Bath time – After crossing ‘Cat Briar Meadows,’ I was hot, sweaty, and dirty. I stopped here for half an hour, filled up with water, and then had a quick bath in this pool. Let’s just say it was invigorating (flipping chilly).
The trail is starting to get overgrown – All through these (and the following) overgrown sections of trail I talk to the snakes, “Hello snaky, snaky, snakes, just passing through, don’t mind me.” at the same time I’m probing the trail ahead with my hiking poles to make sure any somnolent snakes wake up before I tread on them. +1
July 5, 2021 13:53
This is going to get messy. The lake has dropped six to eight inches, but it’s still covering the trail. +1
July 5, 2021 13:44
The trail here was covered with water when I hiked in. +2
July 5, 2021 13:40
Time to say goodbye to my lakeside haven. Campfire and table – all tidy, ready for the next person.
July 5, 2021 13:29
Lifting mist at Piney Creek – Complete with a heron.
July 5, 2021 8:35
Misty Morning at Piney Creek. It was worth all the heat and bug bites just for the magical few minutes watching the mist evaporate. +2
July 5, 2021 8:34
Mist on Table Rock Lake.
July 5, 2021 8:32
Through the veil – looking across the lake, the mist was lifting.
July 5, 2021 8:27
Day Four – Misty campsite – I’m used to seeing fog and mist on the lake here, but today’s mist was extra thick. So thick that at first I couldn’t see across the lake. +1
July 5, 2021 8:17
Day Three – Feet up, enjoying the Campfire. +1
July 4, 2021 22:07
Late-night visitor – who is this then? 3
July 4, 2021 22:01
View from the lake.
July 4, 2021 17:26
Air dry.
July 4, 2021 16:44
Fun and frolics at the lake – The lake was warm, almost bath temperature. I didn’t bother to count how many times I took a dip. It was a lot. Slideshow: +5
July 4, 2021 16:02
Journaling – I did a lot of thinking and scribbling. Unfortunately, I came away with a lot more questions than answers. 2
July 4, 2021 11:02
Enjoying the view – between interludes of journaling and swimming. I even completed some camp chores.
July 4, 2021 10:48
Day Three – Morning coffee
July 4, 2021 9:43
Breakfast – Biscuits and gravy and a cup of coffee.
July 4, 2021 9:20
Day Two Campfire.
July 3, 2021 20:50
Day Two – Piney Creek lakeside vistas. I never tire of the play of light on the trees here. +2
July 3, 2021 13:56
It’s good to be back – Camped in Piney Creek Wilderness. I was last here on a day hike with Katie and Lanie back in April. It’s good to be back and I’m planning on staying for three nights in a repeat of my visit over Independence Day Weekend last year. One-minute read, +2
July 3, 2021 12:24
First glimpse of the lake – but not my first encounter. I checked the lake level before I left, and it was five feet above standard pool. When I was here this time last year, I think it was eleven feet above pool. Anyway, the lake was high enough to have covered the trail in places on the way in. One-minute read
July 2, 2021 20:10
Leave no trace – How NOT to camp in the Wilderness. Got your own land? Go for it, cut down trees, and make as much mess as you like. Public land? Leave no trace, Let’s not trash the wilderness. One-minute read, +3