Top 5 Hikes In The Flint Hills...So Far Anthony Martinez 2019-12-29 | We've seen many wonderful, natural regions in our home state of Kansas, but the one that we are the most in love with is the Flint Hills. Fortunately for us we are located in the very heart of this region. Containing some of the last of the tallgrass prairie that once covered North America from Canada to Mexico, hiking in the Flint Hills is like stepping back in time. This land of rivers and rolling plains is not only our home, but also home to a vast ecosystem of plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the world. From deer and blue heron to bison and bald eagles. This land of fiery sunsets and endless sky is one of the most spectacular hiking locations in the world. Often overlooked due to its lack of mountains, Kansas is so much more than a fly over state! We're still exploring them, but allow us to share with you our five favorite hiking locations in the Flint Hills...so far!
Wildlife Wednesday : Circle of Life (Graphic Warning) Anthony Martinez 2020-10-07 | Please see the playlist below for the other wildlife Wednesday Collaboration videos this month.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhThe channels that are taking part in the collaboration this month are:Love2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGameCam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgwWithin Hiking Distance: youtube.com/channel/UCgpfVYEmEXG-uN2ySKrMcowBig Crazy Outdoor Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCodAHWAV57eroBRTpQJa4bw#WildlifeWednesday is a collaboration of several small YouTube Channels. This group was started by Em and the Gang in 2018 to show off "wildlife in our area". The collaboration is held once a month and is now hosted by Happy Trails Hiking. There are have many locations covered in Wildlife Wednesday. They range from backyards in Canada to the islands of Costa Rica! Each channel that has participated in the collaboration had their own Style and that is fine! We encourage all kinds of channels to get involved!
Wildlife Wednesday : Prairie Summer Anthony Martinez 2020-08-05 | Wildlife Wednesday is back! This month we are showcasing some of our favorite summer animal sightings. Some of the clips are from summers past, before we participated in Wildlife Wednesday, but all are from our beautiful Flint Hills in Kansas. So sit back and enjoy the fantastic summer wildlife of the Kansas Tallgrass Prairie!Please take a look at the playlist for Wildlife Wednesday: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGameCam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgwMandieJean 97: youtube.com/user/MeBeMandieG#WildlifeWednesday is a collaboration of several small YouTube Channels. This group was started by Em and the Gang in 2018 to show off "wildlife in our area". The collaboration is held once a month and is now hosted by Happy Trails Hiking. There are have many locations covered in Wildlife Wednesday. They range from backyards in Canada to the islands of Costa Rica! Each channel that has participated in the collaboration had their own Style and that is fine! We encourage all kinds of channels to get involved!
Robbers Cave Trail, Robbers Cave State Park, OK Anthony Martinez 2020-07-29 | Welcome to Robbers Cave State park and the Robbers Cave Trail, located in the San Bois Mountains in south eastern Oklahoma. The trail is about 0.9 miles long and passes a cave that is rumored to have been a favored hideout for western outlaws, possibly even the infamous Jesse James. Belle Starr, who reportedly welcomed outlaws into her home, lived in a cabin just twenty miles from this location. The trail, while short, is rugged and rocky. It is a pretty good workout for even a experienced hiker. The hike is well worth it, however, as you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding San Bois Mountains and pass many interesting rock formations like the Devil's Slide. We had a fantastic time on our family hike of Robbers Cave Trail and look forward to visiting again in the future.We highly recommend Robbers Cave State Park and the Robbers Cave Trail as excellent examples of hiking in Oklahoma!
2020 Midwest YouTubers Campout : Johnsons Shut Ins State Park Anthony Martinez 2020-07-09 | With 2020 shaping up the way it has, we were afraid that we weren't going to be able to attend the 2020 Midwest YouTubers Campout at Johnson's Shut Ins State Park in Missouri. Fortunately for us things worked out and we were able to visit our friends again this year. Happy Trails Hiking, Big Crazy Outdoor Adventures, and The Outdoor Nomad all returned this year for what has become one of our favorite camp outs of the year. We even had special representation of our British friend, Famous actress and YouTuber, Rachel Rawson! Together we hiked at nearby Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, the highest point in Missouri, on the Mina Sauk Falls Trail. Social Distancing prevented us from doing many of the activities that we would normally enjoy, but we had a great time nonetheless. Hopefully next year some new channels will be encouraged to join us and add to fun. We already can't wait!
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve : Gas House Loop Anthony Martinez 2020-06-23 | At last we've returned to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve! As a Crew, we have vowed to hike every mile of the forty miles of trail at Tallgrass Prairie. This trip brought us to the Gas House Loop Trail. The Gas House Loop is an 8+ mile trail that leads out onto some of the farthest reaches of the preserve. If social distancing is what you are looking for, then this is the trail for you. Miles of rolling hills and grasslands are all that you can see. The preserve is the very heart of our beloved Kansas Flint Hills. As tired as we were at the end of this hike, the views and the experience of being alone out on the prairie are well worth it.
