Hunter Ricks Blog

Nature Observation Seven: Sedona Trip             This summer I took a trip to Sedona Arizona. I know it was a couple months ago, but the trip was too wonderful to not be documented. My parents and I woke up at 4am to take the two-hour drive to Sedona. We moved along in our metal box as cactus flew by our window at 80 miles per hour.             We started our 14-mile hike right as the sunrise was illuminating the crevasse below. The greenbelt of trees flooded the trench between the mountain ranges. Devil’s bridge overlooked our hike through the rocky eye of a cyclops. Towering above the trail as nature’s skyscraper, the bridge was our final destination. Keeping an eye out on for ravenous snakes, we had a guide along with us. He stopped as we were fifteen minutes in to show us a wild Gila monster. What seems as a fusion between a small alligator and a liza...

Nature Journal Six: A Morning around TCU             Running has never been one of my strong suits. I usually only run for sports or when designated to as I was in my early years throughout PE. Usually, running is a competition, the one who is fastest gets the praise. When that is generally the truth, I decided to take a morning run to clear my senses. Nobody pacing me, no one I had to beat, just myself and my thoughts.             I begin at my house off campus by stretching my legs through a slight jog. My ankles crack like popcorn with every connection against the cool pavement. The gravel gets stuck in the sole of my shoe with every step. I pause, to take out the gravel and realize the minute details that echo from the rock. While tiny, the rock is strong and malleable, having been here for many years. I can feel the tendons stretch throughout my lower calf as if t...

Nature Journal Five: A day with a Gator             We had the privilege today in class to travel to the Fort Worth Nature Center to help with volunteer work. It is always humbling to be able to help the local community. This was week one of our six-week excursion to assist the refuge center.   It is imperative that academia has some translation or application to the real world. The ability to immerse ourselves in the readings of Thoreau and Abbey with the opportunity to carry on their legacy of protecting our home-ground is rewarding. As we got to our site for the day, I noticed a long winding river with trees drooping over like a low hanging fruit. Stumps glided on the glass slate across the bank. As we started to settle in, we saw a magnificent site: an alligator basking in the warm sun. I could not help but notice his scales from a distance. While others might see a nice pair of boots, I see a coat of beautif...

Nature Journal Four: Panther City Paddle Board             After spending three years in Fort Worth, I realized that I have not taken advantage of the many fun activities available. So, living in 2019, the first thing I did was go to the web and type “Fun things to do outside in Fort Worth”. Something that caught my eye was paddle boarding. I have been paddle boarding once before in the bay of San Diego, but not in rural Fort Worth. My friends, Lex and Thomas, embarked on an adventure on the Trinity during the evening.             After signing the waiver sheet, we hit the water. A chill shock was sent through my calf as we got in the cool abyss to launch the boards. Thinking I would forget how to stand, it was as awkward as a baby’s first steps getting up and going. We decided to head upstream away from the city. The reflection of the sun’s exhilaratin...