Glory Hole Hike - Yelling at Frogs and Other Adventures

When you step outside and see snowflakes, in April, before a hike you were already emotionally struggling with on account of the cold and being social, the best thing that can happen is that someone grabs your hand, shoves you towards the car and sudden there you are, heading towards the trail head.  

The elk were up and about.  No cold will keep those fluffy behinds from grazing!

Photo: Zee Kirk

We arrived at the meeting point and 5 women and a dog headed off to see Glory Hole Trail in the Buffalo River area of Arkansas.  This trail is pretty much one mile down, one mile up.  Following a bouncing poodle tail, we made off down the trail chatting, catching up, getting to know each other.  It was about 35 degrees, but the right gear and the right attitudes made it well worth it.  Soon we were all warm from the movement and hearing sounds of rushing water. We began exploring in and around the creek, multiple waterfalls and the million little plants hoping for spring. 

Otter and Gypsy Looking Warm and Awake!

Stopping for guided meditation by a waterfall (does it get much better than that?), we set our intentions for the day.  Having a moment of peace to really ponder your intent is a recommended and worthwhile practice.  If you have questions, let me know.  😀

As we continued down, all water flowed to the center of the valley and onward to a rapid decent through Glory Hole.  

DRUMROLL..........

Photo by Zee Kirk

So what's the big deal?  It took how ever many years (lots and lots) to carve this hole into the rock.  I loved being with a group of people that would ponder and consider it at length.  It's a wonderful feature and only gets neater underneath.  

Photo by Zee Kirk

When your hiking friends start gnawing on trees, it's time for lunch.

Photo by Zee Kirk

Tea service in the wilderness?  But of course.  It's this civility that separates us from the animals. 

Photo by Zee Kirk

Tea ninjas - look at those smiles!!

Photo by Zee Kirk

Curiosity got us and we headed downstream to check out the great beyond.  It was lovely and we only stopped when the trail gave up on us.  

Photo by Zee Kirk

Julie may or may not have leapt from a great height for this photo...

Photo by Zee Kirk

Look at this grumpy rock face!

Ain't skeerd of some cold and snowflakes!  Well done sisters!

Let it be known that this was not solicited silliness.

Puppy incoming!

Joy in the tiny and tucked away is my favorite thing.  Having a brain that has deep awareness of every crevice when I'm hiking is quite possibly my favorite blessing from the universe.  So happy this little beetle found a good place for a cozy timeout. 

As hikes often do, we began to head back.  It was just as glorious going the other direction.  Hard to leave, but we must leave nature to do its things. 

So, on the topic of yelling at frogs, we were looking at water flow on the way back and decided to make a tiny leaf raft to watch it go.  I was bending down for the perfect raft sail and a dead frog came bubbling up out of nowhere in the water.  Per my normal, I yelled at it for scaring me and off it rushed down the creek!  I'm uncertain why it dislodged at that very moment, but it was hilarious, for all of us (with the exception of the frog).  

Hopefully the next hike will have less hints of spring and more strident expressions of warmer days to stay.  I'm so thankful for a group of friends to go on adventures with.  Even better was the suggestion that we run into Jasper post hike and eat like fiends!  Coupled with a visit to a tiny art gallery, it was pretty much a perfect day.  Thankful for nature, friends, love and being alive.