Wildlife Wednesday : Dawn on the Prairie Anthony Martinez 2020-06-03 | Welcome back to Wildlife Wednesday! This month's edition comes from a hike that Christina and I took at Konza Prairie Nature Trail near Manhattan, KS. The best time to get to the Konza Prairie Biological Station is at dawn. That's when all the beautiful wildlife of the prairie come out to celebrate a new day! Hopefully you will enjoy all it as much as we did!Please take a look at the playlist for Wildlife Wednesday: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttMandieJean 97: youtube.com/user/MeBeMandieG#WildlifeWednesday is a collaboration of several small YouTube Channels. This group was started by Em and the Gang in 2018 to show off "wildlife in our area". The collaboration is held once a month and is now hosted by Happy Trails Hiking. There are have many locations covered in Wildlife Wednesday. They range from backyards in Canada to the islands of Costa Rica! Each channel that has participated in the collaboration had their own Style and that is fine! We encourage all kinds of channels to get involved!
Crew Cuts : Chase Lake Falls Anthony Martinez 2020-05-28 | Chase State Fishing Lake is home to one the most beautiful waterfalls in Kansas. Chase Lake Falls! We've wanted to visit this popular location for quite awhile, and we finally got our opportunity on a recent trip to go hiking at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Located in Cottonwood Falls and near Strong City, KS, Chase Lake Falls is a perfect example of the hidden treasures of the Midwest. The trail is short, but the waterfall itself is worth the trip.For history lovers we advise stopping in nearby Strong City. Our friend KCVids816 has made some excellent videos there. Check out his channel here: youtube.com/channel/UCQi1bYs1aii5qZjqt8THwtw
MacLennan Park in Topeka, KS : The Colors of Spring Anthony Martinez 2020-05-23 | MacLennan Park is a 244 acre park located in Topeka, KS. Located next to Kaw River State Park, the park offers a several trails that lead you through wooded and prairie areas. There is some lovely scenery of the architecture of Topeka, as well. You can view the governors mansion on the north side of the park, or the abandoned Menninger Clinic building, which we came across. We thought that the clinic might be good location for our friends at Our Haunted Travels-PANICd to investigate. It certainly looks like it could be haunted.Spring is a very colorful time in Kansas and MacLennan Park is a perfect place to view all the colors of the season. This made it an ideal spot to try out Christina's Mothers Day gift. Her brand new Enchroma glasses! Most of you all don't know that Christina is colorblind, as are James and William. The Enchroma glasses help to correct her colorblindness. She's learned to live with it obviously, but the kids and I wanted to give her what she's been missing. MacLennan Park did not let us disappoint! Join us as we admire the all colors of MacLennan Park in Topeka, KS!Check out our friends Shawn and Marianne at Our Haunted Travels - PANICd! They do travel based historical videos on many historical locations. If you like Travel, history, or the paranormal, then you will love PANICd! : youtube.com/user/PANICdVideos
Crew Cuts : Eagle Ridge Trail 2020 Anthony Martinez 2020-05-17 | Welcome back to Milford State Park and to the Eagle Ridge Trail! Those who have followed us for a while have seen us hike this trail many times. Sometimes all together, sometimes with quests, and sometimes solo. Today's video shows our first hike of Eagle Ridge with the entire Crew, including Doug and Brittany!At 6.5 miles Eagle Ridge Trail is the longest trail at Milford SP and offers prairie meadow, gallery forest, and beautiful lake views. It offers a wonderful Flint Hills hills experience and is a great example of midwest hiking!
Wildlife Wednesday : Feathered Photobomb! Anthony Martinez 2020-05-06 | #WildlifeWednesday is a collaboration of several small YouTube Channels. This group was started by Em and the Gang in 2018 to show off "wildlife in our area". The collaboration is held once a month and is now hosted by Happy Trails Hiking. There are have many locations covered in Wildlife Wednesday. They range from backyards in Canada to the islands of Costa Rica! Each channel that has participated in the collaboration had their own Style and that is fine! We encourage all kinds of channels to get involved!Please take a look at the playlist for Wildlife Wednesday: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGameCam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgw
The Kansas Landscape Arboretum Anthony Martinez 2020-05-03 | The Kansas Landscape Arboretum is a small preserve on the west side of Milford Lake near Wakefield, KS. Floods kept us from visiting last year, but now that the waters have receded we wre able to finally explore this beautiful location. It was well worth the wait as we arrived at the most perfect times of year. Spring blooming flowers and all the beautiful colors of the Kansas outdoors were on display for us to enjoy! Home to over 1000 species of native and exotic woody plants that have adapted to the Kansas environment, the Arboretum plays host to a wide variety of Midwest plant life. Collections of oaks, mulberry, and (our favorite) flowering crabtrees decorate the scenery. Perfect for bird watching, nature photography, or day hiking on the many nature trails, The Kansas Landscape Arboretum is a gem for those who wish to commune with nature. We fell in love with the place instantly and will return again soon. Green Leaves by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)Artist: http://audionautix.com
Crew Cuts : Prairiewood Retreat And Preserve Anthony Martinez 2020-04-28 | Prairiewood Retreat and Preserve is a privately owned tallgrass prairie preserve nestled in the Flint Hills just west of Manhattan, KS. They host getaways, weddings, business retreats and various other community events. With the current climate of "social distancing", Prairiewood has graciously opened their trails to the public as a means to access fresh air and open space! We took advantage of this offer and enjoyed an afternoon hike at this beautiful location. We highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the Manhattan area. Trail hours are from 1pm - dusk on Wednesdays and Sundays. For more information about Prairiewood Retreat & Preserve, visit their website at: prairiewood.com/index.htmlAlso, visit their Facebook page at: facebook.com/prairiewoodOnce again we would like to thank the Prairiewood Team for making these trails available at a time when they are so desperately needed!
