• Camp Life

    Camp Table. The stove is on the ground because it is very windy, and the table is sheltering it. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Signs of a well managed campfire. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • My lakeside camp at night

    My lakeside camp at night – I love this spot. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Clouds

    Clouds – I was hoping for a nice sunset. It didn’t happen, but this cloud formation and an otter made up for it. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I was hoping for a nice, as in flaming oranges and yellows, sunset. It didn’t happen, but this cloud formation and an otter made up for it. The otter was easy to follow swimming out on the lake, as it left a little trail of reflected light in the dark surface of the water. Then I lost track of it. A few minutes later I saw the otter again. This time it was swimming along parallel to the shore coming towards me. It stopped every couple of yards, lifted its head out of the water, and inspected the land, presumably looking for ottery goodies. I kept very still and didn’t try to take a picture. It was 15 feet from me when it realized I was there. Like an aquatic meerkat, it rose out of the water, stared at me, and then dived. I didn’t see it again.

    I have a suspicion it’s the same animal I saw here in 2020.

  • Wind on Table Rock Lake

    Wind on Table Rock Lake – I feel like I’m home when I get to this view. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Loop complete. The start of the Siloam Spring Trail

    Loop complete. The start of the Siloam Spring Trail – This is the Piney Creek end of the Siloam Spring Trail. I’ve come full circle. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    That’s it, I’ve completed all the official trails at Piney Creek. Now to head off down to the lake and have some quiet time lake watching.

  • What is it with old truck cabs in the woods?

    What is it with truck cabs in the wilderness? I’ve no idea what sort of truck this was, and there was no sign of the chassis, engine, or drive-train anywhere around. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    What is it with truck cabs in the wilderness? I’ve no idea what sort of truck this was, and there was no sign of the chassis, engine, or drive-train anywhere around. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Cat Briar Central

    I name this area Cat Briar Central (looking west) – The cat briars around it were horrendous, and I carry the scars to show for it. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    I name this area Cat Briar Central (looking east) – The cat briars around it were horrendous, and I carry the scars to show for it. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Large pool on Piney Creek

    Large pool on Piney Creek – I didn’t check how deep, but judging by the color, a few feet. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Piney Creek glinting in the sun

    Piny Creek glinting in the sun – you can get a clear idea of how narrow the hollow is in places from this picture. Can’t find the trail? hike down the creek. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • The trail is quite clear and easy to follow (In places)

    The route of the top end of the Piney Creek Trail is quite clear (in places). Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    This whole area was cultivated at some point. I found a big concrete spring box at the end of one hollow. Unfortunately, cultivated land means cleared land. The trees are young and small, and cat briars more than abundant. I have named this next section of the trail ‘Cat Briar Central.’ Where the hollow opens out, there are briars, and where it narrows, the creek washes out the trail, so whatever the arrangement of the land, the trail is hard to follow.

    It would be very hard to get lost though. Keep following the creek downstream and eventually you will get to the well-traveled portion of the trail (more on that later).

  • The View from my hammock, Piney Creek Wilderness, Day Two

    View from my hammock. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    You are not supposed to camp this close to a water source, but this was the only spot I could find. It was getting dark when I arrived, and the hollow is so narrow, it’s impossible to not camp near the creek or the trail. I opted to put the creek between me and the trail.

    It was cold overnight 33°F. The forecast was for the low forties, but I expected it to go lower, it always does. I brought my 40°F top and underquilts, and wore my merino wool baselayer, plus my puffy jacket to bed and I was warm. Though I did refuse to get out of the hammock until the sun touched the ground.

    Breakfast with a view – the forecast was for 40F overnight. It dropped to 33F, so I refused to get up until the sun touched the ground. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Morning Tea – you are not supposed to camp this close to a water source, but it was the only spot I could find. It was getting dark when I arrived, and the hollow is so narrow, it’s impossible to not camp near the creek or the trail. I opted to put the creek between me and the trail. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Looking up Piney Creek

    Looking up Piney Creek – it was a nice view to wake up to, but I don’t like camping near creeks. Too noisy and too messy. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Camped by Piney Creek

    Camped by Piney Creek – you are not supposed to camp this close to a water source, but it was the only spot I could find. It was getting dark when I arrived, and the hollow is so narrow, it’s impossible to not camp near the creek or the trail. I opted to put the creek between me and the trail. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I spent a long time searching for a decent campsite yesterday evening. The sides of the hollow here are really steep, and while I could hang my hammock, it would have been a risky business moving around. The flatter areas are very brushy and finding a couple of trees with nothing sprouting up between them near impossible. And the hollow is so narrow it’s not practical to get the regulation distance from the trail or water source. I didn’t fancy hiking an overgrown, intermittent trail in the dark, and the light was rapidly fading when I picked this spot as the best I could find.

