Joe organized it for Hawn State Park. Hawn is a real gem of a park, probably the best overall park in the state of Missouri, although it got hit very hard with a sever storm a few years ago that wrecked a big portion of it. It has had a couple of fires both man-made and natural and frankly it is one of the parks in Missouri that is being loved to death by the big increase is people in the park and on the trail. However, once you get more than 2 miles from the parking lot, Hawn has a total of about 15 miles of trails if you count all the connectors, it is still one of the most beautiful areas in Missouri.
Day 1 Friday
The actual hang was scheduled for Saturday night, but late in the afternoon on Friday I drove to the Park to hike in and make sure we got the camping spot that Joe had told everyone about.
It was a mild day albeit overcast. It was only 1.9 miles to the campsite so it didn't take but about 40 minutes
Right out of parking lot you climb up onto the bluff if you are going on North Whispering Pines Loop counterclockwise.
After being on the bluff (where you can see lots of damage still visible from the big wind/tornado storm a few years ago) for a short time, you descend down next too and across Pickle Creek
(Pickle Creek Crossing- Above)
After crossing the creek you walk with the creek on your left with really nice rock outcroppings (shut-ins) and then this gives way to just a flat smooth meandering stream
Reaching camp I set up before dark in the grove of pines
First order of business was to tidy things up. The fire ring was missing half its stones, I found them scattered in the duff close by and cleaned out the trash and set everything back in place (below)
It was a bit chilly so I processed some downed wood for the fire. It is said that firewood warms you twice, once while cutting it and once while burning it. It sure does!
It was only me tonight, so I only needed a small bit for some light and heat as the sun went down. As is turned out their were others that did arrive on Friday but since the hang was not scheduled until Saturday they stayed and camped in the campsite near the parking lot and didn't venture to the site.
I always overpack on food for these weekends without many miles. Tonight is a giant hotdog and a rice side.
Temperature got down to just 29 tonight and there was a large group of coyotes I heard twice during the night and a very loud owl, close by, first thing in the morning.
Day 2 Saturday
I had big plans to get up early and go hike the traditional 11 mile loop before everyone was due to arrive. Joe had posted to meet at the parking lot at 11 am. However it turned the coldest at 5 am and when the sun finally came up around 7 am. I was warm and unmotivated to move from my down cocoon.
A view from the hammock just after daybreak (above) and a view up through my tarp as the sun is coming up
Pickle Creek runs along the trail and campsite and makes for an easy place to get water.
One of the many alcove and rock formations in the area, carved out by the creek.
The sun played hide and seek with the clouds all day, but when it did shine it was nice.
Looking up into the tree tops
Until everyone arrived, I had coffee, then first breakfast, then second breakfast and then a bit of first lunch, Joe, Michael and Jay showed up around 11:30 am then followed by a family that was new to hammock camping and had also stayed in the campground last night. They discovered that they did not have everything they need to stay warm all night, so they were going back to the campsite so they would have more resources again tonight.
Later in the day Adya and Andy B showed up to make us a group of 6 total. All was going normally until about 4 pm. A couple from the RV park had gone for walk on trail and while doing some ill advised climbing on the rock alcove pictured early, she had fallen and possibly broken her ankle.
After some debate on the best course of action we decided to make a stretcher from Joe's underquilt protector and carry her out. This did not work quite as planned as the trail was too narrow and rocky for this type of evacuation. We finally decided the best course of action was to take turns carrying her (piggy back style) the 1.2 miles to the closest side trail parking lot. Andy had run ahead and would bring his car from the main parking area to the side trailhead.
We got her out with relative ease using a lot of teamwork, trading off, before sundown.
Some of the heroes of the afternoon, Micheal, Joe, Ayda
On our way back down to our campsite the sun set and we walked the rest of the way back by headlamp.
Back in camp and dinner. Another giant hamburger and trimmings. it was a very good night just sitting around the fire until late and then back to the hammock.
Day 3 Sunday.
The low last night dipped to 24 degrees. A touch better for a Frozen Butt outing, but I was very warm all night.
You have to cross Pickle Creek again, it is shallow here but wide. A couple of strategic logs where across the creek and some careful stepping had me over with dry feet.
The trail was lined with frost flowers this morning
You follow the creek for a bit this time on your right and then you start to climb back up on the bluff.
You pass a large flat rock at the top of the climb (table rock) and then enter a really nice pine forest
The sun was out now and the temperatures were on the rise as you walk along the ridge back toward the parking lot. I got in about a 5 additional miles this morning.
It was a nice weekend to be out and I am glad that so many people did show up to the hang, it was a great bunch.
