Packing for four days by the lake — I’m off to spend four days sitting watching the Lake at my favorite Piney Creek Wilderness camping spot.
Sunday check, clean, and oil — My Sig P938 got very wet while backpacking in the rain at Hercules Glades a while back. Today, I decided to give it a good cleaning and thorough inspection. 1
May 25, 2025 11:05
Camped on ‘Ant Hill’ — I’ve camped on ‘Ant Hill’ before, but this time, I had to shift to a nearby location to avoid a dicey-looking dead tree.
May 11, 2025 12:31
Concrete Spring box in ‘Twin Falls Hollow’. 1
May 10, 2025 17:02
Scenic overlook, southwest of Lower Pilot Knob. Hercules Glades Wilderness. 2
May 10, 2025 14:25
Wear and tear — That’s what over 100 days of backpacking will do. 1 3
May 10, 2025 11:41
Heating water to make breakfast, May 2025. Hercules Glades Wilderness. 3
May 10, 2025 10:24
Camped above ‘Deep Hollow’, May 2025. Hercules Glades Wilderness. 2
May 9, 2025 17:57
Bathing Pool in ‘Deep Hollow’. Hercules Glades Wilderness, May 2025.
May 9, 2025 16:44
When did I grow old? It feels like I blinked, and suddenly I’ve aged — I was writing in my journal when I noticed how old my hands looked. I don’t feel older, but I now have my grandparents’ hands: the loose flesh, thin skin, age spots, and prominent veins.
April 27, 2025 14:29
Journal: Exploring some old trails, Irish Wilderness, April 2025 — A trip to explore a couple of old trails, looking for water sources, and seeking another campsite overlooking the Eleven Point River. Journal: 27 42
April 10, 2025 14:00
The trailhead parking lot was a bit crowded — it makes a change to find someone else at this trailhead. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. 5 6
April 10, 2025 13:39
Back at the trail junction — After three days spent exploring south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. 1
April 10, 2025 13:27
Hammock camping in Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Camping near the pond may have been a mistake. The frogs and peepers were loud (80db), and didn’t stop until sun-up when the woodpeckers took over with the racket making. 3
April 10, 2025 10:29
Trail food for the day.
April 10, 2025 8:45
Breakfast — A cup of hot chocolate, a Pop-Tart, and biscuits and gravy. Irish Wilderness, April 2025.
April 10, 2025 8:29
Evening light — overlooking the pond from my hammock. I’ve been backpacking in the Ozarks for fifteen or so years. You would think that I would have remembered that water plus Spring equals peepers and other very noisy critters. 1
April 9, 2025 18:34
Getting water for the night.
April 9, 2025 18:22
Woodland pond in the last of the day’s sun.
April 9, 2025 18:19
As seen on Google Earth — It’s just a downed tree. And I make a navigational blunder. 1
April 9, 2025 14:56
At the top of a very marshy area, a dammed pond — All the recent rain seems to have topped it up.
April 9, 2025 12:47
Signs of recent trail maintenance. I have noticed this before. The ‘less official’ trails are frequently in better condition than the official trails. I wish the North Loop Trail was this clear and easy to follow.
April 9, 2025 11:50
Camped overlooking Slash Bay Hollow. 1 3
April 9, 2025 9:06
Ooh! I found a well-maintained and clear trail. This bodes well for my plans for this trip. Although this trail is in excellent condition, I’ve still got a mile or so of Bushwhacking to look forward to, to get to the end of the ridge I want to camp on.