The Ridge Runner Trail Trailhead needs a bit of TLC. +1
Missouri
Words and pictures featuring Missouri
One hour later … Crossing County Road CC — Once on the trail it was straightforward to follow, and where it crosses CC is easy to spot once you know where to look! +3
March 18, 2023 13:11
Ooh look, there are newish blazes on this trail too. Note the buff to keep my ears warm.
March 18, 2023 12:14
Found it! The lost trail junction — At last, I have found the elusive point where the Ridge Runner Trail joins the North Fork Loop. And here there are very faint signs of the Ridge Runner Trail I’ve been hunting for over a year.
March 18, 2023 12:09
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.
March 18, 2023 11:26
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.
March 18, 2023 9:00
Morning in the woods — The temps dropped quickly last night. It was below freezing by 9 p.m. and dropped to 28F.
March 18, 2023 8:59
Trail Not Maintained — that’s fine, the trail is in better condition than the maintained trail (I hike this trail back in December). Not far to go to my planned stopping point and it is still light.
March 17, 2023 18:09
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.
March 17, 2023 17:46
Plans for the weekend — Ridge Runner/Devil’s Backbone. This is the last of my ‘Must do’ winter hikes before spring takes off. I have had two failed attempts at finding where the Ridge Runner Trail joins the North Fork loop. I’ve decided if I can’t find the trail this time, I’ll bushwhack my way.
March 17, 2023 17:15
Journal: Four days hiking the Whites Creek Trail, Irish Wilderness, March 2023. I plan on spending four days hiking the 20-mile loop of the Whites Creek Trail in Irish Wilderness. I’m hoping there will be a bit of a view from the trail’s only scenic overlook. A recent storm that passed through the area may make the trail a tad tricky. We’ll see. Journal: 10 53
March 11, 2023 18:00
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).
March 6, 2023 16:17
Camp 5 Pond in the winter sunshine — once again our car is the only one at the trailhead.
March 6, 2023 16:09
First Creek Crossing, reprise — looking at the leaves, there was no way this was knee deep at any time. Unless the guys I met on day one had really short legs (and I’m short).
March 6, 2023 15:58
Haven’t I been here before? Whites Creek Trail Loop Completed.
March 6, 2023 15:57
Trees, trees, and more trees — And hidden in this picture is an old forest road.
March 6, 2023 15:43
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.
March 6, 2023 15:26
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!
March 6, 2023 13:13
Pool on Whites Creek, Irish Wilderness.
March 6, 2023 12:48
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.
March 6, 2023 10:57
Unusual, but it worked — I wanted a tarp configuration that would keep the wind off me, but still let me stand up. +1
March 6, 2023 10:56
My own little spring.
March 6, 2023 10:28
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).
March 6, 2023 10:27
Whites Creek — All the leaves stuck in the brush are a good indicator of how high the creek got a couple of days ago.