Hercules Glades Wilderness

One night and six miles, was my total outdoors activity so far for May. I was torn between putting in some miles to get my monthly total up to twenty, or just lounging around in the woods. I could have gone to Piney Creek again and sat by the lake — very tempting — but I decided to head back to Hercules Glades (I’m still not venturing far afield during our period of self-isolation, though that may have to change). I had the option of vegetating in the woods, or if I decided to get in a few miles, I could always hike down to the bluffs. I was setting out after work, which meant a late-ish start. I arrived at the trail-head just before five pm, so I expected to be arriving at my now regular camping spot on Twin Falls Creek, sometime between seven and eight.

We’ve been having a lot of rain recently so I was expecting the trail to be very wet. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad at all. I made good time on the trail and was soon bushwhacking the 250 odd yards to my campsite for the night, arriving just before seven pm. I had just enough time to collect water and set up camp before it got dark. I had a new, much longer, light string, which worked quite well, strung between the trees under the tarp, which I put up but didn’t bother to set. The lights lit up the area all around my hammock. Not very stealthy, but quite homely. I cooked (heated) dinner on my wood stove, and spent the remainder of the evening reading. Yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to bring a book out with me, but I did.