Pam on Elk Mountain

The Norman Backwoods Hiking Club seems to bring sunshine wherever they go! On January 16th, Ira Ralston (Sales Associate) and Pam Cherek (Sales Manager) led a group of 33 eager hikers to the Wichita Mountains of Southwest Oklahoma. Our goal – to break free of the cabin fever that dominates the dead of winter, stretch our legs, breath the fresh air and have FUN!

The Dragoo Family

The day began gray and gloomy. The large turnout was surprising, since the skies looked as though they could open up at any moment. But these are not fair-weather hikers, my friends.  As we gathered at the trailhead and began our climb toward the top of Elk Mountain, the clouds began to part, the sun began to shine, and big smiles began to appear on people’s faces.

At the top, we relaxed, gazed upon the vast horizon, ate lunch, and took some time to explore the large boulder fields that dominate the landscape. New friends were made, pictures were taken (some a little goofier than others), and we played with Sailor, the lovable Labrador retriever. Eventually, it was time to head down.

Wow, what a group!

People join these hikes for many reasons. Jim was training to hike the Grand Canyon. Bill and Susan include these hikes as part of their ever-active lifestyle. Some people join us because of the “safety in numbers” aspect. No matter what the motivation is, I think we can all agree that something special happens each month in Oklahoma, and we’re happy to be part of it. It’s great to work for a company that encourages active lifestyles and supports local communities!