I might regret saying this… 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. One-minute read, +2
The perils (and perks) of a home office. Dick is ‘helping’ me edit videos.
Heading Home — I remembered to take an end of hike selfie just before I left the trailhead parking lot. Two-minute read.
All packed up and ready to leave — I toyed with the idea of leaving first thing in the morning, but a bitingly cold wind put me off that idea. It was very windy in the night, the trees flexing had the hammock bouncing around a bit. The temperature dropped to 24 degrees, I wasn’t toasty, but I was warm enough. Two-minute read, +1
Doe! A deer… Despite being 1-200 yards upwind from me they heard me creeping down to a spot where I could grab a picture through the trees. It was nearly dark, and I had to use the max zoom on my phone, hence the very poor image.
The lake is low… It’s almost the lowest I’ve seen it.
Piney Creek Wilderness at Table Rock Lake — Yup, another picture of one of my favorite spots.
A quick pan of the south shore from Piney Creek towards Table Rock Lake. Table Rock Lake is low. Almost the lowest I’ve seen it so far. On the good side, the change in lake level has caused all the silt to be washed out of the creek mouth. Video: 24-seconds.
Hammock Camping in Piney Creek Wilderness, February 2024.
‘Red Flag’ Warning — so I shall not be using my wood stove. High winds, dry conditions, and unseasonable temperatures have resulted in a ‘No fires’ advisory today. And given how windy and dry it is, that makes sense.
Back at my home from home — Taking a selfie when I get to the lake has become another Piney Creek Tradition.
Stopped for Lunch by Piney Creek — I thought this was the spot we stopped for lunch on 11-11-2011, but it was probably the next creek crossing. +1
Fire ring at the bottom of the Tower Trail — Piney Creek Wilderness. I’m on the trail again, and this is the plan… +2
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.
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.
Unintended trail markers. Sometimes when you cannot see the trail you just have to look around for a downed tree that has been cleared.
I’m trying out some daisy chain webbing for my hammock suspension.
Breakfast in my hammock. Irish Wilderness, Missouri
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.
Eleven Point River, Scenic Overlook — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024. Video: 26-seconds.
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.
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.
Gear all packed — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024.
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?