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Plans for the weekend
Plans for the weekend — Ridge Runner/Devil’s Backbone. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 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, and that needs to be done before the trees and underbrush start leafing out.
I also want to bushwhack my way from the McGarr Ridge Trail to McGarr Spring, just because I think it should be easy to do.
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Another evening, another trailhead
Another evening, another trailhead. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 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.
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Trail Not Maintained
Trail Not Maintained — that’s fine, the trail is in better condition than the maintained trail (I hiked this trail back in December). Not far to go to my planned stopping point and it is still light. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Morning in the woods
Morning in the woods — The temps dropped quickly last night. It was below freezing by 9 p.m. and dropped to 28F. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Camped among short leaved pines for a change
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. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Blazes? I’ll take some stinking blazes!
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. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Found it! The lost trail junction
Found it! At last, I have found the elusive point where the Ridge Runner Trail joins the North Fork Loop. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 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. This sign is in complete isolation and is in one of the two ‘Bermuda Triangles’ of the North Fork Loop, where blazes and trails alike disappear.
You’ll notice there is absolutely no sign pointing in my direction, which is where the North Fork Loop joins.
Next stop Blue Spring on the North Fork River and lunch (and to find out where the trail crosses Hwy CC).
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Ooh look, there are newish blazes on this trail too
Ooh look, there are newish blazes on this trail too. Note the buff to keep my ears warm. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. On the Ridge Runner Trail, and there are blazes. Once I was on the trail it was easy to follow, though at its junction with the North Fork Loop, it ran nowhere near the route shown on the map.
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One hour later … Crossing County Road CC
County Road CC at the Ridge Runner Trail Crossing — looking towards the North Fork River. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Once on the trail it was straightforward to follow, and where it crosses CC is easy to spot once you know where to look!
County Road CC at the Ridge Runner Trail Crossing — Looking away from the Northfork River. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Ridge Runner Trail at the County Road CC Crossing — Lookin Northeast. I’ve driven up and down Hwy CC at least five times looking for this crossing and failed to spot it. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
County Road CC at the Ridge Runner Trail Crossing — looking towards the trailhead and recreation area. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
The Ridge Runner Trail Trailhead needs a bit of TLC
The Ridge Runner Trail Trailhead needs a bit of TLC. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
The Ridge Runner Trail Trailhead — North Fork Recreation Area. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Blue Spring Trailhead
Blue Spring Trailhead — You have to walk through the North Fork Recreation Area Campground to get to the trail that leads to Blue Spring and on into the Devil’s Backbone Wilderness and the McGarr Ridge Trail. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I know it says “Blue Springs” on the sign, but I’m guessing that’s an error, or maybe someone missed off the possessive apostrophe — Blue Spring’s — certainly the maps and other references I have found call it ‘Blue Spring.’
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North Fork River from the Blue Spring Trail
North Fork River from the Blue Spring Trail — 1:30 p.m., time to make lunch and replenish my water. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Blue Spring
Blue Spring. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. This is popular area, I met seven people — two families — out for an afternoon walk while I was heating and eating my lunch here. I was last here with Ginger on a wedding anniversary backpacking trip, February 20, 2011.
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Scenic view of the North Fork River
North Fork River Scenic Overlook — Any excuse to stop climbing up the darn hill for a couple of minutes! Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Once my (leisurely) lunch was over there was nothing else but to tackle the three-hundred-foot climb to the McGarr Ridge Trail. This scenic overlook gave me an excellent excuse to catch my breath.
When I got to the McGarr Ridge Trail, I walked up and down the trail, looking for any signs of where an unofficial trail down to McGarr Spring might be. I didn’t find any, so I got out my compass and worked out a rough bearing that ought to get me to the spring and set off bushwhacking. It didn’t take long to get to the spring. What did take a long time was finding the two trees I used on my last visit to hang my hammock from.
Then it was time to make camp, settle down, and prepare for a cold night. The forecast was in the low twenties…
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Day Three: It got a little chilly overnight
Frosty Morning — My coldest night out on the trail last night at 15°F, and ironically, I was too hot! Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. My target minimum temperature is 20°F. The great news was I slept through a night that dropped to 15°F (-9.4°C) and I was too hot, and I had to shed a couple of layers. The implication is that I should stay nice and warm even if the temperature drops down to my quilts’ rated low of 10°F.
There’s frost *inside* my hammock too. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
There’s frost on my chair! Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Camped overlooking McGarr Spring
Camped overlooking McGarr Spring — It’s embarrassing to admit how long it took me to find the two trees I used when I camped here back in December. So I’ll just say It was far too long. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Food bag hang
Impressive food bag hang — even if I say so myself. at least 20 ft. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
I’m in no rush …
Lounging in my hammock. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I don’t need to be home until this evening, and it’ll only take around two hours to hike back to the trailhead. I might as well relax for a while.
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McGarr Spring — looking a lot nicer in the sunshine
McGarr Spring — looking a lot nicer in the sunshine. I filled up my water bottle before starting my hike out. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Icicles on the Mary Hollow Trail
Icicles on the Mary Hollow Trail — not huge, but I’ll take it as a sign of how cold it has been. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Hike over, obligatory end of hike selfie
Hike over, obligatory end of hike selfie — Trip total, a very modest 10.5 miles and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
