Paddy Creek — Day One
Backpacking
Everything backpacking: our gear, trip write-ups, and individual pictures.
Ooh, it fits! Camped in Paddy Creek Wilderness, at a spot I’ve nicknamed Paddy Creek Trolltunga. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, December 2023.
December 4, 2023 16:17
The well was dry — I was surprised to spy a rat at the bottom of the well.
December 4, 2023 15:35
Gary on the trail (and a new hat, too) — on the South Loop at the short cut junction. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, December 2023.
December 4, 2023 15:33
Sun burst through the trees — Taken on the South Loop at the short cut to the North Loop trail junction. I’m continuing on the South Loop — into the sun. It took me just over three-and-a-half hours to get here.
December 4, 2023 15:31
Not a lot of water — This is Little Paddy Creek. I’ve never seen it this low, it was not really running. That doesn’t bode well for my trip. And all the small springs I have passed so far have been dry too. 2
December 4, 2023 14:32
Roby Lake Trailhead — The Big Piney Trail, December 2023. And my plans for a four-day, three-night trip. Three-minute read, +1
December 4, 2023 11:27
Four days by Table Rock Lake at Piney Creek Wilderness, July 2023. It’s time I took a short break, watched the lake for a while, did some navel-gazing, and maybe some journaling. Journal: 10 15
July 9, 2023 18:00
Trip over — Three nights and four days by the lake. I left a day early as I didn’t fancy hiking out in the 90°F+ temps forecast for Monday. +1
July 9, 2023 17:37
Just sitting and watching — That’s pretty much how I spent four days. The cup of tea was optional. +2
July 9, 2023 14:22
Noodles for lunch.
July 9, 2023 13:58
Campfire — It is very rare for me to have a campfire nowadays. But I’d collected the wood, so I might as well use it and keep the fire ring clean.
July 8, 2023 22:15
Sunset at Piney Creek Wilderness. My neighbors are fishing the small bluff opposite their camp.
July 8, 2023 19:57
Camped near Table Rock Lake at Piney Creek Wilderness. The forecast was for two to three days of rain, so I carried in a second tarp to have a dry area to sit and prepare meals. It sprinkled once for about half an hour. 2
July 7, 2023 9:55
Table Rock Lake at Piney Creek Wilderness — I never tire of this view or taking pictures of it. Look closely; you can see that I had neighbors on this visit. Two fishermen camped at the entrance to Piney Creek. +2
July 7, 2023 8:28
On the lake trail at Piney Creek Wilderness. It doesn’t look it, but that’s a 60-80 ft. climb.
July 6, 2023 12:37
Ready for the trail. Or, judging by the reflection in my sunglasses: “Car, dunny (a.k.a. vault toilet), arm and camera.” I’m planning on spending four nights and five days at my favorite camping spot by Table Rock Lake.
July 6, 2023 12:29
R&R by the lake — It’s time I took a short break, watched the lake for a while, did some navel-gazing, and maybe some journaling. The trouble is the weather has been beastly hot. It may be my imagination, but it certainly seems to be my experience that exercise combined with high temps triggers my AFIB. So, thoughts of taking a few days by the lake have been put on the back burner.
July 5, 2023 17:24
Journal: Three days hiking the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, May 2023. I plan on spending three days on a slow hike of the 16-mile loop of the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness. Unlike previous trips, it is forecast to rain on the first day, not the last. Journal: 10 43
May 21, 2023 18:00
New Parking Lot for the Big Piney Trail at Roby Lake. Big surprise, our car is the only one parked here. +1
May 21, 2023 16:10
Hike over, back at the new registration point. There’s a new parking lot, and they’ve moved the trailhead so it is on the parking lot. 18 miles hiked and 1500 ft of elevation climbed.
May 21, 2023 16:09
Black Snake by the Big Piney Trail — It got fed up with the attention it was getting from me and slithered off.
May 21, 2023 15:56
A quarter mile of sticky muddy mess. This is back near the point where the North Loop and South Loop join together.
May 21, 2023 15:38
Another drop-off.