Comments on: Blowin’ in the wind

By: Forecast warm with chance of wind | Flint Hills, Tall Grass

Forecast warm with chance of wind | Flint Hills, Tall Grass — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 06:43:32 +0000

[...] is always a part of prairie life. Sometimes it can be brutal. See here for example. The wind this day was not at all brutal, nor even unpleasant. It was just one of those [...]

By: Dennis Toll

Dennis Toll — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:00:51 +0000

John, unfortunately, I know of no trail like that through the Flint Hills area. Almost all the land in the Flint Hills is private property, unlike the large tracts of public lands and national parks in the west. So to accomplish something like what you propose, you will have to work with private land owners to get permission. I would suggest contacting the folks at Kansas Flint Hills Adventures (http://www.kansasflinthillsadventures.com/) to see if they could help.

Dennis Toll http://flinthillstallgrass.org

By: John G. Fox

John G. Fox — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:35:08 +0000

We are looking for a route that we could backpack, make camp and explore and set up camp every night in a different location, we wouldn’t mind backpacking on county roads, but we would need to be able to camp somewhere in the field, set up our tent, build fires, cook etc…… We would like to find a trail (approx. 20 miles in length) that we could hike for about 4 days.

By: Dennis Toll

Dennis Toll — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:03:57 +0000

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?

By: John G. Fox

John G. Fox — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:28:54 +0000

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

By: Dennis Toll

Dennis Toll — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:28:47 +0000

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.

By: Pat - Arkansas

Pat - Arkansas — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:56:41 +0000

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.

By: Bill Smith

Bill Smith — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:44:56 +0000

Great story; Thanks for sharing!

Dr. Bill
http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/