Camped at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ — this is such a great place to hang a hammock. Not so good if you want to set a tarp, though. I never have when stopping here. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026. 2
Off Trail
Coffee and an (out of shot) Pop-Tart in my hammock. Eight o’clock and it’s warming up just a tad.
February 20, 2026 7:59
It got chilly last night – Day Three — not quite as bad as the forecast at 26°F. My plan worked, and I was too warm at times. 1 2
February 20, 2026 7:20
Hammock camping in Irish Wilderness, April 2025. Camping near the pond may have been a mistake. The frogs and peepers were loud (80db), and didn’t stop until sun-up when the woodpeckers took over with the racket making. 3
April 10, 2025 10:29
Breakfast — A cup of hot chocolate, a Pop-Tart, and biscuits and gravy. Irish Wilderness, April 2025.
April 10, 2025 8:29
Evening light — overlooking the pond from my hammock. I’ve been backpacking in the Ozarks for fifteen or so years. You would think that I would have remembered that water plus Spring equals peepers and other very noisy critters. 1
April 9, 2025 18:34
Getting water for the night.
April 9, 2025 18:22
Woodland pond in the last of the day’s sun.
April 9, 2025 18:19
As seen on Google Earth — It’s just a downed tree. And I make a navigational blunder. 1
April 9, 2025 14:56
At the top of a very marshy area, a dammed pond — All the recent rain seems to have topped it up.
April 9, 2025 12:47
Signs of recent trail maintenance. I have noticed this before. The ‘less official’ trails are frequently in better condition than the official trails. I wish the North Loop Trail was this clear and easy to follow.
April 9, 2025 11:50
Camped overlooking Slash Bay Hollow. 1 3
April 9, 2025 9:06
Ooh! I found a well-maintained and clear trail. This bodes well for my plans for this trip. Although this trail is in excellent condition, I’ve still got a mile or so of Bushwhacking to look forward to, to get to the end of the ridge I want to camp on.
April 8, 2025 14:46
Open woodland — Exploring south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. Irish Wilderness, April 2025.
April 8, 2025 14:45
I found a pond — exactly where I expected one to be. Exploring south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. 1
April 8, 2025 14:37
Looking back down the trail to Fiddler Spring — This is the start of the ‘Social’ trail heading down to Fiddler Spring. I was camped on the ridge in the distance to the right last night. This bit of trail is very steep, so steep that you can’t see the rest of the trail from this point.
April 8, 2025 12:24
Camped overlooking Whites Creek near Fiddler Spring.
April 8, 2025 10:33
View from my Day Three camp — The trail runs along the bottom of the hollow, and there was water in the creek too. Very annoying after carrying a full load here from Beecher Spring.
March 23, 2025 14:15
Ready to move on — The sun is shining at last after nearly twelve hours of rain, huge thunderstorms, and lots of wind. I was snug and dry. It’s a late start because I fell asleep reading my book while waiting for the rain to stop.
March 23, 2025 14:11
Hunkering down for the night. — Rain, thunderstorms, and wind are heading this way. So, I picked this spot on the northwest side of a ridge, which should provide shelter from the weather.
March 22, 2025 18:48
Camped above Little Brazil Creek — Even two to three hundred yards from the creek, it is still scrubby. It took me far too long to find somewhere to hang my hammock yesterday.
March 22, 2025 12:06
Little Brazil Creek is very ‘scrubby’ — Looking north. I’m filling up with water for tonight and tomorrow. I’ve yet to find a good camping spot near this creek. I hiked over ten miles today to get here.
March 21, 2025 18:09
Camped at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga.’ 1
March 1, 2025 9:47
Today, I’m wondering when that unsupported span will collapse. It’s a good 100 ft.