Catching my breath — I don’t think I’m looking too shabby at 70. In a good week, I manage three or four visits to the gym. On each visit, I walk/run 3.1 miles (5k) and then spend 30 minutes strength training.
Self Portrait
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.”
Hike almost over — it’s just a short way from here, at the edge of the wilderness, to the registration point and parking lot. All in all, I hiked a tad under 19 miles and climbed 1,500 feet of elevation. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, February 2026.
February 20, 2026 13:22
Coffee and an (out of shot) Pop-Tart in my hammock. Eight o’clock and it’s warming up just a tad.
February 20, 2026 7:59
It got chilly last night – Day Three — not quite as bad as the forecast at 26°F. My plan worked, and I was too warm at times. 1 2
February 20, 2026 7:20
Gary at the Big Paddy Creek Scenic Overlook, Paddy Creek Wilderness — It was very windy up on the ridge, and the wind was quite chilly, which was nice as it was 82°F in the sun. This is another Ozarks view I never tire of. 3
February 19, 2026 13:34
Gary on the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, February 2026 — Time for another quick selfie. It’s after four pm, and I have a couple of miles left to go.
February 18, 2026 16:12
Start of trip selfie, Paddy Creek Wilderness — I’ve not taken one of these in ages, so why not? The only issue right now is that it is just after two pm, my campsite is seven miles away, and it gets dark between five and six. I’d better get moving!
February 18, 2026 14:06
Turnaround Point, and stopped for lunch — According to my calculations, I was about three-and-a-half miles into my hike, and this log offered a great view and spot to eat lunch.
October 8, 2025 13:40
Gary on the Cascade Creek Trail — Chalk Creek Canyon, San Isabel National Forest, Colorado. Day 6 – Road Trip October 2025.
October 6, 2025 13:07
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.
April 27, 2025 14:29
Back at the trail junction — After three days spent exploring south of the Whites Creek Trail South Loop. 1
April 10, 2025 13:27
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.
April 7, 2025 12:25
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
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
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
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
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.
February 17, 2025 10:32
Another Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail junction cairn selfie — Well, it had to be done with some snow in the background.
January 11, 2025 13:04
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
January 11, 2025 8:07
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.
January 10, 2025 7:29
Waiting for ‘Snowmageddon’ — there’s five to seven inches in the forecast. Should be fun! (Plus, Day One stats.) +1
January 9, 2025 19:59
Hike over back at the Berryman Campground Trailhead.