition via aerobic stimulation.

Yesterday, walking around Sikes Lake, I was totally under dressed. I was in shiver mode by the time I made it all the way around the lake.

Today, even knowing the outer world was much warmer than yesterday, I layered on too many layers, some of which I peeled off upon arrival at Mount Wichita.

So, today is short sleeved t-shirt and shorts weather, not two layers of sweatshirts on top of a t-shirt, and lined sweatpants weather, which had me overheated by the time I was done, even after taking off the two sweatshirts upon arrival.

Texas weather is so unstable. Goes from super cold to not super cold and back to super cold, then mixes in some rain, and then returns to a bright blue warm sky, like you see today.

Sadly, the recent day long deluge of rain did not raise the level of Lake Wichita much. The new floating dock, which was installed last summer, has yet to have the opportunity to float.

The day may come when this dock floats. It might not be this year, might not be the next year. Wichita Falls has long droughts.

When the new Lake Wichita dock finally floats methinks there should be a city-wide celebration to celebrate the occasion...

At Lake Wichita Park Seeing Mount Wichita Is Getting A New Parking Lot

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured this first Monday of the 2023 version of November, for some extremely windy fast paced walking, with the temperature in the low 80s.

I did not climb to the summit of Mount Wichita today. I was concerned a gust of wind might send me flying.

I was curious to see if the recent rain had raised the water level of Lake Wichita. It looked like the water level is a bit higher than when last at this location a couple weeks ago.

Ever since my first visit to this Lake Wichita location, years ago, I have opined that the entry road and parking lot was in dire need of an upgrade, due to it being one of the most bumpy potholed locations I have ever rolled my wheels on.

A few months ago I read that the parking lot and entry road were going to be paved. 

Well, that project is now well underway. I had to find an alternative parking location.

The current return to summer-like weather conditions is not scheduled to last long.

Cold returns in a couple days...

Hot Lake Wichita Park Walk With Mosquitoes

On this second Tuesday of May the outer world at my location is super humid. And hot. Real HOT.

Feeling the need for heat, and hoping for a cooling breeze, I drove to Lake Wichita Park for a walk around the only mountain for miles and miles in any direction.

I read this morning that the recent rains have risen the local lake levels. Such was noted upon arrival at the Lake Wichita Park parking lot. The tide was not out nearly as far as the last visit, a couple weeks ago.

Work continues on the expansion of the Lake Wichita Veterans Memorial, due to be finished by Memorial Day, which is the 29th of the current month.

Several guys were busy working on the memorial, seemingly impervious to the blazing sun.

I walked around the mountain and then headed north to a line of trees which are on both sides of a creek ditch.

I was on high alert when in this shaded wooded zone, on the lookout for slithering reptiles. I saw none, but did manage to get a whopper of a mosquito bite. 

A trail meanders through this wooded zone, with a couple little bridge crossings, such as what you see above. Eventually I came to a disc golf launch pad and realized this trail had been built for the disc golf course.

Seems like it would be just a tad too challenging to be throwing a disc in a wooded zone, hoping to hit a target.

I do not see many disc golfers at the Lake Wichita Park disc golf course, unlike I see at Lucy Park, where one always sees a lot of disc golfers.

More storming is on the weather menu during the course of this week. I hope that comes with cooler temperatures and a drop in humidity...

Windy Tuesday Thunder-Free Walk Around Mount Wichita

Lake Wichita Park was my go-to location this final Tuesday of the 2023 version of April, for a windy walk around Mount Wichita.

Today the tide was not out as far as the last visit to this location, a couple weeks ago.

One would not think, so via the photo documentation of the harmless looking sky you see above, but severe weather is on the menu for today.

Rain, hail, wind, thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

Currently, coming up on two in the afternoon, the forecast appears to be another dud.

Wind blowing in from the south has blown out the cold air that blew in from the north the past couple days. Climate control switched back from HEAT to COOL.

Good Friday Hiking Around Mount Wichita Being Revitalized

This first Friday of the 2023 version of April took me to Mount Wichita in Lake Wichita Park, for some pleasant temperatured nature communing.

What you are looking at, with Mount Wichita in the background, is the current status of the Lake Wichita Revitalization Veterans Memorial Plaza, due to be completed by the end of May. 

So far that under construction Veterans Memorial Plaza is the only Lake Wichita Revitalization being vitalized. Originally this Veterans Memorial was to be at the fishing dock on the east side of the lake. I remember, way back in, I think, August of 2017, going to an event at Lake Wichita Dam where a local car dealer donated a giant half million dollar check to help pay for the Veterans Memorial.

I first heard of the Lake Wichita Revitalization Project when I moved to Wichita Falls, way back in the previous decade. 

Currently Lake Wichita continues to shrink, creating what looks like tide flats. 

