Pictures of me, taken by myself. I tend to go with the official (365 Days) definition of a self portrait: “A self portrait is a photo of yourself taken by you” … “The main thing is that you are both the photographer and the subject.”
When did I grow old? It feels like I blinked, and suddenly I’ve aged — I was writing in my journal when I noticed how old my hands looked. I don’t feel older, but I now have my grandparents’ hands: the loose flesh, thin skin, age spots, and prominent veins.
Back at the trail junction — After three days spent exploring south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. 1
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.
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.
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.
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
Berryman Trail — twenty-six miles to go. My plan is to spend a leisurely four days hiking those twenty-six miles.
End of Day Two’s hike — I’m stopping at ‘Paddy Creek Trolltunga’ tonight. +1
Gary at the end of Day Two’s hike.
Redistribution — After over a year of working out, I haven’t lost any weight, but it has moved around. My body fat percentage has dropped, and my muscle mass has increased slightly.
Another Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail junction cairn selfie — Well, it had to be done with some snow in the background.
First Breakfast (in the hammock). Yes, I am taking a page from the Hobbits’ playbook and having a first and second breakfast! One-minute read, +2
Keeping my nose and ears warm. I’m just out of bed, and I didn’t bother to remove the buff I use to keep my nose and ears warm while I sleep.
Waiting for ‘Snowmageddon’ — there’s five to seven inches in the forecast. Should be fun! (Plus, Day One stats.) +1
Hike over back at the Berryman Campground Trailhead.
Gary ready to start out on the last leg of the trip. Another three hours or so and I should be in my nice warm car heading home!
Breakfast treat, a Pop-Tart.
Gary crossing Floyd Tower Road. Now it really feels like I’m on the last lap. I arrived at Floyd Tower Road just before three p.m. only a couple of hours of daylight left, and I have still got to get to my campsite and set up camp.
Gary at the start of the Berryman Trail — Berryman Campground, Missouri. This will be my last backpacking trip of 2024. I’m nowhere near my goal of hiking 240 miles in 2024, but I’ll be spending the next four days hiking the twenty-seven-mile Berryman Trail. Three-minute read, +4
End of hike selfie — I’ve not taken an end of hike self-portrait in a while. Here I am all ready for the drive home. Trip over, four days, three nights, 21 miles, and 1800ft. climbed. Two-minute read.
Whites Creek Trail, loop complete. +1
Gary at the Eleven Point River Scenic Overlook, Irish Wilderness, December 2024.
Gary at the Camp Five Pond Trailhead, Irish Wilderness — It’s late in the day (14:30), and I’m carrying 4 liters of water. I want to get around four miles in and camp set up before it gets dark, in about three hours.
It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Irish Wilderness from Springfield.