In keeping with the tradition of taking family car trips on Spring Break, DH and I usually take a few days off and treat our offspring and ourselves to a change of scenery.
Last Spring Break, DH decided that we should drive to Dallas (via Lawton, OK - his hometown) to use the season passes to Six Flags that we purchased on January 1 in a moment of extreme weakness while killing time before the Cotton Bowl, in which our beloved OSU Cowboys were playing.
Perhaps it was the look of hunger in my eye that suggested the Dallas via Lawton route to DH, because he knows how dearly I love a Meersburger, and the Meers Store is just a stone's throw from Lawton. Whenever we are anywhere south and west of Oklahoma City, we stop in at Meers for sustenance. I will save discussion of Meers for another blog posting, because it is a religious experience and deserves its own post.
We set off on our journey on a Thursday and planned to spend the day at Mount Scott, a mountain just to the northwest of Lawton. I don't really know if it is a mountain so much as it is a very large hill. I think there are rules about how high one has to tower above sea level to be classified as a mountain, but those little details escape me at the moment. If you're a smartypants and already know that fun factoid, please post in the comments and enlighten the rest of us.
Mount Scott is a part of the Wichita Mountains (we're calling them mountains even if they may not be!) and the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. You can get to the top of the mountain by way of a three-mile paved road. Once at the top, you can literally see forever.
DH, whose father was stationed at Fort Sill when he was a child, remembers spending lots of time at Mount Scott and the Wildlife Refuge. Our own offspring say that the best part about Mount Scott is all the rocks that cover the mountain on all sides. These two monkeys can climb for hours on the rocks and never tire of it. They usually meet a fast friend or two and that makes keeping track of them a full-time job for DH and I. Really, a full-time job for me. DH is usually photographing.
We spent about two hours on top of Mount Scott before trying to go to Meers. The line stretched out the door and down the sidewalk. Since the family was really hungry and I forgot snacks (see note below), we headed off in search of another place to eat, which we found in nearby Medicine Park.
Later that afternoon, we were on our way to Dallas to enjoy Six Flags on a beautiful 80 degree day, only to discover that a freak ice and snowstorm was headed our way on Saturday and we had to pack it up and head home. Remember that song, "Slip Sliding Away" by Paul Simon? I now understand the multiple layers of meaning in that song!
If you're going to go to Mount Scott, here are some handy hints and tips:
First, wear sunscreen. I know, I know. I sound like your mother. But, I speak from experience. The absolute worst sunburns in Dear Wife's lifetime have occurred on the summit of various mountains. Don't be fooled by the cool breeze that's wafting your neck. Without that sunscreen, you're going to be one crispy critter. Apply to the offspring as well, because you aren't going to be going anywhere for a long time.
Second, eat before you go or pack a picnic lunch or snacks. All that rock-climbing will definitely make you hungry. You will work off your Meersburger while climbing the rocks at Mount Scott. You can easily tailgate out of the back of your car in the parking area, so bring along some folding chairs, an ice chest, and foodstuffs of your choice. Or, just go get the Meersburger first. Trust me, you can't go wrong.
Third, dress in layers. Even in the summertime, there can be a hearty breeze. I never go without a jacket or some extra layers.
Fourth, comfortable shoes are a must. I nearly always wear tennis shoes or rubber-soled outdoor sandals. If one of the offspring is teetering too near an edge, you need to move with lightning-fast speed.
This is a wonderful car trip that virtually anyone in Oklahoma can make in a day. Stay tuned for more postings about other things to do in the area, including an homage to the culinary Mecca that is Meers.
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