    It is very pretty, but I do not like camping next to creeks. I don’t like how the noise of a creek masks any other sounds in the neighborhood, and it’s best not to mention the hidden voices that running water manages to conjure up. The air is damp, it is cold, and the bottoms of hollows are scruffy with washed-out debris, limbs, and trees. All in all, I’d rather camp somewhere else.

    Camped by Piney Creek – you are not supposed to camp this close to a water source, but it was the only spot I could find. It was getting dark when I arrived, and the hollow is so narrow, it’s impossible to not camp near the creek or the trail. I opted to put the creek between me and the trail. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Camped by Piney Creek – you are not supposed to camp this close to a water source, but it was the only spot I could find. It was getting dark when I arrived, and the hollow is so narrow, it’s impossible to not camp near the creek or the trail. I opted to put the creek between me and the trail. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Piney Creek – the start of Day Two

    Piney Creek – the start of Day Two. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Back on the Piney Creek Trail

    Back on the Piney Creek Trail – it’s a 20′-30′ drop to the creek. I was looking for good camping spots. The best are probably at the very start of the Piney Creek Trail. The trail is overgrown and difficult to follow in many places. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It doesn’t look like it, but it is a 20′-30′ drop to the creek. I was looking for good camping spots. The best sites are probably at the very start of the Piney Creek Trail, but I wasn’t too keen on camping there because the trail overlooked them. I do like my privacy when I’m out in the wilderness. Not that anyone was likely to come past.

    Carrying on down the trail, it became increasingly overgrown and difficult to follow. I found this spring which isn’t marked on the maps, which is always a good thing to find. The further I went, the narrower the hollow became, the steeper the sides were, and more bush-whacking was required. I was zigzagging from side to side of the hollow, looking for a nice spot to stop. Good and even bad campsites were in short supply, and I kept on heading down the trail. I’d find somewhere to stop eventually.

    Spring – it’s always good to know where a spring can be found. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Woods Trail, Piney Creek Wilderness

    Woods Trail, Piney Creek Wilderness – This was a great section of the trail, very easy hiking. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Stock Pond off the Woods Trail – I’d spotted this stock pond on the aerial photographs of the wilderness. It’s not marked on any of the maps. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Woods Trail, dropping into the hollow – the trail was easy to follow even once it started descending. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • The official start of the Woods Trail

    Official start of the Woods Trail – Five O’clock, and I still have a fair way to go before I stop for the day. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Piney Creek’s Woods Trail meets the road

    Piney Creek’s Woods Trail meets the road – It seemed to take forever to get here, but it took just under an hour to hike the 2.6 miles. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Farm Road 2185

    Farm Road 2185 – it seemed a very long 2.6-mile hike from the Siloam Spring Trail trailhead to the start of the Woods Trail, one of my last unhiked trails in Piney Creek Wilderness. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    It seemed a very long 2.6-mile hike from the Siloam Spring Trail trailhead to the start of the Woods Trail, one on my last unhiked trails in Piney Creek Wilderness. The view from ‘Big Buck Lodge’ gave me my only glimpse of the surrounding countryside.

    The view from Big Buck Lodge – Lodge is, shall we say, a generous title. The ‘Lodge’ is on the opposite (north) side of the road, to this southerly-facing view, which has obviously been cleared to provide a view from the lodge. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • I’ve been here before

    I’ve been here before – nearly nine years ago on June 7, 2012. Copyright © 2021 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    This is where the trail down to Siloam Spring joins the farm road. I didn’t have anyone to take my picture this time, and the lack of leaves to block the sun is making me squinty. Well, that’s my excuse.

    And below, here I am in 2012.

    It’s gone 4 p.m., if I’m to get to some water, I’d better get moving. Many miles still to go.

    gary Allman in the Mark Twain National Forest at Piney Creek Wilderness Missouri.
    Here I am in June 2012. Picture by Ginger. Copyright © 2012 Ginger Allman, all rights reserved.
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