Lunch break by the creek in Steam Mill Hollow. Not that I knew it was the creek in Steam Mill Hollow at the time. It seems I need to learn several more lessons in checking my compass and map before I assume I know where I am. 2 2
2021
Nice Trail (but you may have trouble following it) – The map I was using was slightly under twenty years old (and the best I could find online). I should have cross-checked it against the trail map at the trailhead. If I had, I would have seen that the objective for my day’s hike was no longer on the trail system. One-minute read
May 22, 2021 12:31
Trail junction, there goes the Ozark Trail – Here I leave the Ozark Trail. +1
May 22, 2021 12:26
Cairns, cairns, and more cairns – there were lots in this area, but I couldn’t see any side trails or other blazes.
May 22, 2021 12:17
Dry creek bed – So much of my hope for finding water on the eastern side of the loop. +1
May 22, 2021 11:50
Loadsa trailblazes – From top to bottom: Ozark Trail, Ridge Runner Trail, North Fork Loop Trail.
May 22, 2021 11:43
Ozark Trail, trailblaze.
May 22, 2021 11:32
Ribbit, ribbit. Toad, in a hole.
May 22, 2021 8:41
Camped off the Ridge Runner/Ozark Trail (and some minor irritations) – which were mainly brought on by my own stupidity. One-minute read
May 22, 2021 8:37
Back on the Ozark Trail – Fairly typical conditions for this section of the trail. The Ozark Trail is well maintained and very well blazed. I can’t say the same for the rest of the trail system in this area. +2
May 21, 2021 18:49
Another year, another empty trailhead, and my plans for the weekend – parked up at the HWY-CC (McGarr Ridge) Trailhead ready to start my hike. Two-minute read, +1
May 21, 2021 18:29
Three days on the North Fork Loop trail, Mark Twain National Forest, May 2021. Journal: 15 42
May 21, 2021 12:09
Family Day – Spent with Carol & Jim to celebrate Lanie’s Graduation. Katie was also with us but unfortunately, she left before we decided to take a picture.
May 16, 2021 19:36
Maybe it’s about time I had a real vacation with zero writing for more than a week.
May 10, 2021 17:42
Birdbath for Ginger – Thursday was a day of gifts. Carol bought me some farm-fresh eggs, and Jim brought us this wonderful sculpture/birdbath. +1
May 8, 2021 17:47
Behind the lens – I thought I’d grab a quick selfie in the bedroom mirror.
May 8, 2021 17:29
Adult and juvenile male Rose-breasted Grosbeak – this winter we put up four (yes four), bird feeders in front of the ‘Sparkle Zone’ windows. These new visitors arrived today.
May 7, 2021 13:06
Breakfast; crispy bacon, eggs, and tomato – Yesterday, Carol gave me two farm-fresh eggs. She said she wished she could be there to see my face when I cracked them.
May 7, 2021 9:15
Whites Creek Trail completed – now just to hike the short spur trail back to the parking lot.
May 2, 2021 14:52
The final crossing of Whites Creek.
May 2, 2021 13:03
Fiddler Spring – I took a quick detour to checkout the spring and top up my water. +1
May 2, 2021 12:02
Hello li’l buddy – It’s probably as fast on the trail as I am.
May 2, 2021 11:14
Looking back along Whites Creek Trail – This is fairly typical of the trail conditions I encountered. Note the recently cut deadfalls. At this point, it started to rain, and it carried on raining for the next four hours.
May 2, 2021 11:13
Looking into Whites Creek Cave – No I didn’t go in. I took this picture through the grill using my headlamp at full brightness to light up the cave. There’s nothing to give the picture any feeling of scale. Let’s just say, “Pretty big.”