Galaxy S21 Ultra

It’s that trail cairn again — By one-thirty I had camp squared away, and I started an uneventful hike back to the trailhead. +2

Jus’ Chilling — The six-mile hike back to the trailhead should only take three to four hours (depending on if I stop for lunch), so I can sit back, take it easy, and enjoy the forest for a while. +1

Day Two. Late Breakfast — Biscuits and Gravy, and a cup of Rosie Lee.

The pollen was prodigious — As the green-yellow dusting of pollen on my feet attests, the pollen was indeed prodigious. No wonder I was coughing and sneezing.

There was a trickle of water coming from the spring — With camp set up I headed off down into ‘Deep Hollow’ to see if the spring was running. Much to my surprise it was — just a trickle but enough to have saved me from having to lug in three liters of water! Not to worry, I need the exercise!

Day One. Back at ‘Deep Hollow,’ Hercules Glades Wilderness — 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. One-minute read.

Pre-Eclipse Shenanigans —Gary & Ginger — 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. +3

Pre-Eclipse Shenanigans — Lanie & Ginger — 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Notice how the light in the background is already fading.

2024 Solar Eclipse Camping — Sunday. Two-minute read, +1

Postscript. It was at this point I discovered that the factory-supplied tire iron did not fit these lug nuts — It took three hours to get someone to come out with the right tool to switch the tire.

End of hike selfie — I Hiked over twenty-two miles in two-and-a-half days. I’m happy with that. Three-minute read, +1

Old signpost — the sign itself is long gone, and I’ve no idea if this was for the trail or something else.

Big Dog! By eleven -twenty I was back on the trail. After the (very) short hike to the Short Cut trail junction, I concluded that I was fit enough for the longer — around seven miles — hike out via the North Loop.

Heating water for breakfast.

Morning Coffee, camped off of the Big Piney Trail.

Finally, the sun reaches inside my hammock.

Enjoying the view from my hammock.

Day three, sunrise from my hammock — Well, I’m still alive! That’s a good thing. My AFIB has abated, and if I’m feeling okay, I’ll take the longer more arduous route back to the trailhead.

Enjoying the view from my hammock.

Hammock set up at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ — It’s good to be back, I had to put in a long hike (with AFIB) today to get here, but it is such a great place to set up camp.

Uh oh! — Pills out on the trail can only mean one thing. Yup, the dreaded AFIB has struck again. Going as slow as I could and taking a rest at what seemed like every few yards, it was still a struggle to bring and keep my heart rate down, and impossible to get it to settle into a regular rhythm.

I don’t want to lose another pencil — As I was taking gear pictures, I thought I’d also take a picture of my solution to losing my pencils while backpacking. +1

Lunch stop, and time to filter some more water. +3

Virginia Bluebells by the trail — Three quarters of an hour later and I’m quite possibly near to where I’d land if I miss-stepped and fell off the scenic overlook. Though more likely I’d be impaled on some tree somewhere on the way down. Probably best to not dwell on that.

Scroll to Top