Crew Cuts : Hiking Konza Prairie With Tori Anthony Martinez 2020-04-09 | The birthday tradition continues! Tori and I finally got to go for our father / daughter hike to celebrate her birthday. We headed to one of our favorite spots at Konza Prairie Biological Station to hike the Konza Prairie Nature Trail near Manhattan, KS. Konza Prairie is a research area owned by the Nature Conservancy and co-operated by Kansas State University. There they study and preserve the tallgrass prairie ecosystem that once covered the midwest. Spring on the Konza Prairie is a beautiful time when wild turkey flocks forage freely and the song of the Eastern Meadowlark can be heard everywhere you go. Also marking Spring in Kansas is the evidence of prescribed burns designed to revitalize the soil and promote new growth of the grasslands. As a family we always enjoy visiting Konza Prairie. Tori and I had a wonderful hike on this beautiful Spring morning. Come along and see!
Carnahan Creek Park : Wheres The Trail? Anthony Martinez 2020-04-06 | A hidden treasure of the Flint Hills, Carnahan Creek Park is on the shore of Tuttle Creek Lake northeast of Manhattan, KS. The park is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Pottawatomie County. The little park in Olsburg, KS caters to camping, hiking, and horseback riding. The park took heavy flood damage in 2019 when Tuttle Creek lake flooded. The campgrounds were almost completely wiped out and many of the trails also suffered heavy flood damage. The main access road into the park is currently closed due to the 2019 flooding, so we had to hike in almost a mile and then try to locate the trails. At first it seemed like a rather desolate location but we were able to patch together portions of the interconnecting trail system to create a pretty decent hike. Finished with a beautiful view of Tuttle Creek Lake, we would highly recommend this park... in a year or two. The landscape needs time to recover and repairs need to be made to all areas of the park. We do hope to return in a year or so to see how it has changed. This location hidden away in The Flint Hills has the potential to be an absolute gem.
Wildlife Wednesday: Spring is Here! Anthony Martinez 2020-04-01 | Welcome to another Wildlife Wednesday! #WildlifeWednesday is a collaboration of several small YouTube Channels. This group was started by Em and the Gang in 2018 to show off "wildlife in our area". The collaboration is held once a month and is now hosted by Happy Trails Hiking. There are have many locations covered in Wildlife Wednesday. They range from backyards in Canada to the islands of Cast Rica! Each channel that has participated in the collaboration had their own Style and that is fine! We encourage all kinds of channels to get involved! If you are interested in collaborating in Wildlife Wednesday, please contact Kay and Happy Trails HikingWildlife Wednesday Collaboration: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Yankee's Outdoor Adventures: youtube.com/user/yankeeradioMarty's Crew: Our Family Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UC4B8vdlKSiQlAwXVCgB3TAwLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGameCam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgw
Fancy Creek MTB Trail Solo Hike and a Shout Out Anthony Martinez 2020-03-22 | A day off from work recently gave me an opportunity to go for a solo hike on one of our favorite trails. The Fancy Creek Mountain Bike Trail is located in Fancy Creek State Park near Randolph, KS. Fancy Creek State Park is situated on Tuttle Creek Lake and is a section of the larger Tuttle Creek State Park. It is a beautiful example of the rocky terrain that is the Flint Hills of Kansas. While on the trail. I passed by an old rock wall that follows the trail for a way. This prompted me to give a shout out to one of our good friends here on YouTube, Gilbert Rod. Gilbert Rod often finds rock walls and explores around them to try to uncover their origins and history. Follow the link below to check out his channel. Hope you enjoy this solo adventure through the Kansas outdoors. Fancy Creek MBT Trail is one of my favorites and we hope that if you ever have an opportunity to explore it you take it. It is well worth it.Gilbert Rod: youtube.com/user/techman2therescue
Crew Cuts: Father / Son Hike at Geary State Fishing Lake Anthony Martinez 2020-03-13 | Created with Wondershare Filmora
Wildlife Wednesday : Whos Watching Who? Anthony Martinez 2020-03-04 | Welcome back for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday! This month features The Konza Prairie Nature Trail and one of Christina's solo hikes. The Konza Prairie Biological Station is a wonderful place to view all the beautiful Kansas wildlife that inhabits the Kansas tallgrass prairie. From the resident herd of American bison to the occasional woodpecker pecking away at a tree, Konza Prairie keeps us coming back for more. The big stars, the ones that gets us there at sunrise, are the many deer that can be found grazing on the trail. Often times they will be as close as a few feet away. That was the case on this hike as Christina encountered some very curious deer that seemed just as interested in observing her as she was in observing them. It begs the question, "Who's Watching Who?" Thanks for watching and please visit the other collaborators in the Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration!Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgMarty's Crew: Our Family Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UC4B8vdlKSiQlAwXVCgB3TAwLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGameCam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgwShawn McCall: youtube.com/channel/UCUQi4pNFnJyB0vxuEo5jl3A
Old River Bluff Trail, Milford, KS Anthony Martinez 2020-03-01 | The Old River Bluff Trail in Milford, KS is a trail that we've been meaning to try for quite awhile. The trail connects the Milford trail head of The Junction City Riverwalk and Eagle Ridge Trail in Milford State Park. Flooding prevented us from hiking this lovely trail last year. Fortunately for us, the trail is now dry and able to be enjoyed. The trail passes by the Milford Gathering Pond and displays everything that we love about hiking in Kansas. The 2.5 miles out and back gave us a total of 5 miles toward our tally for the Hike365Challenge, which we are involved in for the second year in a row. If you are interested in signing up for the Hike365Challenge you can find out more by visiting Happy Trails Hiking every Sunday at 8pm CDT for their Hike365 Livestream. Below you will also find the sign up form for the challenge. It's not too late to join!Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqg#Hike365Challenge Sign Up Form: https://forms.gle/3eLfdcmKC3KqwMd5A
