Hike almost over — it’s just a short way from here, at the edge of the wilderness, to the registration point and parking lot. All in all, I hiked a tad under 19 miles and climbed 1,500 feet of elevation. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026.
Keeping my nose and ears warm. I’m just out of bed, and I didn’t bother to remove the buff I use to keep my nose and ears warm while I sleep.
End of hike selfie — I’ve not taken an end of hike self-portrait in a while. Here I am all ready for the drive home. Trip over, four days, three nights, 21 miles, and 1800ft. climbed. Two-minute read.
Whites Creek Trail, loop complete. +1
Gary at the Eleven Point River Scenic Overlook, Irish Wilderness, December 2024.
Wrapped up warm for a cold hike — I’m going off in search of a trail that I’m sure runs from where I’m camped near Little Paddy Creek to the North Loop. Then I plan to look for a better campsite at ‘Spring Hollow’.
Gary at the Big Paddy Creek Scenic Overlook.
At the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail Junction. 39°F and feeling a bit chilly with a slight head wind. Two nights, three days, and a modest 13 miles. That will do for my first run out of 2024. Time to go home and trim my beard. It has done its job! +1
Packing away — It rained quite a lot last night and the drips were still falling from the trees, so I kept the tarp up while I packed everything away.
Lollygagging — it was quite cold early in the morning, I was glad I bought my big puffy jacket and some base layer pants to wear.
Ooh look, there are newish blazes on this trail too. Note the buff to keep my ears warm.
Camped among short leaved pines for a change — I like camping among the pines, but it was windy and watching the tops of these 100 Ft. tall trees whip around, did make me wonder how much of a good idea that was. I’m still here, so it can’t have been bad choice.
At the start (or is it the end?) of the Whites Creek Trail Loop — I was last here in May 2021. +1
Dusk at the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail cairn — Right on target, 25 minutes from the trailhead.
Setting off — Here I am back at the Hercules Glades Tower Trailhead about to set off on my first backpacking trip of 2023. I am planning on spending two nights in the Hercules Glades Wilderness, starting with a six-mile night hike.
End of trip selfie – and a summary of the trip. Three-minute read, +4
Fun and frolics at the lake – The lake was warm, almost bath temperature. I didn’t bother to count how many times I took a dip. It was a lot. Slideshow: +5
Hike over, back at the trailhead – That’s my hike over, and it’s just before 4:15 p.m. Not bad, and still daylight. I should be home by 5:45 p.m. I completed today’s hike of six-plus miles in a little over three hours. I’ll take that.
Gary – Hike finished and a tad damp – For the second time, my hike of the Big Piney Trail ends with rain. But I don’t mind with two nights out on the trail, over twenty-three miles hiked, 2,116 ft of elevation under my belt, and the last of trails in the Paddy Creek Wilderness hiked, it’s been a good weekend.
Gary by the cab on the Pees Hollow Trail (October 2020) – A detour along the Pees Hollow Trail, lunch by ‘Cab Creek’ and another ‘Cab Selfie’ One-minute read
Starting out on the Bell Mountain Trail – This wasn’t my first hike of the Bell Mountain Trail. We backpacked here during Spring Break 2012, again staying two nights. Then we’d gone around the loop counter-clockwise. This time I’d be going the opposite way around. 3 pictures
On the Collins Ridge Trail. Moments after I took this picture four deer came running past.
Stops on the way – This downed tree offered a good place to catch my breath, have a drink, and take a selfie. 4
Gary by Table Rock Lake. 2 pictures