Climbing Butterfly Hill against a stiff wind. Are we crazy or what? (photo courtesy of Dena Huff)
Right away, let me make it clear, I suggested we try plan B. You might think we were foolish to go on the hike as originally planned. At least I thought so, and just so you won’t think I’m irresponsible, I want to make it clear I suggested an alternative.
In the end, however, it worked out okay. We went on the hike. Maybe we were crazy, but we were rewarded and it turned out to be a pleasant experience.
What am I rambling about? Maybe you saw the recent news reports that 90-mph winds were clocked on the Konza Prairie Biological Station. I can attest to that news report, because I was leading a hike over Butterfly Hill at the Konza at the time of those 90-mph winds.
If you have read many of my posts here, you know I really enjoy hiking in the Flint Hills and the public trails at the Konza are a great opportunity to see the tallgrass prairie. I’m usually not afraid of difficult hiking conditions. Rain? Don’t worry, it’s just water. Hot? Just bring water and keep drinking. Cold? Dress warm and walk fast. Even with high winds, I am ready to hit the trail and keep my head down. The sight of waves of wind crashing through the tall grass is always impressive.
Not everyone, however, shares my willingness to experience the tallgrass prairie under these conditions. Recently, I was with my coworkers from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce at the Konza for a staff retreat. As a docent at the Konza, I was planning on leading our group on a hike over Butterfly Hill behind the headquarters. This is the trail that is used for the Friends of the Konza Prairie Wildflower Walk, which is open to the public in June. There aren’t too many wildflowers in bloom in March, but I had hopes of being the first group of the year to see the blooms of the ground plum. I even prepared a little speech about our response to the tallgrass prairie, how visitors have had different reactions to the prairie since 1800, and how the prairie has been misunderstood by many visitors. I had planned a great hike and really wanted my friends to have a positive experience and learn why I love the prairie so much.
As we sat indoors preparing for the hike, however, the winds were howling with angry fierceness just outside the door. It wouldn’t bother me to hike on a day like that, but I didn’t think it would be very pleasant. I figured most of those on the hike, many of whom have not hiked in the Flint Hills before, would have a very unpleasant experience, the exact opposite of what I was hoping. So I suggested a plan B. I said we could go to the public hiking trail and visit the Hokanson Homestead site. That site is down in the valley, under the gallery forest along Kings Creek, and should be protected from the wind. We wouldn’t get a great vista of the tallgrass prairie, but we wouldn’t be blown away (literally) either.
Lyle, Kim, and John fight a 90-mph wind atop Butterfly Hill. Hey, I suggested a plan B! (photo courtesy of Dena Huff)
Some folks in the group jumped at the idea. I could tell they were not looking forward to fighting the wind. Group dynamics, however, took over the decision-making process. Some others in the group had been looking forward to the hike almost as much as me. So wind-be-darned, we decided to try.
That is how I found myself atop Butterfly Hill in the fiercest wind I could remember. So much for my speech. You couldn’t hear me, even if you wanted to. And not many in the group really wanted to. I was surprised, however, to see some smiles. Some folks seemed to enjoy trying to stay vertical.
As a reward, our group was the first of the year to see Ground Plum Milk Vetch in Bloom. (photo courtesy of Dena Huff)
It was at that point we got our reward. Just below the crest of Butterfly Hill, right in the middle of the trail on the southern slope, we saw several plants of ground plum in full bloom. That sighting qualified our group for mention on the Konza’s phenological list of Konza plants. Take a look.
Once we got off the hill, the hike actually turned pleasant. We were on the leeward side of the hills, where we could talk about limestone, wood rats, tallgrass, grazing, and bison. I was glad we went. I think a few of those on the hike were also glad. We saw redbuds about to bloom, pussy-toes in bloom, and a freshly-burned pasture with sprouts of new green grass. We visited the Hulbert Demonstration Plots, where we saw the affects of fire, or lack of fire, on what grows on the prairie.
On the leeward side, the hike turned unexpectedly pleasant. (Photo courtesy of Dena Huff)
It turned out to be a pretty good hike.
That evening, however, the news reports came out regarding 90-mph winds on the Konza. The next day, everyone told me about the report and gave me a hard time for leading them through the wind. I wasn’t too bothered, however. They were smiling. So was I.
5 Comments
March 28, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Great story; Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Bill
http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/
May 9, 2009 at 9:56 am
You were a hardy group, I’d say! It must have been very difficult to remain upright in wind of that force.
I’m curious by nature and upbringing, and am wondering what sounds the wind made blowing through the tall grass.
May 10, 2009 at 8:28 am
Pat, as hard as the wind was blowing, we just heard the wind in our ears, not really in the grass. On more normal days, however, the wind in the grass — in the fall, when the grass is tall and dry — makes a very loud rustle, like running a straw whisk broom back and forth across your hand. In a breeze, it’s like white background noise you can tune out. In a strong wind, it sounds like tearing fabric. On the day we hiked, it was just loud wind, you didn’t even hear the grass.
March 5, 2010 at 7:28 am
Good Morning: Being from the Wichita area, my brother and I would backpack in the flint hills near Toronto State Park quite often. I would be interested in knowing if you or any member of your group would have information on long backpacking trails through the heart of the flint hills. We have another backpacking trip planned for Fall and would love to backpack through the flint hills. We especially like the area adjacent to the KS turnpike near the cattle pens on the way to Topeka. Thank You, John G. Fox
March 5, 2010 at 8:03 am
How long of a trail are you looking for? The Konza Prairie just south of Manhattan has a public trail with three loops, including hikes of 2.5, 4, or 6.5 miles. Not long, but spectacular. Backpacker magazine selected the Konza trail as one of the top-100 day hikes in the country. There are also several trail options at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City in Chase County, including the Fox Creek Trail (also spectacular) of 6 miles. But it sounds like you want longer. How do you feel about hiking along county roads with a county map?