Another trailhead, another wilderness – This weekend it’s back to Piney Creek Wilderness. I plan to visit my favorite spot by Table Rock Lake. It’s predicted to be fairly cold overnight (34-36°F).
Backpacking
Everything backpacking: our gear, trip write-ups, and individual pictures.
Journal: One night at Piney Creek Wilderness, May 2020 – This weekend it’s back to Piney Creek Wilderness. I plan to visit my favorite spot by Table Rock Lake. It’s predicted to be fairly cold overnight (34-36°F). Journal: 8 27
May 9, 2020 10:28
Small falls on ‘Cab Creek’ – After 3-4 hours of rain last night ‘Cab Creek’ was running well. 3
April 25, 2020 16:30
Heading east on the Pilot Trail at Hercules Glades Wilderness – In modern parlance that would be the Tower Trail.
April 25, 2020 14:58
Indian paintbrush – Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or prairie-fire. 2 pictures
April 25, 2020 14:46
Pilot (Tower) Trail.
April 25, 2020 12:57
Preparing Breakfast – Day Two. 2
April 25, 2020 10:26
Gary, happy on the trail – Note the amount of water on the trail in the background. It was yet another wet feet hike. 2 pictures
April 24, 2020 17:14
More wet trails – In places it was ankle deep.
April 24, 2020 17:14
Wilderness Escape (again) – Two nights in Hercules Glades. A severe thunderstorm, wet and muddy trails, wonderful falls, a ghost from the past, some stupid mistakes and overall, a good time. Journal: 12 30
April 24, 2020 12:00
Rocks on the cairn – I’m not sure when I’m next going to get a chance to get out here, so I added a couple of rocks to the cairn. A pretty lichen-covered one for Ginger and a cheese wedge shape one for me.
March 29, 2020 16:20
Two days ‘Self-Isolation’ in Hercules Glades Wilderness – We have been on COVID-19 lockdown since mid-march. The small ray of sunshine for us in Springfield is that we are allowed out to exercise, and liquor is considered an essential item. Backpacking is definitely exercising, so I decided to take a short break and enjoy some time out in the wild. Journal: 1025
March 28, 2020 18:05
Journal: Two nights and a superb sunrise on the Bell Mountain Trail, February 2020 – Many years ago I read about hammock camping on Bell Mountain and the beautiful dawn vistas to be had looking out over Shut-in Creek. Ever since I read that article I’ve wanted to camp there and watch the dawn. Journal: 12 38
March 1, 2020 14:00
Ozarks Horizon. Bell Mountain – Day Two.
February 29, 2020 9:12
Cooking a late lunch. Bell Mountain – Day One. Because of the rain, I decided not to make lunch on the trail and had a combined lunch and dinner after I’d set up camp.
February 28, 2020 17:51
Tarp up in case it rains (again). Bell Mountain – Day One.
February 28, 2020 16:31
Bell Mountain. View to the east. Bell Mountain – Day One.
February 28, 2020 16:31
Bell Mountain. View to the northeast – Bell Mountain – Day One.
February 28, 2020 15:45
Sun on hail – when the sun came out it lit up the hail and the water droplets in the trees. Bell Mountain – Day One.
February 28, 2020 14:06
Hail storm on the trail – I was expecting rain, but not hail. That’s the second time my rain gear has been tested recently. Bell Mountain – Day One.
February 28, 2020 14:05
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
February 28, 2020 13:23
Bell Mountain North Trailhead Parking Lot. Bell Mountain – Day One. 3 pictures
February 28, 2020 13:09
February 2020, Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness – It was time for me to get out and clock up a few more miles. We first planned to visit Paddy Creek Wilderness in late December 2011, but with high winds in the forecast, we decided to go to Piney Creek instead. Somehow Paddy Creek Wilderness never featured in our plans after then. Now was a good time to put that right. Journal: 27 68
February 15, 2020 10:55
Back at the Collins Ridge Trailhead – and some notes on the trip. 2 pictures