Eleven Point River, Scenic Overlook — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024. Video: 26-seconds.
Outdoor Activities
Time spent in the great outdoors hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, paddling, and shooting. Anything well away from the madding crowd.
Eleven Point River, scenic overlook — And the only scenic overlook on the Whites Creek Trail. You had better enjoy it! The trail along the top of the bluff is a tad sketchy in places, but it is fine here, though you need a head for heights to step out on the overlook.
February 1, 2024 11:12
Irish Wilderness Whites Creek Trail, trail conditions along the Eleven Point River bluff — It’s a rugged and gnarly hike. Not a trail for anyone who’s not sure footed or has problems with heights! Video: One-minute.
February 1, 2024 10:37
Gear all packed — Irish Wilderness, Missouri. February 2024.
February 1, 2024 10:12
My winter backpacking gear ready to be packed away — Well, I already had a lot of my stuff laid out on my ground sheet while I was playing “Hunt the glasses,” so why not?
February 1, 2024 9:58
Hammock Camping in Irish Wilderness, lost & found, and a bad back — I have managed to lose, and subsequently find three items of gear on my hike so far. But in looking for the lost gear I’ve crocked up my back. Two-minute read.
February 1, 2024 7:38
Camp at first light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:55
Looking down the Eleven Point River covered in mist — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:54
Looking up the Eleven Point River covered in mist — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:53
First Light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise. Video: One-minute.
February 1, 2024 6:52
Day Three — First Light, Irish Wilderness — The pre-dawn light got me out of bed to enjoy the sunrise.
February 1, 2024 6:51
Irish Wilderness Day Two — Fiddler Spring to the end of a ridge overlooking the Eleven Point River.
January 31, 2024 17:00
Eleven Point River view from my campsite — looking south — I camped about half a mile from here back in March 2023. I thought this location might offer better views. It did.
January 31, 2024 16:37
Eleven Point River view from my campsite — looking north — I camped about half a mile from here back in March 2023. I thought this location might offer better views. It did.
January 31, 2024 16:33
Appearances can be deceptive — A quarter of a mile upstream the creek was dry. I had to backtrack a little way to get water for lunch and to stock up with water for the afternoon and night. There wasn’t going to be any water where I planned to stop.
January 31, 2024 13:55
At the Float Camp Junction of the Whites Creek Trail — I was last here in March 2023.
January 31, 2024 13:47
An hour later, Whites Creek Cave — The unofficial trail came out exactly where I expected. I’d hiked the top part of it on my last visit, and obviously missed where it turned to go down to Fiddler Spring. The main Whites Creek Trail was easy to follow, until it wasn’t.
January 31, 2024 13:29
Sunshine at last — Drying out my gear was my excuse for not rushing to get on the trail. The frost on my tarp needed a chance to melt and dry. I lollygagged around and didn’t start packing up camp until eleven-forty. Taking it easy, I didn’t leave camp until twelve-thirty.
January 31, 2024 11:21
Camped at Fiddler Spring, Irish Wilderness. +1
January 31, 2024 8:46
Trying out a gas stove for a change — Conclusion: I prefer my Fancee Feest Cat Can stove.
January 31, 2024 8:21
Day Two, the view from my hammock — When I decided to stop at Fiddler Spring, I forgot to check its orientation to the rising sun. It was a long chilly wait until the sun climbed high enough to reach the campsite. It was also “Surprise! Suprise!” a lot colder than forecast. At seven-thirty it was twenty-four degrees. Two-minute read, +1
January 31, 2024 8:20
Irish Wilderness Day One — Camp Five Pond Trailhead to Fiddler Spring — It was a loverly warm afternoon. At two pm I had to stop and get rid of some layers, have a bite to eat, and a drink. The South Loop was easy to follow, until, that is, I dropped down to Whites Creek, where it had been washed out in several places. But that’s par for the course. Two-minute read
January 30, 2024 16:30
Evidence of Busy Beavers on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness, Missouri. They’ve been very busy, and at the moment, it looks more like wanton destruction than a lodge building exercise. Video: 34 seconds
January 30, 2024 15:41
New notice boards and a registration point at Camp Five Pond. And a warning about not taking maps or a GPS. +1