Martys Crew 2020 Channel Trailer Anthony Martinez 2020-02-23 | Welcome to Marty's Crew! We are a family of six that enjoys getting outdoors and exploring the world around us. From local sites in our home state of Kansas, to camp outs in Colorado and New Mexico, and YouTuber Meetups in Missouri, we are on a mission to enjouy family adventures all over the Midwest and beyond. Let us introduce you to hiking in Kansas and the diversity of the midwest outdoors from Little Jerusalem to Milford State Park. Follow along as we get away from our screens and discover the amazing landscape of middle America! Thank you for watching and we hope to catch you on the trail!
Return To Warner Memorial Park, Manhattan, KS Anthony Martinez 2020-02-16 | Super Bowl Sunday! A time to gather around the television with the family and enjoy the biggest sport spectacle in America. That is, unless you really don't care for either team playing. That was the case for me this year, so rather than sit through a game I had no interest in, we made a return to a Manhattan city park that we absolutely fell in love with last year. Warner Memorial Park is a fantastic hidden gem of open space mixed with wooded areas that once you enter will surprise and please your senses. Nestled between shopping areas and residential neighborhoods this park will make you feel as though you are deep in the wilderness. We have been looking forward to returning here for another adventure for a long time. Join us as we explore once again, Warner Memorial Park!From the Manhattan Parks and Rec website: Situated in the southwestern part of the city, this park offers one of the largest expanses of undeveloped open space in the community. Naturalized wooded areas, open space, and select native prairie grass areas are the primary attributes of this park. With the exception of a covered shelter and some road improvements, this park has been left mostly undeveloped.A number of trails are in place around the park including the "Eight Weeks Trail" on the west end of the park. This trail was developed by the Park Conservation Crew in 1998. There is also a trail currently under construction on the east and south edges of the park that traces the original path of the Fort Riley Leavenworth Trail System used by the United States Cavalry.
Exploring Geary State Fishing Lake Anthony Martinez 2020-02-09 | We have visited Geary State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area several times in the past, but we have always gone straight to Geary Falls via the trail across the dam. After doing a little research we discovered another trail on the other side of the lake. As luck would have it, one member of Marty's Crew was already familiar with the trail. Doug, who grew up in nearby Junction City, spent a lot of time at Geary Lake in his youth. Serving as a guide, Doug led us to several scenic points along the lake shore and to an alternate approach to the waterfall. In all it was a beautiful day for hiking in the Flint Hills and an excellent opportunity for outdoor exploration.
Wildlife Wednesday : Sunset Deer & Eagle Nest Anthony Martinez 2020-02-05 | Welcome back to #WildlifeWednesday! This month our footage comes from Milford State Park and the Milford Outlet Pond. The first group of shots comes from the watchtower at Milford State Park. The watchtower is a great vantage point for viewing Kansas wildlife, especially at sunset. As the sun fades away the deer come out to play! At first a single buck, followed soon after by several does, sneak out into the open to graze. It is always an amazing site to see. Where there was once an empty field there is now a gathering of the parks four legged community.The second group of shots comes from the Milford Outlet Pond. One of our favorite eagle spotting locations, we caught some great views of bald eagles in flight, geese relaxing on the frozen pond, and great blue heron gathering on the shore line. The highlight of our day came when we went off trail to get a closer look at the local bald eagle nest. We were treated to a great view of an eagle in the nest! In what has been an epic year for viewing bald eagles in Kansas, this was one of our favorite sightings so far!Thanks for watching and please visit the other collaborators in the Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration!Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgMarty's Crew: Our Family Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UC4B8vdlKSiQlAwXVCgB3TAwLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttGame Cam Wildlife Recon: youtube.com/channel/UCFX0pJrRHOsWTGxIP2qTcgw
Crew Cuts: Konza Prairie, Kings Creek Loop Anthony Martinez 2020-01-30 | Welcome back for another edition of Crew Cuts! In this family adventure we are returning to Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, KS for the first time this year to hike the King's Creek Loop. An exstension of the Konza Prairie Nature Trail, King's Creek Loop runs approximately 4.8 milesthrough a beautiful tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Up rolling hills and through gallery forests, the trail is a a perfect example of what hiking in Kansas has to offer. On this occasion we even caught a glimpse of the Konza Prairie Bison herd far off in the distance. Recent snows made it quite a muddy trail for us but that didn't deter us from having an excellent outdoor adventure hiking on the prairie.Konza Prairie is one of our top 5 hikes in the Flint Hills! To learn more about some of our other Flint Hills favorites, check out this video: youtu.be/eofz7lV_rXU
Crew Cuts: The Last Trail Anthony Martinez 2020-01-26 | Crystal Trail, Eagle Ridge Trail, Watchtower Trail. Even Pipeline Trail. We have hiked all over Milford State Park. So much that we know many of these trails like the backs of our hands. But there has been one trail that we've never ventured on. The Radio Tower Trail. To be honest, we didn't even know the name of the trail until we decided to finally explore it and discovered it's namesake radio tower along the way. On a windy day in December we went, suspecting that we might find an old school house that we'd heard about in the area. What we found was a loop that encompasses everything that we love about Kansas hiking and Milford State Park.
Eagles Playing In The Wind Anthony Martinez 2020-01-23 | The bald eagles keep calling us back to The Riverwalk Trail that runs from Junction City to Milford Lake, KS. The trail follows the path of the Republican River and is a popular gathering area for eagles. On this hike, it was a very windy day and our feathered friends were loving it! It was a pure joy to watch the eagles playing in the wind. As we proceeded down the trail they would zip past us as fast as the breeze would take them. We are no strangers to windy day hikes in Kansas, but this one was special. Watching flying eagles is one of the joys of hiking along Kansas rivers in the winter time. Share in our awe and amazement as we watch eagle after eagle zoom past us on the Riverwalk!
Tacocat Winner! Wheres Tacocat Headed? Anthony Martinez 2020-01-19 | It's so hard to say goodbye! But say it we must. The time has come for the hiking Tacocat to leave us and head off to his next adventure. We've had a great time introducing him to hiking in Kansas and now he is off to one of the channels listed below. See which one in the video and please make sure to check out all of these wonderful channels. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest and sorry that we couldn't share TC with all of you! Keep following Tacocat's outdoor adventures and maybe you will get the chance to host him yourself!Once again, thank you to Hike Camp for the opportunity to share our hiking adventures with Tacocat!Hike Camp: youtube.com/channel/UC2IfJW9GOILlys5Op7KBzIAThank you to the following channels for participating!Mid TN Outdoors: youtube.com/user/patrickkntn69Following The Agee's: youtube.com/channel/UCR8UUB7fLoljD_w3rLdQ7EwHappy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgErobin Outdoors: youtube.com/user/jtdrummer2112Burning Sands Exploration: youtube.com/channel/UCoqtC-Hb9gG1p9dx7ggR3kQShasta Valley Outdoorsman: youtube.com/channel/UCOx1Dn5c40StUTULASXq9qwNicole Hikesalot: youtube.com/channel/UCxDCLqNGX0wnch9f31C4qHQ
Special Announcement: Whats Next For Tacocat? Anthony Martinez 2020-01-17 | Well, folks, the time has come for us to say goodbye to our friend Tacocat! We've had a blast introducing Tacocat to hiking in Kansas and sharing in our outdoor adventures. We brought Tacocat to Crystal Trail in Milford State Park, and on the Manhattan River Trail in Manhattan, KS. It has been so much fun participating in the Tacocat Collaboration and now it's time to share the joy with another hiking channel!For those that don't know, Tacocat was first introduced by Atypical Hiker and passed on to Senior Hiker 77. From there Tacocat has been handed from hiking channel to hiking channel, experiencing outdoor adventures all over. Below You can find links to all the channels that have hosted Tacocat. We encourage you to pay a visit to these channels and see all the excellent adventures that our little friend has been on.Atypical Hiker: youtube.com/channel/UCSD6sb5W1YpyCl2DkHptqPASenior Hiker 77: youtube.com/channel/UCtKsN9FdEP3fIQYGVeuLcGASectionHiking The AT: youtube.com/channel/UCCrrdXZ4LU_OD_JPXjG2mDAKrizakoni: youtube.com/user/KrizAkoniSmell N Roses: youtube.com/channel/UCmP-VRHOb6jtRkfA3Dx4zmgHike Camp: youtube.com/channel/UC2IfJW9GOILlys5Op7KBzIAFor your chance to host Tacocat and take him on adventure, leave a comment below expressing your interest. We will enter you into the drawing and announce the winner on Sunday, January 19th. Good luck to everyone who enters and thanks for watching!
Crew Cuts: Manhattan River Trail With Tacocat Anthony Martinez 2020-01-12 | In this edition of Crew Cuts we take our guest, Tacocat, hiking on the Manhattan River Trail! The River Trail follows the path of The Big Blue River as it passes through the City of Manhattan, KS. AKA: The Little Apple. Though the trail passes through the heart of the city, hiking along the river is one of the best things to do in Manhattan! We've had a lot of fun having Tacocat along on our adventures! It has been a pleasure to introduce him to Midwest hiking and The Flint Hills of Kansas. Sadly, the time has come to get another channel involved in the Tacocat adventure. Our next video will announce the raffle to see where Tacocat's next destination will be. Make sure to tune in if you would like to win a chance to host the hiking Tacocat on your YouTube Channel!
