Hi Ya'll

“Hi, bpbaby...was looking at your great photos and saw some place right in my own back yard - Bell Mountain and Irish Creek Wilderness. Isn't the view from Bell awesome. Went hiking there is spring and had lots of trouble with the ticks though. Did the White's Creek Trail last Labor Day when it was 95 - 100 degrees...are we nutz or what????? Luckily we found a spring where we camped and sat in the Eleven Point River rapids to cool off and soak our weary bones. Here is a great website of MO trails run by a guy named Danny that keeps it up-to-date. I told him about the lack of water at one point on the trail and he put that in his write-up. Some solitary lady hiker and her dog went several miles off trail to find water and ended up in some farmers yard to rehydrate. Takes all kinds!!! This gal said she had already seen a dog die of thirst...like does she do this on purpose, out of stupidity, or what????? Do you have any more MO trails that you've hiked or what about some in IL near St. Louis. Thanks and look forward to hearing/seeing more!!!1

MO Hiking Trails Website”

“Hey Utahiker! Wow, I would hate to end up in a farmers yard in that area!!!! LOL When I did Whites creek, I did a water drop the day before and ran into a couple of very successful deer hunters (out of season). I ignored them and they ignored me, thank goodness. I know the spring you're talking about..beautiful place. Bell Mountain is one of my favorites, but the water sources are yuck! Blew out a pur hiker and a first need on the last trip. Have you done Rockpile mountain yet? The trail is tough in places, but neat ancient rock circles on top. I get up to the St. Louis area every few weeks, my bestest hiking buddy lives in Valmeyer, ILL. Southern Ill is a great day hike place but there aren't a lot of trails for backpacking. Giant City State park has one, and there is the river to river trail across So. Ill. Kincaid lake has one too. Have you ever been to Western KY and LBL? It's not much farther and has great trails. Email me at bpbaby@aol.com sometime if you have a chance.”

“bpbaby, what's LBL like in June? How's your bug season? I'm chomping at the bit to come see that area.”

“Pekka, June? Hot,humid, bugs (ticks, flying blood suckers) snakes, and beautiful! The earlier in June the better. The good news, lots less chance of rain and it's better than August! Probable temps would be in the mid-high 80's, 60 at night. You'll never have to worry about crowds any time of the year after the first mile of trail, nobody uses the back country. Warning: Most people don't realize that there are rattlers in this area. Lot's of copperheads too. Watch where you step. I've never had a problem, just like to make people aware of that. Want me to send you some info? Be glad to. Come on down! By the way, they have a website at www.LBL.org. Water is no problem, lot's of natural springs. I'd love to show off the beauty of this area if anyone is interested.”

“bpbaby
What is the Best section of the North-South Trail in your oppinion?”

“WD, I think the section from Golden Pond south is the prettiest. It has pine forest and hardwood too. It's less travelled.”

“bpbaby........ welcome.

I was gonna send you a note and some shots of Big South Fork and has over Red Rocks....... but it got booted back to me from "bpbaby@aol.com"

????????????”

“lizs, it's bpbaby42@aol.com. I keep forgetting to put in the 42!! I'm sorry and looking forward to the shots!!!”

“bpbaby, I was digging through my archive of places I want to visit and found a couple articles on the Red River Gorge. Can you tell me anything about that and how many days it would take to see the good stuff? Thanks!”

“Lizs, got your article and thought it was an excellent news story - hey, that's what your paid to do, right? As you say, hard to get the emotion side that you wanted but the info came through loud and clear about their sad tale. Glad to hear the boyfriend intends to stay involved in the kid's lives. By the way, why not post those pics here. I want to see them, too!!!! SHOWMEEE, SHOWMEEE, SHOWMEEEE......”

“Utahiker, I've never been to Red River Gorge believe it or not. I seem to do most of my trips in other states! I know some of these guys have been there though, maybe they'll chime in.”

“I can tell you're from the SHOWME state, Utahiker...LOL!!

(to those who don't know, don't let that "Utahiker" moniker fool ya!!)”

“utah -
Some of us ECT'ers did a hike at RRG last fall - search the TT archives...

It was my first time there, and I didn't quite achieved expert status.”

“bpbaby, so if I get to LBL before the end of May, more bugs or fewer? I'm just trying to find somewhere to go while the black flies are at their worst here in the far north, which is usually mid-May to mid-June.”

“gojo, thanks for the tip - I found some great photos that cd had linked to. Makes me want to go for sure!

bpbaby, I emailed the guy who put up the motrails website and he said he rarely hikes in mo..in fact, he doing the grand canyon in a few weeks and the smokies in october. I guess sometimes we think our home state lacks for the adventure that we find in other places. I have to admit that I do more bping out of state as well.

Lizs, despite your changing the subject...I STILL want to see those pics!”

“Pekka, good news, we don't have black flies here, so any time will be better than that. Late May will be cooler and less misquitoes at night, still have to deal with ticks during the day. Later in the summer you have the misquito problem, but the ticks get fewer. Neither is bad enough to rearrange your plans. I don't know how you feel about bug stuff, but Deepwoods Off will take care of the bugs. The natural stuff doesn't seem to work well here. Later in June, you'll be in for some hot days, it stays in the lower 90's and up during the summer. Either late may or early June would be beautiful.”

“OK, Utahiker....... due to that fact I'm dang near ancient (losing memory cells) Plus.... I write a lot on here and can't keep track, just what photos do you wanna see??? lol!! If it's new ones from the trip last fall, the scanner still isn't up to it....... (well, OK I scanned maybe 5 that pretty much look icky) Just what do you mean there, gal?”

“Thanks, bpbaby.”

“You're welcome pekka, let me know when you get ready to come down and I'll keep you updated on conditions.”

“Where are you woman--I miss you.”