All my posts about Hercules Glades Wilderness presented in chronological order. Click here to see the pictures of Hercules Glades Wilderness without all the text.
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Forest Road
Disused forest road. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. The forest roads can sometimes be difficult to find and see. This one, while quite obvious here, is not easy to spot where it meets the trail.
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Camped at ‘Ant Hill’
Camped back at ‘Ant Hill’ – The only problem with my new tarp is the large number of bits of string it has. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Day Three
Yesterday, I’d broken camp and set off around noon, seeking, once again, a route down to Beaver Creek, only to be thwarted again by the bluffs. I headed back to the Pilot Trail at around 12:55 p.m. and I was back on the trail proper by 1:30 p.m. It took me forty minutes to get to the Devil’s Den West Trail Junction, and it took another forty minutes to get to the arbitrary point I’d picked to turn off the Pilot Trail and start bushwhacking to ‘Ant Hill.’ According to my notebook, I followed a compass bearing of 53°E. It must have worked because I arrived at my destination seven minutes later!
There were storms and a lot of rain forecast overnight, so I played around with my set up lowering the tarp and hammock. Turns out I was a little too enthusiastic with the latter. More about that later.
The forecast was right, the temperatures dropped, the rain, thunder, and wind carried on through most of the night, and it was still raining when I ventured out in the morning. It rained a lot. Apparently, the trees I’ve been using have a dip between them, which proceeded to fill with water, The ground on the downhill side was very soggy. My pack is touted as being highly water-resistant but it didn’t get tested as the uphill side, where it was, remained dry. Much to my alarm, I discovered that in setting the hammock low, I’d made it so close to the ground that my underquilt protector was dragging on the ground and quite wet. But it did its job and kept my underquilt dry.
Checking out the rain. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. A disadvantage of my new tarp is the huge number of tie-outs it has. Eight, yes eight more than my other tarp. There are four side pullouts, and a line to secure each of the four doors. Giving 14 tie-outs in total. But doubling up with multiple tie-outs on a single stake, I can get away with only eight or so stakes, depending on the conditions. The side pullouts do make a huge difference to the amount of room under the tarp, and despite the wet floor, I was nice and cozy, sitting in my chair, cooking and eating.
Time for breakfast. The large amount of steam was a matter of interest. It should have been a warning. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Speaking of eating, I was surprised at how much steam was rising from my cooking pot. I was also feeling a bit cold. Both should have warned me that the forecast temperatures of over sixty degrees were completely wrong. I just thought the dew point must be pretty high, and the damp air was making it feel cold. D’oh!
Wet ground and wooly feet. The ground under my hammock dipped a little so a soggy mess appeared under me. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Morning tea. Making tea while my breakfast rehydrates. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Twin Falls
Twin Falls. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. One of my favorite, out-of-the-way places at Hercules Glades Wilderness.
Twin Falls. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Trip over, back at the trailhead
Trip over, back at the trailhead. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Trip over, back at the trailhead, and a very modest 14 miles hiked with 962 ft. of elevation gain. I left camp just after noon, and was back at the trailhead at 1:45 p.m. Not, I should add, without incident, but I’ll write about that another time.
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Trip write-up: Three nights at Hercules Glades Wilderness, April 2022
Rainy Sunday morning – quick picture before I break camp. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I’ve not had a chance to draw breath this year. Work has been super busy, plus the weather and catching up with chores at home have managed to keep me off the trails. I didn’t turn down an unexpected opportunity for a quick break in the woods.
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Once again in ‘Twin Falls Hollow’
Day One – Camped in ‘Twin Falls Hollow’ – I arrived at 9:40 p.m. yesterday after hiking in on a dark and foggy night. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I’ve not had a chance to draw breath this year. Work has been super busy, plus the weather and catching up with chores at home have managed to keep me off the trails.
I wasn’t going to be able to get away this weekend either because I do some things on social media for work that I cannot schedule in advance. Ginger volunteered to do them for me so I could get away. It was nearly six-thirty when I left home, with a one hour and fifteen-minute drive and then a couple of hours hiking ahead of me, it was going to be a night hike with a promise of rain.
