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Michael R - The Compulsive Hiker
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Tag Archives: Missouri
Smith Creek Loop backpacking
What is likely to be my last backpacking trip around here until autumn was a one-nighter on the Smith Creek Loop southeast of Columbia MO this weekend. I and two others started at the Boydsville trail head and hiked around … Continue reading
MTNF – Cedar Creek District
There is a 15000 acre piece of the Mark Twain National Forest southeast of Columbia MO that features the Pine Ridge and Dry Fork Recreation Areas (with decent-looking campgrounds), 22-mile Cedar Creek trail, 5-mile Smith Creek loop, and about 5 miles … Continue reading
Orienteering Lake Jacomo
I participated in a PTOC event at Lake Jacomo – my first “Score O”. The difference with this type of event is that the controls have values from 10 to 60 points and the goal is to get as many … Continue reading
A Day at Blue & Gray
I spent the day at Blue & Gray Park near Lone Jack, Missouri with a group from the Adventure Club. I didn’t realize at the time that it was the first anniversary of my first visit. It’s just like a … Continue reading
Smithville Lake Equestrian Trails
I finally finished my reconnaissance of the 26 miles of equestrian trails at Smithville Lake. There are paper copies of the map in a brochure at the Jack Rabbit Bend trail head and probably in Crow’s Creek Park too. The … Continue reading
Orienteering 101
I had a great time today at my first orienteering meet. It was run by the Possum Trot Orienteering Club at Monkey Mountain Nature Preserve near Grain Valley Mo. I expected that it would be a good way to sharpen my … Continue reading
Eddy-Ballentine and Blue River Parkway trails – work day
I spent the morning with a group from the Sierra Club clearing the Eddy-Ballentine trail. 2 of us mowed from the south trail head up through the Blue River Glade and down to the north trail head while everyone else … Continue reading
Labor Day Road Trip – Day 3
On day 3 I broke camp at Arrow Rock and headed NW to Van Meter State Park. This place was so quiet and tranquil – a big and welcome change from Arrow Rock and Finger Lakes. One of the first … Continue reading
Labor Day Road Trip – Day 2
The next morning at Finger Lakes State Park, the Kelly Branch trail looked kinda muddy so I decided to go to the next stop and maybe come back afterward to hike it. The star of the weekend was Pinnacles Youth … Continue reading
Labor Day Road Trip – Day 1
There were a few hiking trails in the Columbia MO area that I’ve wanted to check out and I had a long weekend with no other plans so off I went on my first solo multi-day trip. I spent most … Continue reading
The Compulsive Hiker 