Hike over – back at the Tower Trailhead.
Outdoor Activities
Time spent in the great outdoors hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, paddling, and shooting. Anything well away from the madding crowd.
Two hours later – back at the Pole Hollow cairn
Lazing in my hammock – I’m having a lazy day. And why not? Until the bugs and weeds die back a bit I’m quite happy to lay here and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Back to the start – More ‘hammock porn.’ After leaving Mores Branch yesterday, I decided not to bushwhack up to the top of the hill and then find my way down to Sunday night’s campsite. Instead, I climbed up the side of the hollow until I was at around the same contour line. Then I bushwhacked around the side of the hill to my destination. One-minute read, +1
Mores Creek, looking upstream – After lunch, which I heated up on my new titanium wood stove, I lazed around enjoying the sunshine, peace, and quiet.
Deep Pool on Mores Branch – And deep it was. I had to leave my camera, clothes, and other gear behind because I was up to my waist within a couple of steps. I wanted to get to the end of the pool to see how easy the next section of the creek would be to hike. One-minute read
Mores Branch – Hercules Glades Wilderness – From the map, I could see it was under a mile of bushwhacking to get to Mores Branch. The hollow is steep but there was a point where a ravine ran into the hollow that looked like it would offer a good way down. +2
Waiting for my meeting to start – This is what happens when you decide to take (a well-earned) impromptu comp day off without thoroughly checking your calendar. +1
Camped on ‘Ant Hill’ overlooking ‘Twin Falls Hollow’ – Yup, it looks pretty much the same as everywhere else in the Ozarks. And very much like the last time I was here too. Which may have contributed to my decision not to sit in camp all day after my morning meeting.
Sundown at Hercules Glades, looking southeast – Hiking in today, I realized that I could attend my meeting the next morning if I could get a good cell signal. So off I set in search of a decent signal. Two-minute read, +2
Gary and the Pole Hollow Cairn – Time for the obligatory selfie at the cairn. I prefer this black and white version. +1
Charging the Garmin. We all know what this means. I’m charging it up ready for another backpacking trip.
One-night stay in the Devil’s Backbone Wilderness. And once more I manage to break some gear … One-minute read, +3
Through the veil – It’s taken me a while to see the potential in this picture. I like this alternate treatment of the image.
Day Four – End of hike selfie – All in all, a brilliant trip, with lots of journaling, swimming and relaxing watching the lake. You can’t beat that. One-minute read
Bath time – After crossing ‘Cat Briar Meadows,’ I was hot, sweaty, and dirty. I stopped here for half an hour, filled up with water, and then had a quick bath in this pool. Let’s just say it was invigorating (flipping chilly).
The trail is starting to get overgrown – All through these (and the following) overgrown sections of trail I talk to the snakes, “Hello snaky, snaky, snakes, just passing through, don’t mind me.” at the same time I’m probing the trail ahead with my hiking poles to make sure any somnolent snakes wake up before I tread on them. +1
This is going to get messy. The lake has dropped six to eight inches, but it’s still covering the trail. +1
The trail here was covered with water when I hiked in. +2
Time to say goodbye to my lakeside haven. Campfire and table – all tidy, ready for the next person.