Backpacking Adventures Series: I Threw That Shit in the Fire
Good friends pay dividends for miles and miles (and miles). I underestimate the hilariously entrenched memories until they rage back to the forefront while in a backcountry pick-up truck shuttle from a guy called Leroy. This adventure on the Taum Sauk Mountain section of the Ozark Trail was shared by me & two good friends. The Ozark Trail is a fantastic backcountry trail that (eventually) connects suburban St. Louis, MO to Little Rock, AR. Back to Leroy. He taught us the best ways to locate mushrooms and the elusive Ginseng root, but conveniently forgot to tell us where to sell. He kindly extended our trip (per our request) by dropping us off a few miles past our original starting point, wished us luck & drove that ‘96 Chevy away to glory.
So began our 21-mile backpacking adventure on the Ozark Trail at Ketcherside Mountain. After an hour of speed hiking through dusk, we scored a sweet campsite. Tent up. Snacks out. Make a fire. NOPE. Every. Damn. Thing. Soaking. Wet. Our suburban mastery (or lack there of) shown brighter than Leroy’s scrap metal hanging out of the back of his truck bed. And by shine I mean we needed an hour to start that damn fire. Nailed it. We made some dinner, harmony’d ‘Three’s Company’ theme song and laid down for the night in our shared tent...or as Chrissy coined it: 3 pigs in a blanket. I found great sleep. Jack found some sleep. Chrissy found tree roots. If you don’t know Chrissy, picture the most charismatic and energetic person you’ve met. Multiply that by 10 and you’ll understand the magic. She’s got the biggest heart of anyone I know & will literally work for you til she’s spent and find a way to keep going if you allow. You’re the best - Around. Nothing’s ever gonna get you down!
Day 2 took us through Taum Sauk Mountain State Park (MO’s highest peak at around 1700 ft), Devil’s Tollgate & about 5 million head-sized granite rocks ready to break your ankles. Chrissy & Jack’s superior pace left me in the dust several times. That’s fine. I was allowed some solo trekking to really breathe in nature. Like the drunken hollering of some good ol’ boys on Jeeps. With dogs. And guns. That was serene. I eventually caught up…several times. And we settled at a cool spot by a small spring-fed stream. Jack was half a step from an intimate introduction to a copperhead. Twice. But, the best part of Jack’s day had to have been just before bed. You know, the ‘I’ve eaten 4 Cliff bars, trail mix, a gallon of water with no bathroom breaks’ part of the day. Well, this was my favorite part of the day. Here’s how it went upon Jack’s return from his eventual bathroom success back into our tent:
Chrissy: Woof. You better check that, Clark.
Me: Yeah. Shoes, man. That’s sick.
Chrissy: That’s shit.
Jack: Really?! Damn it. <tent scrambles back outside>
Chrissy & I: <tears of laughter and abused nostrils>
Jack: No! I shit on my shorts.
Chrissy & I: <escalated joy>
Jack: Throw me my blue shorts. I threw that shit in the fire.
We eventually settled into the night...less one pair of shorts. On our final day, we made it through the rocks into Johnson Shut-Ins...which is hands-down the best swimming hole in the state. I forgot my trunks and proudly swam in my boxers. Jack did not endorse this move. We lounged in the spring-fed Black River, cliff jumped and enjoyed nature’s waterslides. I’m lucky to have such meaningful and fun memories with Jack & Chrissy throughout the years. Our epic backpacking adventure only added to the list. Can’t wait until the next adventure to connect!
Authored by Aaron Shore, LPC
The Backpacking Adventures Series is intended for entertainment and story value. And I hope to occasionally illustrate the values of connection within, with friends & with the natural world.
I hope you enjoyed & keep going!
