10 minute read
Great places to hike are available in Tulsa area
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Hiking trails abundant in Tulsa area
PATRICK PRINCE
Tulsa World
The snow has melted and COVID-19 numbers are declining.
If you haven’t been outside much lately, now might be the perfect time to take advantage of the myriad of impressive outdoor opportunities Tulsa has to offer.
Kia Shebert-Smith moved to Tulsa from Colorado about three and a half years ago. It didn’t take her long to become a regular at the trails at the Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area on the west side of the Arkansas River near 71st Street.
“There are not a lot of urban wilderness parks left that close to a downtown area that is free for everyone to use and that is so extensive for the amount of acreage it’s on,” Shebert-Smith said. “Even coming from Colorado, I’ve never seen anything like Turkey Mountain, ever, in terms of how many trails there are within that acreage so close to downtown. I know that Denver and Boulder don’t have anything like it.”
The Turkey Mountain trails are a true Tulsa treasure, a place with multiple trails where outdoor enthusiasts of any skill level can enjoy a hike,run or bike ride. The red trail is less than a mile and is a good introduction to the trails at Turkey Mountain.
Things get a little more difficult with the blue (1.5-mile loop) and yellow (4.4-mile loop) trail. If you’re feeling ambitious, check out the pink trail (5.7-mile loop).
There are also plenty of side trails that people have established. Depending on where you are on a trail, it can be easy to forget you’re in the middle of a city.
Shebert-Smith had an auspicious beginning on Turkey Mountain’s trails. She got lost, with no water in 90-degree heat. Now, she’s a trail regular, often times with her dog, Auggie Doggie, accompanying her. She also helps lead an ultra-running training group Tuesday nights (check out Training on Turkey — TOTs — on Facebook).
While Shebert-Smith admits Turkey Mountain can’t compete with the stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, Turkey Mountain has taught her something.
“I like to tell people when I moved to Oklahoma that Oklahoma taught me to slow down, first of all, and it taught me to pay attention to detail,” she said.
“In Denver, you have the grand feeling of the Rocky Mountains’ vastness, views everywhere you turn. In Oklahoma, you have to slow down and take in really small details and find all these hidden moments of beauty and moments that kind of take your breath away and deserve your attention. Turkey Mountain certainly has that feeling.”
While Turkey Mountain is great and easily accessible, Tulsa is fortunate to have other outdoors areas to enjoy. While not a definitive list, here are a few other options:
Keystone Ancient Forest
160 Ancient Forest Drive, Sand Springs
About 15 minutes west of downtown Tulsa is the Keystone Ancient Forest, a 1,360-acre preserve that features 500-year-old cedar trees and 300-year-old post oak trees throughout its roughly 8 miles of trails.
This time of year, the scenery includes Keystone Lake and rock formations. If you’re quiet enough, you might see a deer or a bobcat.
For a nice hike just shy of 3 miles, explore the Frank Trail. For the first ¼ mile or so, the trail is gravel with some inclines. However, the trail flattens after that and you can focus on the scenery. It’s a well-defined, well-marked trail loop good for any skill level that features a nice view of Lake Keystone at the turnaround.
The trails are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
MICHAEL NOBLE JR., TULSA WORLD Kia Shebert-Smith and her dog, Auggie Doggie, are frequent users of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area in Tulsa.
Oxley Nature Center
6700 Mohawk Blvd., Tulsa
Located inside Mohawk Park in north Tulsa, the 804-acre Oxley Nature Center features numerous trails adding up to 9 miles of mostly individual loops and linked trails that are mostly flat. According to the nature center’s website, more than 200 types of birds and 50 types of butterflies can be found at the nature center.Deer, raccoon, bobcat, mink, skunk, coyote, flying squirrel and beaver all make their homes at the nature center.
For a fun hike through prairie and wetlands, start at the Meadowlark Trail, go through Bob’s Trail and head toward Blackbird Marsh and Lake Sherry. Signs will guide you, as trails are wellmarked and well-defined.
Trails are open seven days a week. Trails are closed to the public during Mohawk Park’s curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
TULSA WORLD FILE The Oxley Nature Center is home to a variety of wildlife, such as raccoons.
