Camped at sunset. The colors were glorious.
Berryman Trail
Setting up camp. I camped here in 2020. It’s a good spot on a ridge above the trail.
December 29, 2024 16:23
Trail-side pretties. Unfortunately, my cell phone camera couldn’t do it justice.
December 29, 2024 15:04
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.
December 29, 2024 14:54
Trail conditions on the East Segment of the Berryman Trail. The section of trail from the road crossing of State Highway W to Floyd Tower Road (FR2265) is a bit more isolated than the West Segment. Parts of it run along the original trail route.
December 29, 2024 14:34
A trail marker for the original Berryman Trail — when the trail was considerably shorter.
December 29, 2024 14:24
Trail conditions on the East Segment of the Berryman Trail.
December 29, 2024 13:21
The things people leave behind — a hillbilly hunting hide.
December 29, 2024 13:20
Seventeen miles down, another ten or so to go.
December 29, 2024 13:16
Brazil Creek. I arrived at Brazil Creek at twelve-fifteen. I stopped and ate some trail snacks while I toyed with the idea of not taking on any extra water and relying on the small spring where I’d be camping. x2
December 29, 2024 12:34
Packing up camp. After a breakfast of biscuits and gravy and a cup of Ginger and Orange tea, I packed up camp and was back on my way just before eleven-thirty. It felt cold, with a brisk wind and damp air.
December 29, 2024 10:41
A tiny bit of sunshine.
December 29, 2024 9:10
Day Three — Planning the day’s hike. It was a wet and misty morning. Last night, six hours of rain fell, which bodes well for water availability on the trail.
December 29, 2024 8:33
Berryman Trail — Day Two stats and the rest of the day’s hike. Including some unexpected noisy neighbors. 3 2
December 28, 2024 16:00
Tree down across Little Brazil Creek. The top of this tree landed right where I had been thinking about setting up camp. That ain’t going to work. Plenty of water to top up my supplies though.
December 28, 2024 14:10
Stopped for lunch at Little Brazil Creek. 2
December 28, 2024 14:09
Witness trees and survey marker.
December 28, 2024 12:17
The trail is well-maintained and skirts around the hollows. And lots of cyclists! Two-minute read.
December 28, 2024 11:39
Day Two, breaking camp. Do I return to the trailhead or carry on? Two-minute read.
December 28, 2024 10:19
Day One Stats and a packing omission — My heart was playing up, and I might not have enough meds to continue my trip. Two-minute read.
December 27, 2024 18:00
Trail Signs — The Berryman Trail forms part of the Ozark Trail, and the entire loop is looked after by the Ozark Trail Association, and a very good job they do too. -2 min | x3
December 27, 2024 11:57
Berryman Trail Mile Marker. There’s a couple of problems with the trail markers and blazes. First the wildlife likes to chew on them, and second, they curl up when they get heated by prescribed burns/wildfires.
December 27, 2024 11:51
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
December 27, 2024 11:48
End of trip selfie – Day Four – In total I’d hiked 27.5 miles and climbed over 2,600ft. I’m still not particularly fit, but my averages are rising.