Pictures of people, friends, and family.
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
Day Three – tea in bed at ‘Cab Creek’. Note the sun just rising above the edge of the hollow.
Preparing and eating lunch — time to have some lunch before getting on the trail. And finally the sun has come out! +1
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.
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.
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
Hike over, obligatory end of hike selfie — Trip total, a very modest 10.5 miles and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain.
I’m in no rush … I don’t need to be home until this evening, and it’ll only take around two hours to hike back to the trailhead. I might as well relax for a while.
Ooh look, there are newish blazes on this trail too. Note the buff to keep my ears warm.
Blazes? I’ll take some stinking blazes! It was a Windy, cold but bright start to the day. Back on the Ridge Runner/North Fork Loop trail, and there are some new blazes. There’s a chance I may find the trail Junction I’ve been searching for.
Camped among short leaved pines for a change — I like camping among the pines, but it was windy and watching the tops of these 100 Ft. tall trees whip around, did make me wonder how much of a good idea that was. I’m still here, so it can’t have been bad choice.
Another evening, another trailhead — I am at County Road CC Trailhead in Ozark County to be precise. I have a couple of hours before it gets dark to get to my planned campsite and set up camp for the night. That shouldn’t be a problem as I’m only going a mile or so.
End of hike selfie — Three nights, four days. Twenty-one miles and 1600 ft. Nothing too strenuous, but I’m nearer to 70 than 60, not to mention having to keep an eye on my heart (well those are the excuses I’m fielding at the moment).
Haven’t I been here before? Whites Creek Trail Loop Completed.
Lunch time snooze in the sun — albeit a very watery sun. Can you see my glasses? No? Neither could I. It took me a lot of searching to find them.
Cat briar’s revenge — I got myself into a huge patch of them on the third day, and this is the result. It is also why I am resisting being put on aggressive anticoagulants.
Day Four — Contemplating life and the view — The view was a bit tangled as the floods had made a huge mess of everything. +1
Gratuitous Selfie — taken just because I took a picture of this sign the last time I hiked this trail. +1
Time to get up — Yes, I sleep in my clothes, not all the time, but it is part of my layering plan when it gets cooler, and as I only had a 40F top quilt, this was one of those times.
Bliss Spring (and lunch) 3.9 miles — On my first visit to Irish Wilderness I made it to Bliss Spring in the first afternoon. Just as well I have an extra day for this trip.
At the start (or is it the end?) of the Whites Creek Trail Loop — I was last here in May 2021. +1
End of trip, back at the Tower Trailhead. Trip total a modest 16 miles with 1,100 ft of elevation. +2
Gary on the Pole Hollow Trail. Hercules Glades Wilderness – I love this glade on the ridge overlooking Pole Hollow. It’s nice to get out into the open after being surrounded by trees and brush for so long.
Looking down stream. Long Creek, Hercules Glades Wilderness. I decided that this was a good place to stop for lunch, which was noodles, pre-cooked bacon, and a Snickers bar for dessert, all washed down with a cup of coffee. +1