Gary at the Camp Five Pond Trailhead — It’s time for another visit to Irish Wilderness. This trip I’m going to abandon the main, Whites Creek Trail, and see if I can find some of the older trails, south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop.
Outdoor Activities
Time spent in the great outdoors hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, paddling, and shooting. Anything well away from the madding crowd.
Journal: Berryman Trail Revisited, March 2024. I had some health issues on my last hike of the Berryman Trail, and the same problem canceled my next planned trip there. Finally, it’s time to ‘get it done.’ Journal: 25 21
March 23, 2025 18:00
View from my Day Three camp — The trail runs along the bottom of the hollow, and there was water in the creek too. Very annoying after carrying a full load here from Beecher Spring.
March 23, 2025 14:15
Ready to move on — The sun is shining at last after nearly twelve hours of rain, huge thunderstorms, and lots of wind. I was snug and dry. It’s a late start because I fell asleep reading my book while waiting for the rain to stop.
March 23, 2025 14:11
Hunkering down for the night. — Rain, thunderstorms, and wind are heading this way. So, I picked this spot on the northwest side of a ridge, which should provide shelter from the weather.
March 22, 2025 18:48
Beecher Spring — It looks like an effort has been made to tidy the area up. Originally, I was going to camp near here. Instead, I’m going to carry on and find a nice spot in the lee of a ridge for the night and the forecast rain and wind.
March 22, 2025 16:02
The forest has been ‘thinned’ in places
March 22, 2025 13:36
Rejoining the Berryman Trail from Little Brazil Creek.
March 22, 2025 12:55
Ready for Day Three’s hike — Today’s hike should be a lot shorter than yesterday’s ten-plus miles. All the running I do and I’m still looking flabby.
March 22, 2025 12:35
Camped above Little Brazil Creek — Even two to three hundred yards from the creek, it is still scrubby. It took me far too long to find somewhere to hang my hammock yesterday.
March 22, 2025 12:06
Little Brazil Creek is very ‘scrubby’ — Looking north. I’m filling up with water for tonight and tomorrow. I’ve yet to find a good camping spot near this creek. I hiked over ten miles today to get here.
March 21, 2025 18:09
Ooh! There was blood! A little bit of trailside First Aid was required. The cut was so small that it was hard to find where the blood was leaking from. 2
March 21, 2025 12:19
Floyd Tower Road looking northwest — After crossing the road, I stopped for a drink and bacon trail snack.
March 21, 2025 12:09
Berryman Trail — twenty-six miles to go. My plan is to spend a leisurely four days hiking those twenty-six miles.
March 20, 2025 13:08
Trip preparation — Charging my InReach and battery block. Printing out and checking the weather forecast. Gathering maps and prepping my trail journal. Getting ready for four days out on the Berryman Trail.
March 19, 2025 16:54
Journal: Paddy Creek Wilderness, February 2025 — My first plan was dashed. I decided to spend three days on the Big Piney Trail at Paddy Creek Wilderness instead. It was a good hike, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.Journal: 8 24
March 1, 2025 17:00
Day Three stats and end of hike thoughts — My total mileage for the trip was 22.02 miles, with 1,875 ft. of elevation climbed. 4 2
March 1, 2025 16:00
Little Paddy Creek crossing on the North/South Loop Shortcut — This is the crossing on the shortcut between the North and South Loops. You used to be able to cross straight over here, but now it is too deep for my short legs.
March 1, 2025 12:19
Camped at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga.’ 1
March 1, 2025 9:47
Today, I’m wondering when that unsupported span will collapse. It’s a good 100 ft.
March 1, 2025 9:46
End of Day Two’s hike — I’m stopping at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ tonight. +1
February 28, 2025 16:21
Gary at the end of Day Two’s hike.
February 28, 2025 16:18
The second Big Paddy Creek crossing — After crossing the creek, the sign directs you to go right. No, not anymore. Follow the trail to your left. 1
February 28, 2025 14:14
Frozen stock pond.