Crew Cuts: Hiking With Tacocat Anthony Martinez 2020-01-09 | Welcome to the first edition of Crew Cuts in 2020! On this adventure we are joined by a special guest. The hiking Tacocat! Tacocat is a YouTube sensation that travels from one channel to another to enjoy hiking and other outdoor adventures. For our first adventure with Tacocat, we brought him on one of our favorite hiking trails at Milford State Park, the always lovely Crystal Trail. On our adventure we examined some of the flood damage left behind by the Spring flooding in 2019 and searched for crystals and geodes at the old rock quarry along the trail. We are making the best of adventures with Tacocat and had a lot of fun introducing him to hiking in Kansas!Visit Hike Camp to see his adventures with Tacocat: youtube.com/channel/UC2IfJW9GOILlys5Op7KBzIA
Year In Review: The 2019 Adventure Anthony Martinez 2020-01-05 | The 2019 adventure is over and what an adventure it was! We present to you our Year in Review to share all of our awesome family adventures in the Kansas outdoors! From camping and hiking at Milford State Park to YouTuber Meetups in Johnson Shut Ins State Park, from from exploring Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve to our Annual Family Campout in New Mexico! From Carlsbad Caverns to Little Jerusalem Kansas, we have crossed some major items off of our bucket list, and we're not showing any signs of slowing down! The family adventure continues in 2020, but first, first let's take a few minutes to review our 2019 adventure.
Wildlife Wednesday: Best of 2019 Anthony Martinez 2020-01-01 | Welcome to the first #WildlifeWednesday of 2020! As we begin the new year let us take a look back at some of our favorite wildlife shots of 2019! It's been a great year for us and we were lucky to capture a lot of wildlife this year. It was very hard to choose our favorites, but we are very confident that we are presenting to you the very best of 2019! Hope you enjoy and we look forward to many more wildlife captures in 2020!Check out our collaboration video series: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgMarty's Crew: Our Family Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UC4B8vdlKSiQlAwXVCgB3TAw…Outdoor Nomad: youtube.com/channel/UC409IiKkJfMDWPm89dnp7wQYankee’s Ooutdoor Adventures: youtube.com/user/yankeeradioLove2Wander: youtube.com/user/Rockmutt
#Wildlife Wednesday: Sunset On The Pond Anthony Martinez 2019-12-04 | As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter we start to see less of our furry friends out and about. The one upside of the changing of the seasons is the influx of migratory birds from up north. Flocks of blue heron, geese, and ducks stop at Kansas lakes, ponds , and rivers on there way south for the winter. They'll stay for awhile to rest and enjoy the plentiful food supply that these waterways have to offer. Other species, such as the American Bald Eagle, will call these same locations home for the season and build their nests. In the spring they will head back north, hopefully with a few young ones in tow. It's a special time of year for us as we enjoy admiring the wide variety of avian visitors and the beautiful midwest sunset at the Milford Lake Gathering Pond.Check out our collaboration video series: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Jerome Bee Farm and Homestead: youtube.com/user/darrenjeromeMarty's Crew: Our Family Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UC4B8vdlKSiQlAwXVCgB3TAwMandieJean 97: youtube.com/user/MeBeMandieG
#OptOutside: Eagle Gathering Anthony Martinez 2019-12-01 | While many hit the stores for Black Friday, we decided to take the alternative and #OptOutside! The Opt Outside movement was started by REI to encourage people to forego the crazy after Thanksgiving sales and enjoy the outdoors. That's something we can definitely get down with! Our #OptOutside destination was the Gathering Pond near the Milford Fish Hatchery. This spot is a year round stopping point for migratory birds because of the abundance of food and in the Winter it is extremely popular with the ever growing Bald Eagle population. We came expecting to see a few eagles and hike off some of the turkey day pounds. What we got was a family adventure to be thankful for!
National Take A Hike Day: Western Heritage Trail Anthony Martinez 2019-11-28 | November 17th was National Take A Hike Day! Of course, being the avid hikers that we are, we couldn't miss out on an excuse to get out on the trail! It seemed like fate wanted to keep us from hiking that day. One trail was closed due to flooding, and the roads to two others were closed as well. Fortunately we had a nearby backup plan at the Rocky Ford Fishing Access area of Tuttle Creek State Park. The Western Heritage Trail is a paved trail that runs along the scenic Big Blue River as it flows into Manhattan, KS. During the fall and winter months it is common to spot Bald Eagles as they fly above the river in search of fish. It is the perfect trail for a November afternoon hike!
