Eagle Rock Loop – 3 days, 4 nights
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I did this trip back in August when it was hot. And since then my memory begins to blur things together and form narratives that don't fit into days and miles. I did that in the first days as a way of capturing the memories. But with time I began to form a different way of telling the story, one that is shaped by experiences rather than data. I think this re-telling of my trip will be more about those experiences.
External Links
Detailed Trip Report (Medium): http://bit.ly/1ie8twN Way too many pictures (Flickr): https://flic.kr/s/aHskhcLF49 5 minute video (Youtube): https://youtu.be/OcrIYdlQ18I Map and GPS tracks (Caltopo): http://caltopo.com/m/3Q0D
Preparation
I'd been wanting to do something a little longer than overnight for quite some time, but job restrictions did not allow for it. In fact, I usually get one day off at a time separated by two or three days. Not to mention that being gone too long puts a greater burden on my wife to care for our toddler. So I design my trips around these two considerations. Rarely do I get to pour over my gear all at once and lay it out on the floor so I can gloat over it like a kid. But since everyone was gone for a few days I could. I tend to divide my gear into two: Essential Stuff, which is the core of the kit and I could do a safe trip with just that; and Luxury Stuff, which is anything beyond the core. Skin Out, everything I took. Including camera, GPS, worn items and food. Just over 22lbs.
The essentials list, just over 5lbs: 
The Trip
It wasn't until the last day of the trip that I started to take in what the trail was telling me. This trail is about rivers and what happens to them. Day One I started at the Athens – Big Fork Trail which cuts across seven mountains that collect water for several rivers down stream. Along this section I saw little streams that only exist when it rains and crossed muddy puddles of water that oozes out of the ground but not strong enough to be called a spring; they're just folds in the earth where water collects. In the valleys there are small creeks with fresh mountain water. This trail has access to plenty of water. Being from south Louisiana it was a joy to climb mountains and take in the views. In fact, I spent my first night at Eagle Rock Vista, literally on the side of the mountain. My full length CCF pad kept me from sliding. I did wake up a few times to readjust on the slope but it wasn't particularly bothersome since I got to see the Blue Moon of July and Casiopea in the sky. Dawn at Eagle Rock Vista Tail View I took the side trail to Brush Heap Mountain. The view was gorgeous. Round Top Mountain, barely visible in the middle, is where I started the trip yesterday. High-res image here: https://flic.kr/p/yDPpoJ This panorama is a video frame composite. At home I matched up the mountains with the view in Caltopo from that location and identified the mountains. 
I spent the night on Spirit Rock Vista Day Two Climbing down from Spirit Rock took me right to the Little Missouri Trail which runs along the Little Missouri River. At this point, where I replenished my water, it is easily crossed by rock hoping. As I progressed and the river collected water from the surrounding mountains, the river grew. Little Missouri River . Roots Armadillo! The trail is very flat and runs parallel to the river most of the way. I think the sad thing is that this portion of the trail is very littered. Every campsite had trash in and around the fire pit that I presume the next camper was expected to dispose of. Day Three To me this trail was much more interesting. Probably because for some reason I full of energy. Less food in my bag maybe, more varied terrain, who know. But I was energized! I had never seen water coming out of solid rock. . 
An old cistern: . A view: . I drank water from Blaylock Creek when it was a very small body of water. . Energized, I realized that I could make it back to Eagle Rock Vista where I camped the first night. So, I stopped making pictures and pushed to make it to where I started. I was driven to spend on more night in the mountains before returning to the wetlands of south Louisiana. Day Four Heading home. 
The essentials list, just over 5lbs: 
Tail View 
I took the side trail to Brush Heap Mountain. The view was gorgeous. Round Top Mountain, barely visible in the middle, is where I started the trip yesterday. 
I spent the night on Spirit Rock Vista 
Day Two Climbing down from Spirit Rock took me right to the Little Missouri Trail which runs along the Little Missouri River. At this point, where I replenished my water, it is easily crossed by rock hoping. As I progressed and the river collected water from the surrounding mountains, the river grew. Little Missouri River 
. 
Roots 
Armadillo! 
The trail is very flat and runs parallel to the river most of the way. I think the sad thing is that this portion of the trail is very littered. Every campsite had trash in and around the fire pit that I presume the next camper was expected to dispose of. Day Three To me this trail was much more interesting. Probably because for some reason I full of energy. Less food in my bag maybe, more varied terrain, who know. But I was energized! I had never seen water coming out of solid rock. 
. 
An old cistern: 
. 
A view: 
. 
I drank water from Blaylock Creek when it was a very small body of water. 
. 
Energized, I realized that I could make it back to Eagle Rock Vista where I camped the first night. So, I stopped making pictures and pushed to make it to where I started. I was driven to spend on more night in the mountains before returning to the wetlands of south Louisiana. Day Four Heading home. 
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