The geology seems a bit different on the south loop. Note the rocks in this picture. Also note the blue blaze. You are not supposed to have blazes in a wilderness, but to save money rescuing lost people, there appear to be some exceptions. But the quality and positioning of the blazes is so poor and erratic, it is just annoying. Well, it annoys me!
Pool on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness.
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.
Unusual, but it worked — I wanted a tarp configuration that would keep the wind off me, but still let me stand up. +1
My own little spring.
Camped near Whites Creek — This is not where you are supposed to camp, it is far too close to the creek but it was getting dark when I arrived and this is an established camping spot with a fire ring (I didn’t use it).
Whites Creek — All the leaves stuck in the brush are a good indicator of how high the creek got a couple of days ago.
All of this was flooded a couple of days ago. Whites Creek, Whites Creek Trail South Loop.
Day Four — Contemplating life and the view — The view was a bit tangled as the floods had made a huge mess of everything. +1
On the South Loop of the Whites Creek Trail — despite the whole area being flooded yesterday, the trail was not washed out (here, anyway).
Pool on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness — Oh the joys of the Golden Hour (and being in the right place).
Whites Creek Cave — It’s a slightly better picture than last time. I used my headlamp to light the place up. I’ve tried to find out some more information about the cave, like how big it is and how far it goes back. Thus far I’ve drawn a blank. Let’s just say it’s big-ish.
Gratuitous Selfie — taken just because I took a picture of this sign the last time I hiked this trail. +1
Whites Creek — close to its confluence with the Eleven Point River — I stopped here to have lunch and enjoy the view.
Later today I’ll be hiking along that ridge line. It is a rubbish picture, but it does give a slight impression of what is in store. I’ve got to go all the way down and then back up again. Two-minute read
Drying out — That will teach me. I didn’t set the tarp and the dew point must have been just perfect for everything to get soaked, including my hammock and my down top and under quilts. I decided to delay the start of my day’s hike (any excuse) and get everything dry before packing it away.
Charging — Giving my InReach Mini and my GPS (phone) a boost. My power brick will keep all my electronics going for about a week. I’m impressed.
Morning messages — on my InReach Mini, All the condensation on the Sig and the holster shows just how wet everything got. I dried off the InReach Mini before I took the picture.
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.
It got a bit damp overnight — This is my down puffy jacket, my quilts faired slighlty better as my body heat was drying them as they got wet.
Day Three — Morning view from my hammock — look closely and you’ll see all the water drops on everything. Not setting my tarp was a big mistake. all my gear got wet.
Camped at the end of Day Two — I prefer camping on ridges to being down in the hollows. The downside is having to carry a lot of extra water up the ridge. Note my big mistake of the night. I didn’t set my tarp.
The only scenic view on the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness — The Eleven Point River was very high, muddy and noisy after all the recent rain. At least I got a reasonable view of it on this trip. Last time it was hidden by all the leaves on the trees.
Bliss Spring (& a late lunch!) — just a quick snapshot. I took pictures and some video the last time I was here.