Crew Cuts: An Early Christmas Gift! Anthony Martinez 2019-11-24 | Christmas is just around the corner! With that comes the arrival of packages and gifts from friends old and new. In this edition of Crew Cuts we unbox a special package from one of our good friends that we have met on YouTube! What did we get? Watch and find out!Check out Inspired John at: youtube.com/channel/UCmZR4zyDoOKy1kKfZacRFVQCheck out The History Buff: youtube.com/channel/UC3I9huHPTre5JtiruT5gBdAGet to know everyone in the Healthy Lifestyle Crew on Happy Trails Hiking's Healthy Lifestyle Show! Weekdays 9AM EST/10 AM CDT: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqg
Exploring Michel-Ross Preserve: Father/Daughter Hike Anthony Martinez 2019-11-21 | Every family has traditions, especially when it comes to birthdays. One of our traditions is that on one of the kids birthdays, I take them for a one on one hike. For Lici's fourteenth birthday we decided to explore someplace we had never been before. A small nature preserve tucked away in a small corner of Manhattan, Kansas called the Michel-Ross Audubon Preserve. On a beautiful Fall morning, Lici and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this charming little park and all the lovely colors of the season! So much so that we cannot wait to bring the rest of the crew there! Join us on our father/daughter hike at the Michel-Ross Preserve.
Eagle Spotting on the Republican River Anthony Martinez 2019-11-15 | Fall in Kansas! The leaves begin to turn color, the temperatures cool, and the Bald Eagles return to our area! With three rivers and several lakes in the vicinity, Junction City becomes a center of eagle spotting activity! The Junction City Riverwalk Trail runs along the banks of the Republican River to Milford Lake. Bald eagles flock to its shores and so do we, just to get a look at them! On a beautiful Fall afternoon Christina and I set out to enjoy one of our favorite trails and get a look at these majestic creatures.
Eagle Ridge Trail Solo Hike Anthony Martinez 2019-11-10 | Eagle Ridge Trail is one of our favorite trails to hike in the Fall. We've been eager to back on it but have hesitated due to the high water levels of Milford Lake. Now that the water is going down again, I figured I'd scout it out to see if the trail was passable, and also to enjoy a little me time as well. Because the trail loops through most of Milford State Park, it also adds a large chunk of miles to our goal for the #Hike365Challenge! With connections to many other trails Eagle Ridge can be anywhere between a 2 mile hike to a 20 plus mile day! Choose your own adventure on this lovely trail as you pass from gallery forest to open prairie and back again. Eagle Ridge Trail is simple one of the most diverse and beautiful trails in Kansas.
Wildlife Wednesday: Look whos Back! Anthony Martinez 2019-11-06 | Welcome to the November edition of the #Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration! Fall has arrived and with the change of season comes a change to the wildlife in our area. Some of critters are starting to migrate south or prepare to hibernate for the Winter, while others are beginning to return from spending the Summer up north. As Christina found on one of her solo hikes, one of our feathered favorites has come back to make their seasonal appearance! Watch as she captures a pair of juvenile Bald Eagles and more for Wildlife Wednesday!Check out our collaboration video series: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our area: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include:Happy Trails Hiking: youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqgOutdoor Nomad: youtube.com/channel/UC409IiKkJfMDWPm89dnp7wQMandieJean97: youtube.com/user/MeBeMandieGBig Crazy Outdoor Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCodAHWAV57eroBRTpQJa4bwJerome Bee Farm & Homestead: youtube.com/user/darrenjerome
Crew Cuts: Monument Rocks, The Chalk Pyramids of Kansas Anthony Martinez 2019-11-03 | Imagine travelling down a dirt road in Western Kansas, nothing but cattle and oil wells as far as the eyes can see, and suddenly you round a bend and come face to face with the giant Monument Rocks! It literally sneaks up on you out of nowhere! Also known as the Chalk Pyramids of Kansas, Monument Rocks is a geological marvel that has become the pride and joy of Kansas. Sharing a spot with Castle Rock, Monument Rocks is listed as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas and is designated as an National Natural Landmark. These Niobrara Chalk monolithes tell the story of millions of years of erosion and cast doubt on the claim that Kansas is a an uninteresting flat state. Just a few miles from Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, Monument Rocks is a must visit sight for any who take the time to get off the interstate as they pass through Kansas.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, Kansas Anthony Martinez 2019-10-31 | Earlier this month Kansas opened its newest state park to the public. Owned by the Nature Conservancy and operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park is a geological wonder that will change all you ever thought you knew about Kansas. Made of the same Niobrara chalk that formed impressive landmarks like Castle Rock and Monument Rocks, Little Jerusalem is the largest expanse of these formations in Kansas. Once privately owned property, this remarkable location is now open for all to enjoy. We have been anticipating visiting The Badlands ever since we first learned of their existence over a year ago.The Niobrara Chalk is extremely fragile and easily eroded so strict adherence to Leave No Trace principles is required when visiting Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Stay on the trails leave all as you found it. Guided tours into the badlands themselves can be arranged and are free.
Crew Cuts: Top Of The World Trail, Manhattan, KS Anthony Martinez 2019-10-27 | The kids are growing up and their lives are getting busy. It seems like it has been a long time since we had the whole Crew together for an adventure. When we found ourselves with a rare weekend when all the kids were at home we took full advantage and hit a trail that we've talked about hiking for a long time! The Top Of The World Trail at Washington Marlatt Memorial Park in Manhattan, KS! With a name like Top Of The World you might expect a long and arduous climb, but remember this is in Kansas. That being said, the scenic overlook does offer an awesome view of Manhattan and the surrounding Flint Hills. We even managed to have one extra as Tori's friend Mariah joined us for her first hike ever!