I was on the trail by seven forty-five, about half an hour before dusk. After hiking for under an hour it was pitch black and very foggy, but at least no rain. Despite the fog, I saw two deer, a rabbit, and my first lightning bug of the year. I also heard some peepers (frogs). The lack of visibility didn’t seem to slow me down too much, I arrived at my campsite in just under two hours. Setting up camp, I was most dismayed to find I’d left my camp chair at home. Oh well, three nights of sitting and eating in the hammock it will have to be.
It rained a lot overnight, but I was snug, dry, and warm. The forecast is for warm-ish days, cool nights, and more than enough rain. I’m staying out for a total of three nights. I would have liked to be out longer, but I have to be back in Springfield to pick up a rental vehicle Monday afternoon and then drive up to Lee’s Summit for a meeting. No extended trips for me at the moment.
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Ready for the day’s hike
Ready for the day’s hike – just about to leave ‘Twin Falls Hollow.’ Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I spent the morning waiting for the rain to clear and contemplating the scenery. Hiking back to the trail, I passed by the falls and both falls were running, it’s been cold, so there was no cold shower today. I took a picture of the falls last time I was here, so I didn’t stop and just carried on hiking.
My plan for the day is to camp at ‘Deep Hollow’ an easy hike of just over three miles. Ginger says, quite rightly, I’m getting predictable with my trips. The truth is with limited time, a return deadline, and wanting to get at least a few miles in while keeping away from people, Hercules Glades is my best bet.
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Looking down ‘Spring Hollow’
Looking down ‘Spring Hollow’ – A new (for me) Scenic Overlook. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I followed a spur trail that I’ve passed by often and wondered where it might lead, and it brought me to this scenic view. My best guess was that ‘Spring Hollow‘ was in front of me. A quick check on the GPS showed I was right.
I had to climb up on a boulder to get this picture and the best of the view.
Behind me was a big fire ring. Unfortunately along with the fire ring, there was a huge discarded blue canvas tarp. Far too big and heavy for me to even consider carrying it out. I’m guessing someone brought it in not thinking about how much weight it would gain when it got wet, and so abandoned it. Maybe they plan to come back. Who knows? What I do know is that the tarp is an eyesore.
Fire ring – Unfortunately along with the fire ring there was a huge discarded blue canvas tarp. Far too big and heavy for me to carry out. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Day Two. Camped at ‘Deep Hollow’
Camped at ‘Deep Hollow’ Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. It rained through most of the night and into the morning. It was supposed to warm up today, but that didn’t materialize. I wanted to get a few miles in and be in a good position to get back to the trailhead before noon the next day. My plan was to hike down to Long Creek via the Devi’s Den Trail and then cut back up to the Pilot Trail via either the Glades Trail or the Cedars Trail, do some exploring up ‘Twin Falls Creek’ and find a new place to camp. That would give me a seven or eight-mile hike for the day.
All set up at my ‘Deep Hollow’ campsite. Have I mentioned I forgot to pack my camp chair? Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Rainy Sunday morning – quick picture before I break camp. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
There’s a lot of room under the tarp when the hammock is out of the way. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Stopped for lunch – Not only did it rain, but without a camp chair I had to eat standing up. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. It started raining while I was stopped for lunch in the Devil’s Den (about three miles into my day’s hike), just off of the Rock Spring Trail (Long Creek Trail). While I was eating lunch — standing because of the lack of a camp chair — three hikers came by, which was another incentive to get off the popular Rock Spring Trail as quickly as possible. I decided to take the shorter route via the Glades Trail back to my old stomping ground, ‘Twin Falls Creek’.
Sticking with the plan I explored up ‘Twin Falls Creek’, but my efforts didn’t uncover any nicer camping spots than I’ve already found. I ended up back at the campsite I used on Friday night. Oh well, I did try to find another campsite.
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Day Three, and the start of the spring turkey hunting season
Day Three, and the start of the spring turkey hunting season – All ready to hit the trail again at ‘Twin Falls Hollow’ Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. The spring turkey hunting season opened this morning which explains my snazzy hat. Not that anyone should be taking a potshot while I’m hiking on the trail, but I am camped well away from the trail. Beyond the 200 yards distance you are supposed to be before discharging a firearm.
I’m standing where I hang my hammock, which gives some idea of the lie of the land here.
One day I’ll remember to look at the lens and not the phone’s screen. Le sigh.