In the above photo we are as close as possible to the water, without the ground being muddy, looking back at Mount Wichita.

And here you see a brave guy who managed to get to the summit of Mount Wichita. Years of erosion has made climbing this mountain a bit treacherous, particularly the going downhill part.

I do not remember Mount Wichita looking as green, previously, as it looked today...

Bike Takes Me To New Section Of Circle Trail In Lake Wichita Park

A few minutes past 11, this Friday morning, my bike's handlebars took me on an 11.5 roundtrip ride on the Circle Trail, exiting that trail soon after it crosses Lake Wichita Dam, rolling on an unpaved, gravel trail which circles Lake Wichita Park, eventually reconnecting with the Circle Trail a short distance before that which you see photo documented above.

A week or so ago I was at the above location and found myself surprised to find a long section of new Circle Trail had received its cement, along with two bridges crossing inlets off Lake Wichita.

Today I was surprised to find the cement connection has now been made to the existing Circle Trail. I figured they'd save making that connection til the rest of the connection to the west end of the Circle Trail was made.

But now, with this connection to the existing Circle Trail in Lake Wichita Park, once the Sidewalk Closed/Road Closed signs and barriers are removed, people will be able to have themselves a mighty fine time exploring this well-designed new section of Circle Trail.

Today did not provide the best of conditions for a bike ride. The temperature was perfect. as was the mostly blue sky. But a strong wind blew from the south, causing me roll along slowly, as in 4 to 5 mph slowly, heading south to the dam. Then upon pedaling the incline to the top of the dam, where one is greeted with a "High Gusts Area" warning sign, the wind picked up stronger, making crossing the dam even slower going.

But, the ride back north, with the wind behind me, had me and the bike rolling way faster than 4 to 5 mph. At one downhill point the speedometer indicated we were going 26 mph. Breaking the speed limit.

It looks like I am transitioning from the walking to the biking time of the year. Maybe I'll find a way to do both...

Sunday In Lake Wichita Park Discovering New Circle Trail With Bridges

On this next to last Sunday of the 2022 version of February, what with the temperature being almost summer-like, I decided to get my daily endorphin dose by doing some fast walking at Lake Wichita Park.

Arriving at the park's parking lot I saw the tide was out, and a strong wind was making waves and whitecaps.

I walked off the Circle Trail to trailblaze the open land around Mount Wichita. Eventually I came to the location where many months ago I came upon the start of construction of a new section of the Circle Trail.

Today I decided to take a closer look at the current state of the new section of Circle Trail, and soon found myself surprised by what I found.

A short distance from the current Circle Trail I came upon rebar ready for cement. And a slight distance further I saw new trail already cemented. I figured the already cemented section likely was not too long, and so continued on to walk on it.

Soon I was surprised to come upon two bridges on the new section of Circle Trail, crossing a pair of inlets off Lake Wichita.

Above we are at the end of the first bridge, with the second bridge ahead.

About a half mile after crossing those bridges I came to the current end of this new section of Circle Trail. And so, I turned around to head back to start.

In the above photo we are on that second bridge, heading back to cross that first bridge.

In the above location we are almost back to where we started walking on the new section of trail. That is Mount Wichita hovering over the horizon, along with hovering over the parking lot on which my vehicle is parked.

Fun walk today. Went further than my norm. Tomorrow we are scheduled to get heated to somewhere in the 80s. And then on Wednesday winter returns, with the temperature not going above freezing, with snow possible.

I am looking forward to the arrival of Spring in a little over a month from now...

Saturday Warm Temperature With Low Tide on Lake Wichita

With the outer world warmed to an almost balmy temperature nearing 70, it was to Lake Wichita Park I went today to commune with nature and acquire endorphins via aerobic stimulation.

As you see, via the above photo documentation, the tide was out today on Lake Wichita, exposing a muddy beach. It is unlikely there are any clams to dig on the exposed mudflats.

With the sun shining bright through a clear blue sky, the Shadow of the Lake Wichita Thin Man was quite dark today.

As you can see, the Shadow is clad only in t-shirt and shorts, on this final Saturday of the 2022 version of January. So far this is seeming to be a mild winter. We have a little less than two thirds of winter left to make it through.

Snow is in the forecast a couple days from now.

Turning around from the lakeside view we are looking up the steep slope of Mount Wichita.

If Mount Wichita is covered with sufficient snow in a couple days we may see cross country skiers schussing their way up and down the mountain. There is no chair lift or rope tow to take skiers to the summit of Mount Wichita.

One would think there would be some sort of mechanical conveyance to take people to the summit of the only mountain for miles; a chair lift, rope tow, tram, or just a staircase.

As it is, those ruts you see on the trail up the mountain make for treacherous mountain climbing...