Loop Finished — And I’ll admit the trail kicked my butt. I wasn’t as fit as I thought I was, and my heart deciding to throw a wobbly at the end of day three didn’t help.
cellphone
There’s a trail there somewhere — The trail can be very hard to follow (for me anyway). The signs are so faint that if I look away, I can lose it.
February 2, 2024 12:39
Unintended trail markers. Sometimes when you cannot see the trail you just have to look around for a downed tree that has been cleared.
February 2, 2024 12:30
I’m trying out some daisy chain webbing for my hammock suspension.
February 2, 2024 11:19
Breakfast in my hammock. Irish Wilderness, Missouri
February 2, 2024 10:15
Day Four — View from my hammock, February 2, 2024 — I survived the night 🙂 (at my age I sometimes wonder!), but my heart was still in AFIB. I had enough water for breakfast (12oz), a cup of something hot (10oz), and about 4oz for the trail.
February 2, 2024 9:28
Eleven Point River, Scenic Overlook — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024. Video: 26-seconds.
February 1, 2024 11:14
Eleven Point River, scenic overlook — And the only scenic overlook on the Whites Creek Trail. You had better enjoy it! The trail along the top of the bluff is a tad sketchy in places, but it is fine here, though you need a head for heights to step out on the overlook.
February 1, 2024 11:12
Irish Wilderness Whites Creek Trail, trail conditions along the Eleven Point River bluff — It’s a rugged and gnarly hike. Not a trail for anyone who’s not sure footed or has problems with heights! Video: One-minute.
February 1, 2024 10:37
Gear all packed — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024.
February 1, 2024 10:12
My winter backpacking gear ready to be packed away — Well, I already had a lot of my stuff laid out on my ground sheet while I was playing “Hunt the glasses,” so why not?
February 1, 2024 9:58
Hammock Camping in Irish Wilderness, lost & found, and a bad back — I have managed to lose, and subsequently find three items of gear on my hike so far. But in looking for the lost gear I’ve crocked up my back. Two-minute read.
February 1, 2024 7:38
Camp at first light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:55
Looking down the Eleven Point River covered in mist — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:54
Looking up the Eleven Point River covered in mist — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:53
First Light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise. Video: One-minute.
February 1, 2024 6:52
Day Three — First Light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:51
Eleven Point River view from my campsite — looking south — I camped about half a mile from here back in March 2023. I thought this location might offer better views. It did.
January 31, 2024 16:37
Eleven Point River view from my campsite — looking north — I camped about half a mile from here back in March 2023. I thought this location might offer better views. It did.
January 31, 2024 16:33
Appearances can be deceptive — A quarter of a mile upstream the creek was dry. I had to backtrack a little way to get water for lunch and to stock up with water for the afternoon and night. There wasn’t going to be any water where I planned to stop.
January 31, 2024 13:55
At the Float Camp Junction of the Whites Creek Trail — I was last here in March 2023.
January 31, 2024 13:47
An hour later, Whites Creek Cave — The unofficial trail came out exactly where I expected. I’d hiked the top part of it on my last visit, and obviously missed where it turned to go down to Fiddler Spring. The main Whites Creek Trail was easy to follow, until it wasn’t.
January 31, 2024 13:29
Sunshine at last — Drying out my gear was my excuse for not rushing to get on the trail. The frost on my tarp needed a chance to melt and dry. I lollygagged around and didn’t start packing up camp until eleven-forty. Taking it easy, I didn’t leave camp until twelve-thirty.
January 31, 2024 11:21
Camped at Fiddler Spring, Irish Wilderness. +1