Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.
--Walt Whitman

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.
--Sir Rannulph Fiennes

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
--Henry David Thoreau

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.
--Helen Keller

Camping Adventures
...in reverse chronological order...
2017
Dec 1-3 Tims Ford State Park, TN
Old Spann House Trail, Highland Rim Wildflower Trail, Clifton Doyle Trail, Bike Trail		 6 mi
Aug 19-22 Tugaloo State Park, GA
Sassafras Trail, Muscadine Trail, Muscadine Overlook Trail		 4 mi
Feb 18-19 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Quillan Creek, Riddle Creek		 7 mi
Feb 10-11 Service Park, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Land, AL
Pink Loop, Orange Loop, Yellow Trail		 2 mi
2016
Sep 4-5 Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA, TN
Polly Branch Falls Trail, Caney Fork River Trail, Jenny Branch Falls Trail, Chestnut Mountain Ranch Trail, Welch Point Day Use Area		 10 mi
Jun 30-Jul 2 Hueston Woods State Park, OH
Cedar Falls Trail, Sycamore Trail, Pine Loop/Cabin Trail, Mud Lick Trail, Hedge Apple Trail, Indian Mound Trail, Gallion Run Trail		 7.7 mi
Jun 28-30 Pokagon State Park, IN
Trine State Recreation Area, Gentian Lake Trail, Rolling Oaks Trail, Trail 3, Trail 6, Trail 7 [Bluebird Hills Trail], Trail 9, Potawatomi Nature Preserve		 9.9 mi
Jun 26-28 Interlochen State Park, MI
Pine Trail		 0.6 mi
Jun 23-26 Tahquemenon Falls State Park, MI
Upper Falls Trail, Lower Falls Trail, Island Trail, Nature Trail		 6.7 mi
Jun 21-23 Chequemegon-Nicholet National Forest, WI
White Deer Lake Trail, Luna Lake Trail, Hidden Lakes Trail, Haymeadows Flowage State Natural Area		 4 mi
Jun 20-21 Great River Bluffs State Park, MN
Kings Bluff Trail, Kearns Valley Trail, Hill of Many Timbers Trail, East Overlook Trail, North Overlook Trail, South Overlook Trail		 6 mi
Jun 16-17 Starved Rock State Park, IL
Starved Rock Trail, Lover's Leap Overlook, French Canyon, Eagle Cliff, Beehive Overlook, Wildcat Canyon, Sandstone Point, Tonti Canyon, LaSalle Canyon, Parkman's Plain, Hennepin Canyon, Ottawa Canyon, Council Overhang, Kaskaskia Canyon, Illinois Canyon, St. Louis Canyon		 12.3 mi
Jun 15-16 Shawnee National Forest, IL
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, Observation Trail		 0.8 mi
Jun 14-15 Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
Hematite Lake Trail, Center Furnace Trail, Long Creek Trail, Honker Lake Trail, Woodland Walk Trail		 7.8 mi
Apr 16-17 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Sipsey Fork from Cranal Road to near Grindstone Creek, Lloyd's Canyon, Hurricane Creek		 15 mi [kayak]