Helping Oklahomans since 1960
Helping Oklahomans hear better is a family affair for the team at Armstrong Hearing Aid Center in Tulsa. Since 2006, owners Suzy and Shohn Armstrong have been heading up the family business, which was started by Shohn’s grandfather in 1960, and are committed to bringing clients the latest in hearing aid technology. Shohn, a third-generation hearing instrument specialist, has more than 30 years’ experience in the hearing aid industry and maintains board certification in hearing instrument sciences. Along with the Armstrong team, he provides clients with a range of services from hearing evaluations and consultations to individualized fittings and in-house repairs, Suzy Armstrong said. The hearing aids offered by Armstrong Hearing Aid Center are manufactured in the United States by Starkey, an award-winning company that is at the leading edge of hearing aid technology, Suzy Armstrong said. Many modern hearing aids employ Bluetooth technology and come with applications that wearers can use to connect their smartphones to control multiple hearing aid features. “The hearing aids can even detect falls and the app on the phone will notify a wearer’s loved one so they can check on them or call 911 if necessary,” she said. Many hearing aids also can monitor a wearer’s brain health and come with rechargeable batteries, eliminating the hassle of having to make an unexpected trip to the store to buy extras, Armstrong said. Another groundbreaking technology available to Armstrong clients is the Audibel mask mode feature. The feature works along with a corresponding app to boost certain sound frequencies so that hearing aid wearers are better able to understand others whose speech may be muffled by masks. Armstrong Hearing Aid Center also offers baseline hearing checks for new clients and a doctor’s referral is not necessary to book an appointment. If a hearing loss is detected, the Armstrong team will work with clients to find an individualized hearing aid option that best fits their lifestyle and budget, Armstrong said. For more information, visit armstronghearing.com or call 918-492-6087.
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Vitalit y program offers seniors wellness in all its dimensions
Montereau
Life in a retirement community is a bit like summer camp. When you join a community, you make fast friends with your fellow residents and always have something exciting on the day’s agenda, from exploring new hobbies to playing games or just kicking back to lazy afternoons in an idyllic retreat. As we move into spring, with longer days and warmer weather on the horizon, the agenda at Montereau includes ample opportunities for residents to focus on wellness in all of its dimensions. “When people think about wellness, they usually think about physical fitness first,” said Kristen Schooley, director of wellness at Montereau. “But successful aging means more than a physically healthy lifestyle. There are many dimensions to whole-person wellness, and our Vitality wellness program supports them all. You’ll find something for every interest so you can make every day a new adventure.” As a Life Plan Community in Tulsa, Montereau offers best-in-class service, world-class amenities and a gorgeous campus to live out your retirement dreams. A place where you can try new things, live life to the fullest, enjoy personal growth and fulfillment, and generally enjoy a happier, healthier life. This is what our Vitality wellness program gives you — intentional activities and services to support the five dimensions of wellness: Physical vitality: Residents love Montereau’s impressive fitness opportunities, as well as amenities that resemble what you would find in a good health club: a 24-hour fitness center, classes, one-on-one coaching, a heated pool and a whirlpool spa. Beyond the gym, residents also love Wii bowling, pickleball, dance teams — all part of the active lifestyle at Montereau. Emotional vitality: Emotional wellness has been particularly important over the past year, and the staff has engaged residents to make sure they have everything they need during these trying times. Small, resident-led support groups have revitalized the resident experience and offered emotional support and personal connections even while physical distancing has been necessary. Intellectual vitality: From trips around Tulsa to guest lectures and book clubs, there’s always something new going on to stimulate the mind. Lifelong learning opportunities give residents the chance to stay active and keep growing. Recently, residents themselves have been offering presentations and leading discussions on topics related to their expertise, giving everyone the chance to bond while learning something new. Spiritual vitality: Montereau is a nondenominational community but provides daily Catholic services provided by a resident priest, weekly Protestant services from our resident chaplain and Bible study groups. Residents always have access to a beautiful on-campus chapel for quiet reflection and also enjoy meditative walks around our lush, tree-lined campus. Social vitality: Socialization feeds into all the dimensions of wellness, and residents may choose from hundreds of activities to enjoy the retirement of their dreams. The Montereau team wants to ensure residents have fun connecting with friends new and old. One thing Schooley likes to highlight for prospective residents is that two things set Montereau’s Vitality program apart from ordinary wellness programs. The first is that the team works hard to include residents in the creation of wellness activities. Whether it is a resident serving as a tour guide for trips around Tulsa or the resident advisory committee giving input on the calendar of events, residents set the pace at Montereau. “The other thing I’d emphasize is that this is your retirement, and we’re here to help you make of it what you want,” Schooley said. “Social butterflies always find something to do and a new activity badge to earn, but we also have residents who love to just spend the day in a library or taking in our campus’ beautiful scenery before perhaps joining the crowd for an evening happy hour.” Every day is a new adventure at Montereau, and your opportunities are endless.
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AS YOU WISH
Here shooting stars go ignored, dandelions remain firmly planted, and coins are never flipped because at Montereau,
Tulsa’s premier community for older adults, your wish is our command. From the state-of-the-art fitness center to the
heated pool and tranquil grounds, our attentive staff has only one mission — to make your every wish a reality.
