Gary camped here. There was a fair buildup of snow around the edge of the tarp from where the snow kept sliding off.

Snow covered treetops.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025. The ‘doors’ on my bad weather tarp help keep the weather out and the warmth in. I could have set the tarp closer to the ground, but I prefer more standing room.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025.

Wintery view from my hammock.

Keeping my nose and ears warm. I’m just out of bed, and I didn’t bother to remove the buff I use to keep my nose and ears warm while I sleep.

Hammock camping in the snow. 7:20 a.m. and it’s been snowing for around nine hours. I was nice and cozy in my hammock.

Waiting for ‘Snowmageddon’ — there’s five to seven inches in the forecast. Should be fun! (Plus, Day One stats.) +1

Creek and spring in ‘Deep Hollow’ — time to top up my water before it gets dark, and the storm arrives.

My first icicles of 2025.

Glades (Upper Pilot) Trail Junction. The good thing about all the ice on the trail is that it means there’s plenty of water.

Ice Crystals.

Icy conditions on the Pilot (Tower) Trail heading west — I wasn’t expecting to find a lot of ice on the trail, it slowed me down a lot, I need micro spikes for these conditions.

Pole (Pete) Hollow Cairn Selfie — It looks like someone may have tidied the cairn. I didn’t have time to check, I have places to be before it gets dark.

Another empty trailhead parking lot — This time there might be a good reason. There’s a winter storm due in nine hours. Six-minute read, +2

Journal: Four days hiking the Berryman Trail, Missouri, December 2024. This will be my last backpacking trip of the year. 15-minute read, +42

Berryman Trail — Day Four stats and a summary of the trip. Three-minute read.

Hike over back at the Berryman Campground Trailhead.

The Berryman Trail, December 2024.

Gary ready to start out on the last leg of the trip. Another three hours or so and I should be in my nice warm car heading home!

Bad Decisions Make Good Stories. It’s coming up on midday, and I’m packed, ready for the last six miles back to the trailhead. It turns out my ‘Bad Decision’ to carry on with my hike on Day Two was a good decision after all.

Breakfast treat, a Pop-Tart.

View from my hammock. The Berryman Trail, December 2024.

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