Hammock Forums Missouri Hang #5 Taum Sauk Trail Hike May 3-5, 2013- Day 1

Day 1
By far, one of the hardest hikes I have ever been on! This trip planned by forum member Disco would cover what is considered the hardest section of hiking in Missouri. Starting at Hwy A (Bell Mountain) Parking lot and going 30 miles to the Taum Sauk Mountain (Highest Point in Missouri) parking lot. This section covers the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th highest points in Missouri. It is challenging in good dry weather, but we would have some of the worst weather you could ever image being outside in for 3 days!

Arriving at Taum Sauk Parking lot the temperature was 35 degrees and raining



We had a total of 12 people say they wanted to show up for this hike but when the day arrived only 7 were at the trail head (Momedic and his wife, having spent the previous night outside decided that they would not participate and had I been them I would have said the same thing)

This left us with 5 intrepid adventures, Disco (Corey), Spiffyguy (Scott), Digitizer101 (Doug), Gideon (Gideon) and myself.

 

Everyone pilled into Disco's Jeep and drove from the Taum Sauk parking lot to the Hwy A trailhead. We were on the trail about 9:30 am Friday morning

 

the entire day was cold and damp with not many views because of the overcast and rainy skies

my waterproof camera was even wet.

 

The day was planned for 12 miles to end at the Walker Branch Creek campsite. But at the 6 miles marker we came to Padfield Branch Creek. Normally a small creek that you easily step across had become a torrent. Disco and myself made it across, I have crossed these types of creeks before, but the others were not comfortable with the depth and speed (as they had never experienced this before). The remaining three would search up and down the bank to see if there was a more natural and safer place to cross. Nothing was found. We made a plan that usually the water level is reduced in the morning, especially if the rain should stop, so we would end our day here at 6 miles and look at the situation in the morning.

 

 

Disco and I camped by the old homestead and spring just across the creek, while the others did the same on their side.

We cooked dinner right over the side of our hammocks.

 

I was in the hammock from 1:30 pm Friday afternoon to 7 am Saturday morning. I was completely soaked from the rain and the creek crossing and the temps where around freezing. I already new I did not bring enough insulation in my set up to be comfortable even if I was dry. The only way I was staying warm was to keep moving on the trail. I had thrown in a Patagonia Nano Puff insulated jacket at the last minute and I am glad I did. I got out of my wet cloths and got in the hammock in my 40 degree quilts and spent a very uncomfortable night.

 

 

 

Distance:

6 miles in 4 hours

 

Sleeping set up:

40 Degree Hammock Gear TQ and UQ

Patagonia Capiline 2 bottoms

REI L.S. Fleece top

Patagonia NanoPuff pull over

Possum Down gloves and Socks

Mountain Goat wool hat



 

Cuivre River pre-hike April 27, 2013

Since I will be going on the Hammock Forums Ozark Trail #5 Hang next weekend I thought I should get out with a pack and walk a bit before hitting Taum Sauk cold. I haven't really been out with a pack since the Smokies in February.
It was a rainy day, but very nice temperatures I got out on the trail at 8 am for about 7-8 miles. I was carrying about 12 lbs with water.

The Bluebells were out in full force along the trail today

Everything was very green and wet.

 The Cuivre River trail is marked with a red blaze

 I like going on the Cuivre River trail, as it goes by and old town and the ridge vista, but it is open to horses and can be ( and was) very muddy

 Lots more wildflowers and bluebells along the trail

 the bluff has a great view of the valley and the trail travels along the edge for about 1 mile

 

 This is what horses can do to a trail!

Panorama of the bluff view (above) and the woods (below)

Cuivre River Trail - 8 miles- 3 hrs
Animals Scene:
Deer ( about dozen big white tail)
Turkey
Turkey Vultures ( a whole tree full of them)
1 horse with rider
2 morel hunters

R.V. weekend with Graham Cave State Park April 19-21, 2013

We thought we would get away for just a few days close by and make sure the RV was ready for the season- we are still thinking about getting something different. We went just 40 miles west to Kan-Do Campground which is only one mile from Graham Cave State Park.

Driving along on the highway to Kan-Do campground

on Saturday we decided to walk down to Graham Cave State Park.

 

If you look closely on the left side of the road you will see the last of the white tail deer that bounded in front of us while walking

Graham Cave is the first protected archeological site in Missouri.

 

 Spring wildflowers were just getting started along the trail to the cave

 

 

Trail work steps to start the trail to Graham Cave in the park 

Graham Cave 

 

A little horsing around and warrior pose above Graham Cave

 

nice waterfall below Graham Cave

Campfire at the RV park in the evenings keeping everything nice and warm

Features:

Kan-Do Campground - Exit 170 off Hwy 70

Graham Cave State Park 

Hammock Forums Perry Lake Kansas Hang April 5-7 2013

The Hammock Forums Kansas Hang was held at Perry Lake Wilderness Area just north of Lawrence Kansas. There were seven of attending, 6 coming in on Friday and 1 arriving Saturday. the weather forecast was for good weather, quite warm, with showers on Sunday morning

 There is a series of colored trails in the area totaling about 27 miles of trails. This was planned for an easy overnight 1.5 miles the first day, 1.5 miles the second and then the 3 miles back out on Sunday. There were some first time campers/hikers with us this trip

 I arrived about 6 pm at the campsite having caught an earlier flight back to St.Louis and then driven the 4 hours to the hang site. the first night was relaxing, seeing friends I knew and getting to know the new members

 the temperatures were good the first night- high 40's, low 50's and calm. a nice fire before bed was fun to sit around and chat.

a view from my hammock in the morning

wondering in the woods the next morning I came across a full beaver

skeleton and various other items like this snail shell and turkey feathers

 

the "Gang"

Raman Shamen, Hoot, 1066Vik,


 Owl

The trail was hyper marked- it seemed every 50 feet their was a blaze

on the trees- if you look closely you can see 3 blazes in this photo

 

the lake was very low and receded back to show a prairie of grass

 

-Interlude-

well we made it the second 1.5 miles, but a member of our group

was not feeling well and doubted that he could make it back the 3 miles

if the weather turned foul the next day, so Ramen Shamen and I walked

the 3 miles back to the parking lot, got our cars and swung around

the roads to pick them up and bring them back to the original parking lot

where it was only a 1/4 mile to the first established pavilion in the park.

 

 The area managers had been kind enough to turn the water on for us, as
Ramen Shamen had called to let them know we would be hiking in the area
 that weekend.

Radiohead and 1066vik

Once we arrived and everyone was settled it was time for some lunch and rest

I took advantage of the pavilion and set up my hammock under the roof

 

The day turned out to be quite nice

 The evening brought out the fire makers and we had a roaring one in no time.

there is always someone in the group that brings SPAM- yuck!

 The evening was very nice and the sunset over the lake was beautiful

The morning dawned with brilliant colors and many animal sounds in

the campground 

Turkey, woodpecker and owl, were all awake at dawn and

making their presence known.

it was a very relaxing and restful day to spend laughing and chatting.

 

Epilogue:

I had not anticipated the very warm weather (85 on Saturday) and that the

bugs would be out so soon. I came home as one big chigger bite. In addition

the ticks where everywhere fortunately I only found one hitchhiker later.
Thanks to Owl and Ramen Shamen for organizing!