Date Hike: Exploring Tuttle Creek State Park Anthony Martinez 2019-10-24 | Finding ourselves without the kids for a day, Christina and I decided to go on a "Date" hike. Just the two of us enjoying some trails at Tuttle Creek State Park. Because most of the trails at Tuttle Creek are short mileage we decided to hike multiple trails and explore the entire park. Honestly, we cant imagine a better way to spend a beautiful early fall day. Join us as we spend our alone time exploring Tuttle Creek State Park!
Abilene: Heritage Days Anthony Martinez 2019-10-20 | After our last adventure at Old Town Abilene and The Dickinson County Historical Society we couldn't wait to return for another visit! Fortunately the opportunity presented itself when The Historical Society hosted it's annual Heritage Days festival in the first week of October. Members of the society and the local community came together to demonstrate and reenact how life in early Abilene was lived. This time the buildings were all open and many of the displays were out for all to see and enjoy. We got to speak with many of the hosts and learn a lot about the history and way of life of Abilene through the years. From demonstrations of rural craftsmanship, to car and tractor shows, the event had something for all of our interests. We highly recommend visiting this historic and beautiful town! As an added bonus we took a walk down the street to Old Town Abilene to find that the buildings were open for viewing this time so of course we took advantage and explored some more. Unfortunately the gunfighters were done for the season so we did not catch any reenactments. However, we are positive that this will not be our last visit so we will definitely catch the act in the future. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Abilene, we suggest that you definitely pay a visit to the Historical Society and Old Town! Its a wonderful experience for the whole family!
Solo Trail: After The Floods Anthony Martinez 2019-10-17 | This year was a wet one in the Midwest. The effort to keep water from Kansas rivers from flowing into the Missouri caused water to be held in the local resevoirs. Milford Lake is the largest of these. As water levels rose, many of our favorite trails were flooded and closed. Now that the water level has started going down, I decide to scout some of those trails to determine if we will be able to use them anytime in the near future. And sometimes, a parent just needs to get some alone time. Tag along and see if Crystal Trail is passable, or if I go home in disappointment.
5 Things You Didnt Know About Us Anthony Martinez 2019-10-11 | Our friends at Love2Wander recently tagged us in the "5 Things You Don't Know About Us" challenge. Join Christina and I as we take some time on our date hike to answer the tag. Did you know there's an age difference between us? Where were we born? Where does the nickname "Marty" come from? Who can't keep themselves from bringing more of a certain pet into our lives. Find out our secrets as we answer the 5 Things You Don't Know About Us challenge!Love2Wander: youtube.com/user/RockmuttSawyer In The Middle: youtube.com/channel/UCESSE0msi35TxGyfMV41Y1AAd Astra through Adventure: youtube.com/channel/UCnE8yhaY2IVkH5qRCoU8zTAPruett Hiking Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCLwJCSOvs1liXxONMf9YwTg
Wildlife Wednesday - A Day At The Lake Anthony Martinez 2019-10-02 | Welcome once again to another Wildlife Wednesday! As the summer heat begins to fade away, we begin to see more and more wildlife start to make appearances in the daytime. Especially around our favorite local state park, Milford Lake! Join us as we gaze upon the beautiful creatures that can be found in a day at the lake!Check out our collaboration video series: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our Area! We are just a group of folks who thought it would be fun to share wildlife in our area. We live all over, so check out the playlist to see all of the critters we can find! There are a mix of outdoors, bushcrafter, camper, and family channels collaborating, so have fun with this playlist: Wildlife Wednesday Collaboration - Wildlife in our area: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Cl7O9q77eBSWL5mNitXUYYJejGCM0lhCollaborators this month include (these are all our channel links):Happy Trails Hiking: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Hm...Outdoor Nomad: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC409...MandieJean97: youtube.com/user/MeBeMandieGJerome Bee Farm and Homestead: youtube.com/user/darrenjeromeDR Nature Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrXRFYFHt6ryIVw0z4GxfVwBig Crazy Outdoor Adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCodAHWAV57eroBRTpQJa4bw
Crew Review: Teton Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack Anthony Martinez 2019-10-01 | If you've been watching Marty's Crew for a while you've probably noticed the cool packs that The Crew uses on our family adventures. The Teton Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack! The Crew Kids and Christina received their packs for Christmas and they have come along with us on nearly every adventure since. The Oasis 1100 is a 15 litre daypack equipped with a 2 litre hydration bladder. With plenty of storage options for gear, a built in rain fly and emergency whistle it is the perfect daypack for beginning hikers, kids, or anyone who is looking to upgrade their current gear. In this special Crew Review, we share what we love about Teton Sports Oasis 1100.Teton Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack: amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=teton+sports+oasis+1100+hydration+pack&crid=1GRMF50YE3VPM&sprefix=teton+sports,aps,185&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12&linkCode=sl2&tag=martyscrew-20&linkId=62c95d8294e18f94a85d4a2a04b5c11d&language=en_USKeep in mind that the link above is an affiliate link and will be used to help support the channel.Learn more about Teton Sports products at the Teton Sports Website: tetonsports.comCheck out our review of the Oasis 1200 Hydration Pack: youtu.be/6M8SsclRqgA
