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Hammock Forums- Bell Mountain Missouri Hang November 2012

Finally a hang that I didn't have to drive up to 10 hours to attend. Bell Mountain is practically in my backyard, just 110 miles south of my house. The weather was the best of the fall so far, with temperatures close to 70 during the day and a low of 28 at night. the sky was clear and the sunset, stars and sunrise were all wonderful.

 Started off the morning by seeing a Bald Eagle along the side of the road

 The trail from the parking lot follows the Ozark Trail south and then branches off to the Bell Mountain Loop Trail. The trail is this part of the state is very rocky being on large granite slopes

 Once on top, it is a beautiful panorama of the Mark Twain National Forest

It was about 6 miles from the parking lot to the top of Bell Mountain, a rise of 700' of elevation change

Camp was made at the very top point and the afternoon was spent around the fire with good conversation ( come good jokes) and getting to know each other

Gideon and his son Jeremiah ( JAC) also now ( Pyro2012)

Spider and Honeybear

and me!

early morning sunrise panorama- Just before dawn

 Dawn breaks (below) and the hills are revealed

 and finally sunrise, proceeded by a night of millions of stars

The view from my hammock on the edge of Bell Mountain

got back in the hammock after sunrise and relaxing before breakfast

Hiking the 8 miles loop back to the parking lot with a large Cairn built in a clearing of granite and some smaller still green and alive plants amidst all the fall/winter brown.

Bell Mountain is a designated a Wilderness area and was a great place to spend a weekend night with fellow hammockers



Animals seen or heard:

Bald Eagle

Coyotes

Hammock Forums 2nd Annual Iowa Hang November 2012

It was the same weekend as last year and another great weather weekend as we met back at Yellow River State Park in Northeastern Iowa. This Park along the Missisippi River is its own little hiking world with 25 miles of trails and 4 or 5 really nice hiker campsites.

 the hike to the first campsite Camp Schultz is quick, just one to one and half miles to the campsite on the hill

 Fire in the evening and then for some a big breakfast courtesy of the large amounts of bacon and eggs that BuckeyeHanger brought for the group!

Bacon on the open grille

 Panorama of the woods of Yellow River State Park

The group photo after night one ( Hanging Yankee, Hanging Yankee's Brother and HeadRush had already hit the trail early)

 photo by Sean "Shug" Emery

I took the somewhat long way to the next nights campsite, about 5 miles. All the campsites have been stocked with firewood by the Park employees- a very nice touch

 The day was warm and sunny and walking was very nice- a creek crossing with cold water, but nothing to damper the day

 Night two's hammock set up and more firewood to burn at Camp Hefferin

The walk out was rainy the next day, but it made for some great mist over the river and since the temperature was still mild, I didn't mind. About 3 miles back to the parking lot

Another successful weekend in the woods

Animals seen or heard:
owl
coyote- lots
cows