Hopefully this is not too prophetic. Today I’m leaving for three days hiking on the Big Piney Trail at Paddy Creek Wilderness. I’ve not been out this month, which means I have 20 miles and 2 nights backpacking to fit in. The Big Piney Trail is only sixteen miles, but by doing the route in a ‘figure of eight’ I ought to be able to get that up over twenty.

Today will be the coolest with temps in the mid-fifties. After my last adventure with only summer gear and temps in the low twenties, I decided to be cautious and packed my 10°F under quilt.

There’s been a bit of rain recently, so I’m hoping water will not be the problem it was on my last visit to Paddy Creek Wilderness.

The above image is courtesy of my subscription to windy.com (Check out the free version, it is the best weather site I’ve found. If you are a weather nerd, subscribe! I’m not an affiliate; I just want to see them prosper).

I have some new gear for this trip:

• Hammock Gear Circadian Pro Hammock.
• Bedrock Cairn Evo PRO sandals.
• Sit pad (and I’m leaving my chair behind — Gasp!).

I’ve set up the hammock once in the backyard, and it is looking like a promising alternative to my Dutchware Gear Chameleon hammock.

My plan is fairly simple.

• Day One. Hike the South Loop to the short cut, which I’ll take and then hike to the shut-ins I found in my search for water on my last visit.
• Day Two. Hike the North Loop to the start of the South Loop, and then back to either Little Paddy Creek, where I found a new campsite to try out. Or, if I’m feeling up for it, carry on and camp at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga.’
• Day Three. Take the short cut back to the North Loop and hike the North Loop back to the trailhead.

That should be around 22-24 miles in total. Should be good, provided I haven’t jinxed everything with that patch!