Journal: Four days hiking the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness, March 2023. I plan on spending four days hiking the 20-mile loop of the Whites Creek Trail in Irish Wilderness. I’m hoping there will be a bit of a view from the trail’s only scenic overlook. A recent storm that passed through the area may make the trail a tad tricky. We’ll see. Journal: 10 53
Haven’t I been here before? Whites Creek Trail Loop Completed.
Trees, trees, and more trees — And hidden in this picture is an old forest road.
Lunch time snooze in the sun — albeit a very watery sun. Can you see my glasses? No? Neither could I. It took me a lot of searching to find them.
The geology seems a bit different on the south loop. Note the rocks in this picture. Also note the blue blaze. You are not supposed to have blazes in a wilderness, but to save money rescuing lost people, there appear to be some exceptions. But the quality and positioning of the blazes is so poor and erratic, it is just annoying. Well, it annoys me!
Pool on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness.
Cat briar’s revenge — I got myself into a huge patch of them on the third day, and this is the result. It is also why I am resisting being put on aggressive anticoagulants.
On the South Loop of the Whites Creek Trail — despite the whole area being flooded yesterday, the trail was not washed out (here, anyway).
Pool on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness — Oh the joys of the Golden Hour (and being in the right place).
Whites Creek Cave — It’s a slightly better picture than last time. I used my headlamp to light the place up. I’ve tried to find out some more information about the cave, like how big it is and how far it goes back. Thus far I’ve drawn a blank. Let’s just say it’s big-ish.
Gratuitous Selfie — taken just because I took a picture of this sign the last time I hiked this trail. +1
Whites Creek — close to its confluence with the Eleven Point River — I stopped here to have lunch and enjoy the view.
Later today I’ll be hiking along that ridge line. It is a rubbish picture, but it does give a slight impression of what is in store. I’ve got to go all the way down and then back up again. Two-minute read
The only scenic view on the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness — The Eleven Point River was very high, muddy and noisy after all the recent rain. At least I got a reasonable view of it on this trip. Last time it was hidden by all the leaves on the trees.
Bliss Spring (& a late lunch!) — just a quick snapshot. I took pictures and some video the last time I was here.
Old blaze — I’ve no idea where it leads, I’m not going in that direction.
Bliss Spring (and lunch) 3.9 miles — On my first visit to Irish Wilderness I made it to Bliss Spring in the first afternoon. Just as well I have an extra day for this trip.
Sinkhole — It was impressive because of how wide it was. I’ve seen a lot bigger and deeper, but it was impressive none-the-less.
Whites Creek Crossing. Apparently, this is where I should have crossed. (Stereo image). +2
Creek? What creek? Someone stole the creek overnight. +1
Spring water, Whites Creek. And in a few minutes I’ll be climbing the hill on the other side of the creek. +2
I’ll wait this one out, Whites Creek Crossing. Irish Wilderness, on the trail to Bliss Spring — I estimated the water to be four-five feet deep, but actually it was only around three feet.
Dry Prong, not so dry — The Whites Creek Trail North loop is well-traveled, easy on your feet, and easy to follow, with modest elevation changes. The trail might have been easy, but there were many downed limbs and lots of debris on the trail. Clearing the trail as I went slowed me down significantly.
At the start (or is it the end?) of the Whites Creek Trail Loop — I was last here in May 2021. +1