THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2002
OUTDOORS/TELEVISION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5
Visit nearby parks before winter arrives
By Lindsey Hodel
lhodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
As leaves change color and the weather becomes cooler, area parks offer outdoor enthusiasts places to enjoy the changing seasons. Here are some spots near Lawrence to take advantage of before winter comes.
Clinton Lake State Park
Description: Clinton Lake State Park is a 1,500-acre preserve located just outside of Lawrence. It offers hiking, camping, biking, boating and fishing facilities.
How to get there: Take Clinton Parkway west about five miles from Iowa Street. Then turn right onto 900 E. Road.Make an immediate left into the park.
Trails available: The park has a 15-mile hiking and biking trail and a three-mile cross country skiing trail.
Camping facilities: Camping is available in designated areas. Campground No. 1 remains open all winter.
Best attraction: Lots of day-hikes are worth taking around the lake or through the woods. The overlook point is also worth a short hike from the parking lot and is a good place to watch a sunset.
Fees: $5 for a vehicle permit, $5.50 per night to camp in a campground.
Woodridge Park
Description: This primitive camping area at Clinton Lake is open year-round and is free of charge.
How to get there: Head west on Sixth Street out of town. Turn left onto Stull Road. In Stull, turn left and head south on East 250th Road and follow the signs to Woodridge Park.
Trails available: A 4.5-mile scenic trail travels through woods, meadows and hay fields. The trail offers lakefront access and views.
Camping facilities: The entire park is open to set up camp. The trails lead to several camping spots, including a mowed area and small clearings along the trail. The park asks campers to use existing fire rings when camping along the trail.
Best attraction: This part of the lake is worth the half-hour drive because campers can choose where they want to camp and get away from parking lots and cars.
Fees:none
Perry Lake State Park
Description: This state park offers fishing and boating as well as opportunities for camping and hiking for a day-hiker and overnight backpackers.
How to get there: From the Interstate-70 bridge, travel west on U.S. Highway 24 through Perry to state highway 237 north. Take this road to the park. This is about a half-hour trip.
Trails available: The state park offers a 15-mile hiking and biking trail and a 25-mile hiking and equestrian trail. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the Old Military Trail through the eastern portion of the park.
Camping facilities: Backpackers can
camp anywhere along the park's trails or in a designated primitive campground equipped with drinking water.
Best attraction: The park's Old Military Trail offers solitude and immersion in the park's environment. This challenging trail climbs through forests, offering hilly terrain, great views of the lake and secluded places to camp.
Fees: vehicle permit is required at $5.50 per night. Primitive camping costs $5.50 per night per tent, and camping along the trail is free.
Hillsdale State Park
Description: Located north of Paola, Hillsdale Lake serves a wide range of public uses including hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing and boating.
How to get there: Take U.S. Highway 59 south to Ottawa. In Ottawa, take state highway 68 east about 24 miles. Follow the signs toward Hillsdale Lake. The drive is about 1.5 hours.
Trails available: 30 miles of multi-use trails (hiking, biking, equestrian) and 8 miles of hiking and biking trails are open for use. A one-mile, self-guided nature trail is also available to hike.
Camping facilities: Scott Creek and Quail Run campgrounds are open all winter and offer tent campsites and sites with utility hookups. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds.
Best attraction: The hiking trails offer a bit of a challenge by crossing over a variety of terrains. The trails also cross many creeks that make good picnic sites. The lake's
waterfront is accessible by hiking or driving.
Fees: A $5-per-day vehicle permit is required, and camping in the campgrounds costs $5.50 per night.
Elk City State Park
Description: This 12,000-acre park also features a 4,500-acre lake. The park offers hiking and biking trails and campgrounds, as well as fishing and boating, and is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Lawrence.
How to get there: Take U.S. Highway 59 south about 55 miles, and merge onto U.S. Highway 169 going south. Take a right onto U.S. Highway 160, and then head north on U.S. Highway 75 to County Road 3325. Take a left and follow the signs to the park.
Trails available: The state park maintains a four-mile hiking trail, several shorter trails and a self-guided nature trail. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the Elk River Hiking Trail, a 15-mile trail that starts on the west edge of the dam.
Camping facilities: Campgrounds, both with and without utility hookups, are available throughout the winter. Hikers can also camp along the Table Mound Hiking Trail south of the county road.
Best attraction: One feature of the landscape is a large limestone bluff called Table Mound. In autumn, the native hardwoods add color to the area. The park is also known for its hiking trails.
Fees: $5 vehicle permit required for hiking, $5.50 per night for camping.
— Edited by Amy Schmitz
'Out of Focus' debuts, gives student films light
By Nathan Dayani ndayani@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A new show on the student television station, KUJH, may help bring some focus to the local arts scene.
Out of Focus made its debut on KUJH the first week of October and should air at least three more times by the end of the semester, said Chris Martin, the show's coordinator and director.
Although some of the show's format may still be in its infancy, Martin said it would be primarily devoted to local film.
The show takes films that are 10 to 15 minutes long and pieces them together giving them context, said the Prairie Village senior.
"We have interviews with filmmakers about the technical process they went through and some of the funny stories that may have happened while making films," Martin said.
"It's hard for student films to be seen other than in class and with family and friends," said Rea.
Patrick Rea, Schuyler, Neb., senior said Out of Focus was a good opportunity for local filmmakers to showcase their work.
Rea said one of the show's assets was that it had interviews with some of the directors and filmmakers after showing clips from their movies.
"It gives the students a chance to show a little bit of the behind the scenes perspec
tives," he said.
Another mainstay of the show is a section called "On the Street," in which students get to talk about their favorite movie quote, scene and favorite actors and actresses. Gary Hawke, general manager of KUJH, said the show's brief interviews effectively integrated humor and entertainment as well as achieving the goal of showcasing the arts scene.
"The show did a very good job," he said. "It's well-produced; it shows a lot of different stuff for students."
Martin said upcoming shows would focus on a common theme, such as a show about horror in film, local documentaries or a sketch comedy show, similar in format to Kids in the Hall. Hawke said the show
OUTOFFOCUS
Airs on KUJH, cable channel 66, broadcast channel 14, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Students interested in contributing to the show can send suggestions or ideas to kuoutoffocus@hotmail.com.
would run on KUJH, cable channel 66 broadcast channel 14, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Martin said students interested in contributing to the show could send suggestions or ideas to him at kuoutoffocus@hotmail.com.
—Edited by Christina Neff
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