It was finally time to put all of the hard work in reducing pack weight to the test. The 28 mile Karkaghne Section had been looming over our group since we skipped it for the shorter Blair Creek trip and it was time to get our walk on. But, instead of choosing the more comfortable weather of a perfect Missouri fall, we decided to tackle it in the heat and humidity of August. We all justified the decision with the many possibilities for
cooling off in the streams and creeks we were going to cross. Members of this trip were, John Heater, Courtney Peebles, Craig Smith, Todd Whaley and Isaac Noland. We fired the alcohol stoves for some morning oatmeal before gaining southbound momentum towards our first major stopping point, and glorious swimming hole of the West Fork of the Black River. The humidity was thick as we pushed our way through the spider webs
and over grown undergrowth. At every stream crossing we cooled our faces and exposed skin. We reached the overlook of Sutton Bluff and couldn’t wait to get into the water. Once we were at the waters edge, we stripped down to our underwear and jumped in. Even though there was a large group of women partying it up further down the gravel bar we had to do what we had to do. We swam in the crystal clear water and then headed up
to the rope swing. There was a large cliff that people were jumping from and Todd climbed the cliff to partake. We returned to our packs, ate lunch, and then went up stream from the party people to pump some cleaner water. We took off from Sutton Bluff and went up and up and up. The trail took us along some of the steepest trail that we have experienced so far on our trips with quick glances of the cold water of the West Fork
below. After reaching the top of the ridge, we dove back down and into the valley of Bee Fork Creek where we called it quits and set up camp. We spent the first few hours unwinding and cooling down again in the water of the creek, picked some ripe cherries that Todd discovered, and set up out tents on the sandy beach. Evening came and the alcohol stoves roared into action heating our water for some dehydrated beef stew, a
perfect hot meal for a hot and humid day. Heater got the fire going and we dozed off to sleep. The next morning we stretched out our sore muscles and geared up for another 14 miles through the thick haze of late August. The second portion of the trail seemed to have many more spider webs and seed ticks…by this point, everyone’s legs were covered in seed ticks. A little while later, Craig and I got stung by some yellow jackets that were
kicked up by hikers in the front. The afternoon seemed to fly by and we reached our vehicles at 72 & P HWY about 4:00. Our legs began to itch feverishly with all the fresh tick bites so we high-tailed it back to the start where we had to pick up our last car and take one last dip in the stream before heading home. This trip was amazing in the fact that Courtney, who had never formally camped before in his life, hiked 28 miles in 2 days
amidst the sticky August weather. Even more amazing is that we all made it with little more than mere seed tick injuries (even though Craig went to the doctor after he got home). My pack weight was amazing and my gear could not have functioned any better. Next time I think we should stick to the regular Missouri hiking season…any month besides August. jm
Topo Maps
It was finally time to put all of the hard work in reducing pack weight to the test. The 28 mile Karkaghne Section had been looming over our group since we skipped it for the shorter Blair Creek trip and it was time to get our walk on. But, instead of choosing the more comfortable weather of a perfect Missouri fall, we decided to tackle it in the heat and humidity of August. We all justified the decision with the many possibilities for 
cooling off in the streams and creeks we were going to cross. Members of this trip were, John Heater, Courtney Peebles, Craig Smith, Todd Whaley and Isaac Noland. We fired the alcohol stoves for some morning oatmeal before gaining southbound momentum towards our first major stopping point, and glorious swimming hole of the West Fork of the Black River. The humidity was thick as we pushed our way through the spider webs 
and over grown undergrowth. At every stream crossing we cooled our faces and exposed skin. We reached the overlook of Sutton Bluff and couldn’t wait to get into the water. Once we were at the waters edge, we stripped down to our underwear and jumped in. Even though there was a large group of women partying it up further down the gravel bar we had to do what we had to do. We swam in the crystal clear water and then headed up 
to the rope swing. There was a large cliff that people were jumping from and Todd climbed the cliff to partake. We returned to our packs, ate lunch, and then went up stream from the party people to pump some cleaner water. We took off from Sutton Bluff and went up and up and up. The trail took us along some of the steepest trail that we have experienced so far on our trips with quick glances of the cold water of the West Fork 
below. After reaching the top of the ridge, we dove back down and into the valley of Bee Fork Creek where we called it quits and set up camp. We spent the first few hours unwinding and cooling down again in the water of the creek, picked some ripe cherries that Todd discovered, and set up out tents on the sandy beach. Evening came and the alcohol stoves roared into action heating our water for some dehydrated beef stew, a 
perfect hot meal for a hot and humid day. Heater got the fire going and we dozed off to sleep. The next morning we stretched out our sore muscles and geared up for another 14 miles through the thick haze of late August. The second portion of the trail seemed to have many more spider webs and seed ticks…by this point, everyone’s legs were covered in seed ticks. A little while later, Craig and I got stung by some yellow jackets that were 
kicked up by hikers in the front. The afternoon seemed to fly by and we reached our vehicles at 72 & P HWY about 4:00. Our legs began to itch feverishly with all the fresh tick bites so we high-tailed it back to the start where we had to pick up our last car and take one last dip in the stream before heading home. This trip was amazing in the fact that Courtney, who had never formally camped before in his life, hiked 28 miles in 2 days 
amidst the sticky August weather. Even more amazing is that we all made it with little more than mere seed tick injuries (even though Craig went to the doctor after he got home). My pack weight was amazing and my gear could not have functioned any better. Next time I think we should stick to the regular Missouri hiking season…any month besides August. jm
Thank you for the post!! I am looking for some good elevation gain backpacking in midwest, i am from Chicago where the altitude is 600 on ground floor! I am planning to do a solo trip in late August, early September of 2012 (schedule permitting). Where did you guys start the trail from?
ReplyDeleteDarshan-I have a few ideas for your planned trip...send me an email at jeffdmoore@sbcglobal.net and I can dial you in on some of the best spots. Plus I have some map sets ready to go I can attached. Thanks, Jeff.
ReplyDelete