Longer write-ups of our backpacking trips.
Journal: Hercules Glades in the snow, January 2025. A forecast winter storm in Southwest Missouri on January 9 and 10 was just what was needed to let me get some time out when the trail conditions would be a bit more challenging. Trip write-up: 15-minute read, +44
Journal: Four days hiking the Berryman Trail, Missouri, December 2024. This will be my last backpacking trip of the year. Trip write-up: 15-minute read, +42
Journal: Four days hiking the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness. December 2024. There’s a break in the weather and even some rain in the forecast. I’m going to Irish Wilderness where I’ll hike the Whites Creek Trail counter-clockwise, and I’m going to take a leisurely four days to do it. Trip write-up: 10-minute read, +35
Journal: Getting outside my comfort zone, Paddy Creek Wilderness, December 2024. Things have conspired to keep me off the trails this year. I’m hiking the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness to get some trail time. But the daytime temps on two days will be below freezing. I’ll be pushing my comfort zone as I don’t normally venture out if the daytime temperature is going to drop below 40°F. Trip write-up: 10-minute read, +19
Journal: Five days R&R in Piney Creek Wilderness, September 2024 — After my last backpacking trip in April, the weather got too hot, and then we spent August in the UK. I was overdue for some lakeside R&R. With the minimal three-mile hike and five days of lounging around. It was more hammock camping and hardly any backpacking! Trip write-up: Five-minute read, +16
Journal: Two days solo backpacking in Hercules Glades Wilderness, April 2024 — I decided to get out for a one-night trip to Hercules Glades. Apart from our Eclipse Trip I’ve not been out this month. An overnight stop at my camping spot near Deep Hollow would be just what the doctor ordered. Trip write-up: Two-minute read, +8
Journal: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Ginger, Lanie and I camped in Mark Twain National Forest to see this, my third and (most likely) last total solar eclipse. 1999 in France and 2017 in Missouri being the first two. Trip write-up: Five-minute read, +12
Journal: Three days hiking the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, March 2024. I spent three days on a hike of the sixteen-mile loop of the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness which I managed to extend to twenty-two miles. I also managed to break some more gear and at the end of the hike needed to call out a tow truck to get me home. Trip write-up: Ten-minute read, +45
Journal: Four days R&R in Piney Creek Wilderness, February 2024 — It’s been almost a month since I was last out on the trail on my trip to Irish Wilderness. I toyed briefly with a four-day hike of the Berryman Trail, but I settled on some downtime by the lake instead. Trip write-up: Five-minute read, +15
Journal: Four days solo backpacking on the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness, clockwise, January 2024. A break in the weather means I’m off on a four-day hike of the Whites Creek Trail, South and North Loops at Irish Wilderness. Trip write-up: Eight-minute read, +39
Journal: Three days solo backpacking in Hercules Glades Wilderness, January 2024 — I’m off out for three days, blowing away the cobwebs and walking off some holiday season excesses. Trip write-up: Four-minute read, +9
Journal: Four days hiking the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, December 2023. I spent four days on a hike of the 16-mile loop of the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness. This is a follow-up to my trip back in May. Trip write-up: Ten-minute read, +38
Four days by Table Rock Lake at Piney Creek Wilderness, July 2023. It’s time I took a short break, watched the lake for a while, did some navel-gazing, and maybe some journaling. Trip write-up: five-minute read, +15
Journal: Three days hiking the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, May 2023. I plan on spending three days on a slow hike of the 16-mile loop of the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness. Unlike previous trips, it is forecast to rain on the first day, not the last. Trip write-up: Ten-minute read, +43
Journal: Three days hiking at Hercules Glades Wilderness, April 2023. My original plan for the weekend was scrapped. With some time on my hands, I decided to head down to Hercules Gades for a couple of nights. Trip write-up: Eight-minute read, +24
Three days hiking the Ridge Runner Trail and Devil’s Back Bone Wilderness, March 2023 This is the last of my ‘Must do’ winter hikes before spring takes off. Trip write-up: Six-minute read, +27
Journal: Four days hiking the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness, March 2023. I plan on spending four days hiking the 20-mile loop of the Whites Creek Trail in Irish Wilderness. I’m hoping there will be a bit of a view from the trail’s only scenic overlook. A recent storm that passed through the area may make the trail a tad tricky. We’ll see. Trip write-up: Ten-minute read, +53
Journal: Two nights and three days taking it easy at Hercules Glades Wilderness, February 2023.Trip write-up: 15-minute read, +35 (14 minute Video)
Journal: Four days on the Ridge Runner Trail & the Devil’s Backbone Wilderness, December 2022 – Work has been keeping me off the trail for too long. I took three days of comp time to get out in the wild and put a few miles under my belt. I’ve been wanting to revisit the Ridge Runner Trail North Fork Loop ever since I first hiked the trail in May 2020. Trip write-up: 10-minute read, +42
Three nights and four days relaxing by the lake in Piney Creek Wilderness. Except, someone had stolen the lake. It was very low. I’ve not been to my favorite campsite in over a year. It was well overdue a visit. Trip write-up: 10-minute read, +42