
There’s a break in the weather and even some rain in the forecast. Tomorrow I’m driving the two-and-a-half hours east to Irish Wilderness where I’ll hike the Whites Creek Trail counter-clockwise, and I’m going to take a leisurely four days to do it.

In the picture above there are three breakfasts, four sets of trail snacks, four lunches, and three dinners. Spot the missing items …
There should have been three packs of Pop-Tarts, I’ll rue that omission, I love my daily Pop-Tart with breakfast, and at the end of the day as a dessert after dinner.
The Plan
- Day One. Will be a late start, so I’ll hike the North Loop for around four miles and camp wherever I end up. My only objective is to get past the first crossing of Whites Creek. There won’t be any water on the trail, so I’ll be carrying all I need for the night.
- Day Two. Continue the North Loop down to Bliss Spring and onward past the bluffs before going off trail to check out a ridge that may offer some views of the Eleven Point River, and that’s where I plan to camp. Again, I’m going to have to carry my night’s supply of water in with me.
- Day Three. Transition to the South Loop and make camp in what looked to be a promising spot near Fiddler Spring. This will be the worst day weather-wise with rain showers forecast for most of the day.
- Day Four. Hike the remainder of the South Loop back to the trailhead (5.8 miles).

Gear
The temperatures are forecast to be in the forties to fifties. I’ll be fine with my summer quilts and tarp, backed up by winter clothing in case it turns chilly. This is good, as it’ll lower the weight and pack space, leaving room for extra water to be carried on a couple of days.
The last time I hiked this trail, I had AFIB on the last day. This time, I’m upping my hydration program, which should help address that. Hopefully, all the time I’ve been putting in at the gym will also help with those big climbs up onto the ridges that the Whites Creek Trail has.
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