Junction with the shortcut to the South Loop. Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness.
Backpacking
Everything backpacking: our gear, trip write-ups, and individual pictures.
No one at home — someone has removed the surprise from this trash/swill can. That’s very mean. +1
May 19, 2023 17:10
Lunch Stop — Time for lunch, a cup of tea, some noodles and summer sausage. +2
May 19, 2023 14:57
Junction of the North and South Loops, Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness. For a change I’m starting out on the North Loop (left).
May 19, 2023 13:58
Starting Out — Hiking the Big Piney Trail Clockwise. I’ve taken a day off so that I can spend 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. +1
May 19, 2023 13:47
Journal: Three days hiking at Hercules Glades Wilderness, April 2023. My original plan for the weekend was scrapped. With some time on my hands, I decided to head down to Hercules Gades for a couple of nights. Journal: 8 25
April 30, 2023 18:00
Back at the Trailhead — Two nights, 18.5 miles, and 1400 ft. of elevation. It took me a smidge under two hours to hike the four-and-something miles from ‘Cab Creek’ to the Tower Trailhead. One-minute read
April 30, 2023 16:11
Camped at ‘Cab Creek’ — Finally, the sun is high enough to start warming things up. I went and sat in the sun on the other side of ‘Cab Creek’ and enjoyed the morning. +3
April 30, 2023 9:32
Day Three – tea in bed at ‘Cab Creek’. Note the sun just rising above the edge of the hollow.
April 30, 2023 7:20
Rose Verbena (Rose Vervain) — Bit of a nothing picture. At the time, though, I’d just finished hiking through a section of dense trees, and the colors in the sudden patch of sunlight really popped.
April 29, 2023 15:19
I’ve taken pictures here before also, but, again, each time the light, the vegetation and the trail are different.
April 29, 2023 15:10
Fire ring by the trail. Look at all the flowers! You might think the trail goes straight on. It doesn’t it runs to the left of the fire ring.
April 29, 2023 15:08
Pilot Trail — I’ve taken pictures here before, but each time the light, the vegetation and the trail are different.
April 29, 2023 14:51
Sig Sauer P938 Extreme, Alien Gear Shape Shift Retention Holster, and a spare magazine — I could have sworn that magazine was full when I headed out.
April 29, 2023 13:17
Preparing and eating lunch — time to have some lunch before getting on the trail. And finally the sun has come out! +1
April 29, 2023 13:09
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.
April 29, 2023 12:37
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.
April 29, 2023 11:57
Once again camped at ‘Deep Hollow’ and it is summer tarp and bug net time. +1
April 29, 2023 11:49
Day Two — Starts with a lazy morning — and a morning cuppa! Two-minute read, +1
April 29, 2023 10:33
Here’s where I leave the Pilot Trail — Everything has gone green in the last few weeks. This is the point where the forest road I take to my ‘Deep Hollow’ campsite joins the Pilot Trail. Neither are that obvious from this viewpoint.
April 28, 2023 18:02
Trailside curiosities: ATV Tracks and a marker sign has been attached to a new tree. +1
April 28, 2023 15:44
This wasn’t my plan for the weekend. Day One — Gary at the Pole Hollow trail Junction. Orange hat because it is turkey hunting season. 3 2
April 28, 2023 15:23
Three days hiking the Ridge Runner Trail and Devil’s Backbone Wilderness, March 2023 This is the last of my ‘Must do’ winter hikes before spring takes off. Journal: 6 27
March 19, 2023 18:00
Hike over, obligatory end of hike selfie — Trip total, a very modest 10.5 miles and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain.