• Whites Creek on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop — Looking upstream

    Whites Creek on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop — Looking upstream. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Whites Creek on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop

    Whites Creek on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    The trail at the bottom of the descent down to Whites Creek had been washed out, and parts of the trail were knee-deep in running water. Nothing unexpected after all the rain we have had. I crossed Whites Creek a little bit more to the west than usual, where I took the above photograph before crossing.

    I backtracked once I’d got to the trail on the other side, and the original crossing point was a mess with downed trees and debris. In fact, most of the trail from here to Fiddler Spring was a mess, with the trail having recently been several feet underwater. The leaf litter and other debris was formidable.

  • Dogwoods on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop

    Dogwoods on the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Rain-cleared trail

    Rain-cleared trail. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    In many places, the recent rains had cleared the leaves off the trail. Whites Creek Trail, South Loop.

  • Trail-side Dogwood. Whites Creek Trail, South Loop

    Trail-side Dogwood. Whites Creek Trail, South Loop, Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • New trailhead signage at Camp Five Pond

    New trailhead signage at Camp Five Pond. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Check out the sub-heading on the left image below. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. As a former writer and editor, I find it appalling. Minor typos might be acceptable in some instances (not really), but definitely not on a public sign.

  • Gary at the Camp Five Pond Trailhead

    Gary at the Camp Five Pond Trailhead. Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It’s time for another visit to Irish Wilderness. This trip I’m going to abandon the main, Whites Creek Trail, and see if I can find some of the older trails, south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop.

    There could be a lot of bushwhacking in my future, if I can’t find the trails. I’m hoping that last weekend’s six-plus inches of rain means there will be water to be found up on the ridges.

  • Journal: Berryman Trail Revisited, March 2024

    After my last hike of the Berryman Trail in December 20024, I had a score to settle. I experienced a bout of AFIB on that trip, and realizing I hadn’t packed enough medication, I had to take it slow and easy. Another round of AFIB caused a canceled hike of the Berryman Trail in February 2025. It’s finally time to ‘get it done.’

  • View from my Day Three camp

    View from my Day Three camp — Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    The trail runs along the bottom of the hollow, and there was water in the creek too. Very annoying after carrying a full load here from Beecher Spring.

  • Ready to move on

    Ready to move on — Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    The sun is shining at last after nearly twelve hours of rain, huge thunderstorms, and lots of wind. I was snug and dry.

    It’s a late start because I fell asleep reading my book while waiting for the rain to stop.

  • Hunkering down for the night

    Hunkering down for the night. Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Rain, thunderstorms, and wind are heading this way. So, I picked this spot on the northwest side of a ridge, which should provide shelter from the weather.

  • Beecher Spring

    Beecher Spring — Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It looks like an effort has been made to tidy the area up. Originally, I was going to camp near here. Instead, I’m going to carry on and find a nice spot in the lee of a ridge for the night and the forecast rain and wind.

  • The forest has been ‘thinned’ in places

    The forest has been ‘thinned’ in places. Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Rejoining the Berryman Trail from Little Brazil Creek

    Rejoining the Berryman Trail from Little Brazil Creek. Berryman Trail, March 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Ready for Day Three’s hike

    Ready for Day Three’s hike. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Today’s hike should be a lot shorter than yesterday’s ten-plus miles. All the running I do and I’m still looking flabby.

  • Camped above Little Brazil Creek

    Camped above Little Brazil Creek. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Even two to three hundred yards from the creek, it is still scrubby. It took me far too long to find somewhere to hang my hammock yesterday.

    I didn’t set my tarp last night. I enjoyed laying in the hammock watching the stars and satellites.

  • Little Brazil Creek is very ‘scrubby’

    Little Brazil Creek is very ‘scrubby’ — Looking north. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I’m filling up with water for tonight and tomorrow. I’ve yet to find a good camping spot near this creek. I hiked over ten miles today to get here.

    I’m packing in the miles so that I can be nearer the trailhead tomorrow night. There is a lot of rain, thunderstorms, and wind forecasted for tomorrow night, lasting through to Sunday lunchtime. Having a shorter hike on Sunday will hopefully mean that I can avoid hiking in the worst of the weather.

  • Ooh! There was blood!

    Ooh! There was blood! Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    A little bit of trailside First Aid was required. The cut was so small that it was hard to find where the blood was leaking from.

    That’s the second time the First Aid kit has been used in as many trips.

    Trailside First Aid. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Floyd Tower Road looking northwest

    Floyd Tower Road looking northwest. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    After crossing the road, I stopped for a drink and bacon trail snack.

  • Berryman Trail — twenty-six miles to go

    Berryman Trail — twenty-six miles to go. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    My plan is to spend a leisurely four days hiking those twenty-six miles. I hiked this trail clockwise in December. This time I’m going counterclockwise.

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