Watching the wildlife (and drinking tea) – I watched a deer run past, followed shortly afterwards by a much more stealthy coyote. 2 pictures
Hammock Camping
Morning tea, breakfast in bed, and things that rustle through the underbrush at night. One-minute read, 2 pictures
Camp Life – Journaling – Today was one of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. 5 pictures
All set up at my spot near ‘Twin Falls’ creek – I must be getting quicker because it only took me a couple of hours to hike the Pilot Trail to ‘Twin Falls’ creek. 4 pictures
Breaking Camp – Piney Creek Wilderness – Day Three. Slideshow: 9 pictures
My current backpacking cooking kit. 2 pictures
Campfire. Piney Creek Wilderness – Day Two. 3 pictures
Preparing dinner – Chicken curry for dinner, the wood stove’s up and running, and if you look closely you’ll see that the campfire’s all ready for lighting once dinner is over. 4 pictures
Camp life (cont.) – Heating some water on my Fancee Feest cat-can alcohol stove. I was being lazy, and couldn’t be bothered to light the woodstove just to heat up some hot dogs and boil water for a cup of tea. Piney Creek Wilderness – Day Two. 2 pictures
Camp life – Relaxing in Piney Creek Wilderness – I put my wet shirt and a pair of shorts on for this picture. They came off as soon as I’d taken it. Piney Creek Wilderness – Day Two. 5 pictures
Temporary shelter – I quickly put the tarp up so I could get out of the rain. Quickly, but not before I had a swim. Piney Creek Wilderness – Day One.
Once more unto the trails dear friends1 (three days in Piney Creek Wilderness) – Rain, thunder, a flooding lake, wading, and bushwhacking make for a different start to a weekend’s R&R. Piney Creek Wilderness. Trip write-up: Ten-minute read, 45 pictures
Camped by ‘Cab Creek’ – Day Two, Hercules Glades, Pees Hollow Trail.
All lit up – Day One, Hercules Glades, Pees Hollow Trail.
Camped at the top of the bluffs – The only problem with camping here is that there is no water. Unless you count Beaver Creek, 200ft (vertically) away. 2 pictures
Camped Near ‘Twin Falls Creek’ 2 pictures
Enjoying the view from my hammock – Piney Creek, Day Two. 3 pictures
Hammock camping at Piney Creek, preparing breakfast – It was an interesting night. Not because anything happened, but because of the odd and vivid dreams I had. Two-minute read. 3 pictures
Preparing Breakfast – Day Two. 2 pictures
Wilderness Escape (again) – Two nights in Hercules Glades. A severe thunderstorm, wet and muddy trails, wonderful falls, a ghost from the past, some stupid mistakes and overall, a good time. Trip write-up: 12-minute read. 30 pictures.
Two days ‘Self-Isolation’ in Hercules Glades Wilderness – We have been on COVID-19 lockdown since mid-march. The small ray of sunshine for us in Springfield is that we are allowed out to exercise, and liquor is considered an essential item. Backpacking is definitely exercising, so I decided to take a short break from what has been a very hectic couple of weeks, get some exercise, and enjoy some time out in the wild. Trip write-up: 10-minute read. 4 short videos. 24 pictures.
The view from my hammock – There are dozens of fire rings here, but I had the mountain top to myself.
Tarp up in case it rains (again). Bell Mountain – Day One.
Two nights and a superb sunrise on the Bell Mountain Trail – Many years ago I read about hammock camping on Bell Mountain and the beautiful dawn vistas to be had looking out over Shut-in Creek. Ever since I read that article I’ve wanted to camp there and watch the dawn. Trip write-up: 12-minute read. 38 pictures.