Abandoned Homestead Ruins, Paddy Creek Wilderness — Taking advantage of some cell phone reception I sent Ginger this picture taken by the old chimney breast at the junction of the South Loop and the shortcut to the North Loop.
Paddy Creek Wilderness
Well and stock pond — This is good, I was last here in December and the well was dry. And when I got to the short cut junction (it links to the North Loop) the well there was full too. +1
March 27, 2024 13:14
Checked in and ready to go — I got away without any major delays, and here I am at eleven-thirty all ready to hit the trail.
March 27, 2024 11:25
I might regret saying this… Hopefully this is not too prophetic. Today I’m leaving for three days hiking on the Big Piney Trail at Paddy Creek Wilderness. I’ve not been out this month, which means I have 20 miles and 2 nights backpacking to fit in. One-minute read, +2
March 27, 2024 8:08
Journal: Four days hiking the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, December 2023. I spent four days on a hike of the 16-mile loop of the Big Piney Trail in Paddy Creek Wilderness. This is a follow-up to my trip back in May. Journal: 10 38
December 7, 2023 16:00
Paddy Creek — Day Four.
December 7, 2023 15:00
What? No end of hike selfie? Nope. So, this will have to do. It’s a scenic overlook on Little Paddy Creek, taken on my hike out.
December 7, 2023 13:46
Snake on the Trail — I was not expecting to find snakes out in December, so I’m glad I spotted this one. We’ve not positively ID’d it yet. It doesn’t look dangerous, but when it got fed up with me watching it, it coiled ready to strike and it had a diamond shaped head. But it didn’t have viperous eyes. +1
December 7, 2023 12:40
My quilt got a little frosty, though according to my notes it was only 30°F. +1
December 7, 2023 7:11
Paddy Creek — Day Three.
December 6, 2023 16:00
What is that I spy up on the ridge? Well, I’ll be … I’d just crossed Big Paddy Creek, and I was taking advantage of the lack of Foliage to try and find the Scenic overlook, and there it is — center frame. +1
December 6, 2023 15:11
Looking down Big Paddy Creek — not a lot of water flowing. No surprises there.
December 6, 2023 15:10
A selfie for the folks back home — I actually had some cell service here!
December 6, 2023 14:22
Scenic overlook on the Big Piney Trail — Looking Northwest.
December 6, 2023 14:05
Scenic overlook on the Big Piney Trail — Looking Southeast.
December 6, 2023 14:04
Scenic overlook on the Big Piney Trail — This view was the reason for my trip. I’d seen this vista in the spring, and I wanted to come back and see it in winter. I’m glad I did.
December 6, 2023 14:03
Making lunch — That’s the objective of this trip achieved, I’m at the Big Paddy Creek Scenic Overlook. It is time to make lunch and enjoy the view.
December 6, 2023 13:56
Signs of civilization — The yucca plants appear wherever there used to be an old homestead. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, December 2023.
December 6, 2023 12:41
Frosty Morning in Paddy Creek Wilderness — Not that it is easy to see the frost in this picture, but it is there!
December 6, 2023 9:19
Running Repairs — I’ve always had a plan for dealing with broken shoes on the trail. But … that plan reckoned on the toe post breaking not the side posts. I did a bit of head scratching before I came up with this solution which lasted me the ten-plus miles I needed to hike to get back to the car.
December 6, 2023 8:14
Frosty Morning in Paddy Creek Wilderness — The temperature dropped to 19°F (-7°C) overnight. The predicted low was 28°F. Once again I was glad I changed my mind and packed my bigger and heavier 10°F quilts. 4
December 6, 2023 8:13
Paddy Creek — Day Two.
December 5, 2023 15:00
Spring with pools — I camped a short distance downstream from here where the hollow widened out letting me set up my hammock well away from the water sources.
December 5, 2023 14:55
Not where I expected to be, not what I expected to find, and some minor problems along the way — Finally I found a spring with lots of water. 3 2