3.5 mi [hiking]
2015
Nov 28-29 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Trail 210, off trail on Braziel Creek, Trail 208		 15 mi
Oct 3-4 Seminole State Park, GA
Gopher Tortoise Trail		 3 mi
Oct 2-3 Grayton Beach State Park, FL
Grayton Beach Nature Trail, Flatlands Hiking Trail		 7 mi
Aug 1-2 Edgar Evins State Park, TN
Marina Trail, Highland Rim Loop Trail, Evins Ridge Trail		 5.5 mi
Apr 18-19 Buck's Pocket State Park, AL
South Sauty Creek Trail, High Bluff Trail, Lynn Overlook		 5 mi
Feb 25-26 Stealth Camp in Snow, Madison, AL
+ hiking on Rainbow Mountain Trails		 1.5 mi
2014
Nov 7-8 Oak Mountain State Park, AL
South Rim Trail, Shackleford Point Trail, Foothills Trail, Moccasin Wildlife Trail		 15 mi
Oct 4-5 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Randolph Trail, Rippey Trail, Sipsey River Trail, Bee Branch, Borden Creek Trail		 15 mi
Sep 27-28 Talladega National Forest, AL
Coleman Lake Recreation Area, Lake Trail, Pinhoti Trail		 5.5 mi
Sep 6-7 Talladega National Forest, AL
Pinhoti trail north to CCC road, Bald Rock Boardwalk, Bald rock connector, Pulpit rock trail, CCC Garden trail, Cheaha Tower		 12 mi
Jul 19-20 Brierfield Ironsworks Historical State Park, AL
Furnace Trail		 1 mi
Jul 4-5 2014 Backyard Camping Trip, AL
The Backyard + photos from Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, AL		 1 mi
Jun 28-29 Tims Ford State Park, TN
Lost Creek Overlook Trail, Overlook Trail, Marble Plains Loop Trail		 11 mi
May 25-26 DeSoto State Park, AL
DeSoto Scout Trail + photos of DeSoto Falls, Pool Loop, Wildflower Trail, Lost Falls Trail, Laurel Falls Trail, Azalea Cascade Trail, Family Bike Loop, Cabin Trail		 10.25 mi
Apr 26-27 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Fall Creek, Garrison Creek		 12 mi
Mar 14-15 Tishomingo State Park, MS
Flat Rock Trail, Saddleback Ridge Trail		 2.25 mi
Mar 8-9 Joe Wheeler State Park, AL
Shellcracker Slough Loop, Campground Trail Loop, Blue Trail		 3.75 mi
2013
Nov 30-Dec 1 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Thompson Creek Trail		 6 mi
Nov 1-2 South Cumberland State Park, TN
Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Collins Gulf Trail, Collins Rim Trail, Stagecoach Rd. Trail, Connector Trail, Schwoon Spring Trail		 13.5 mi
July 27-28 Lake Guntersville State Park, AL
Cave Trail, Spring Trail, Cutchenmine Trail		 8 mi [hiking]
3 mi [kayaking]
Apr 5-6 Emma's 1st Camping Trip
The Backyard		 --
Jan 19-20 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Brushy Lake Recreation Area, Upper Davis Creek		 8 mi
2012
Dec 28-30 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Parker Branch		 2 mi
Jun 1-3 Natchez Trace Parkway, TN
Meriwether Lewis Site, Fall Hollow, Devil's Backbone State Natural Area, Duck River, Jackson Falls		 12 mi
May 11-12 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Shirley's Sawmill Branch, Brushy Lake Recreation Area, Sougahoagdee Falls		 7.25 mi
Apr 13-15 Tishomingo State Park, MS
Outcropping Trail		 4 mi
Mar 11-12 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Thompson Creek Trail		 5 mi
2011
Nov 5-6 Flatside Wilderness Area, AR
Ouchita Recreation Trail		 11 mi
Nov 3-5 Hot Springs National Park, AR
Gulpha Gorge Trail, Goat Rock Trail, Grand Promenade		 5 mi
Sep 16-17 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Quillan Creek, Hubbard Creek, Thompson Creek Trail		 5 mi
Aug 20-21 Lake Chelsea, AL
LNT Trainer Course		 -- mi
Aug 20-21 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Brushy Creek, Sougahoagdee Falls		 3.75 mi
July 16-17 Cherokee National Forest, TN
Pigeon River rafting adventure 		5.5 mi
Jun 11-12 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Rippey Trail, White Creek, Sipsey River Trail, Bee Branch, Randolph Trail		 13 mi
May 20-21 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Caney Creek		 3.5 mi
Feb 18-19 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Quillan Creek, Riddle Creek		 6.5 mi
2010
Dec 23-24 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Parker Creek, Hubbard Creek, unnamed side canyon		 5 mi
Nov 5-6 Bankhead National Forest, AL
Brushy Creek, Sougahoagdee Falls		 3.75 mi
Oct 1-3 Bucks Pocket State Park, AL
Morgan's Cove, Indian House Trail + High Falls Park near Geraldine, AL		 3 mi
Sep 4-5 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Parker Creek		 3 mi
Mar 12-14 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Turkeyfoot Creek, Thompson Creek Trail, White Oak Hollow, Bee Branch, Sipsey River Trail		 11 mi
2009
Oct 10-11 Bucks Pocket State Park, AL
Waterfall Trail, Point Rock Overlook + photos from High Falls Park near Geraldine, AL		 1 mi
Oct 4-5 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Wolfpen Creek, Eagle Creek, Fernglade Creek, Hemlock Creek, Little Ugly Creek		 5 mi
Aug 1-2 Virgin Falls State Natural Area, TN
Virgin Falls Trail		 9 mi
Mar 6-8 Cheaha Wilderness Area, AL
Odum Scout Trail, Nubbin Creek Trail		 8 mi
2008
Dec 12-13 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Randolph Trail, Sipsey River Trail, Buck Rough Trail, Bee Branch, Thompson Creek Trail		 18 mi
Oct 10-11 Bucks Pocket State Park, AL
Waterfall Trail, Point Rock Overlook + photos from High Falls Park near Geraldine, AL		 2 mi
Jun 15-16 Cane Creek Canyon Preserve, AL
Waterfall Trail, Ridgetop Trail, East Cane Creek Trail, Canyon Rim Trail, Shelf Trail, Cane Creek Trail, Devil's Hollow Trail		 8 mi
Jan 5-6 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Borden Creek Trail, Sipsey River Trail, Thompson Creek Trail		 12 mi
2007
Oct 12-14 Cherokee Rock Village, AL
Cherokee Rock Village, + Yellow Creek Falls		 4 mi
Sep 15-16 Monte Sano State Park, AL
places		 5 mi
Apr 21-22 Talladega National Forest, AL
Skyway Loop, Chinnabee Silent Trail, Cheaha Falls, Pinhoti Trail		 18 mi
Mar 3-4 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Borden Creek Trail, Sipsey River Trail		 5 mi
2006
Oct 21-22 Talladega National Forest, AL
Cheaha State Park,Cave Creek Trail, Odum Scout Trail, Chinnabee Silent Trail, Pinhoti Trail		 21 mi
Sep 23-24 Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Thompson Creek Trail		 5 mi
Mar 12-13 Lake Lowndes State Park
Opossum Nature Trail		 3.5 mi
2005
Oct 7-8 Lake Lowndes State Park, MS
no trails		 -- mi
2004
Sep 24-25 Talladega National Forest, AL
Pinhoti Trail [Oakey Mountain southward]		 1 mi