Possibly the most beautiful day on the Ozark Trail, and the most physically demanding. It’s Day 14 of my Ozark Trail Thru-Hike and I cover 13.4 rocky and rugged miles on the Taum Sauk Section from Goggins Mountain to Proffit Mountain (1,703ft) straight through the heart of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.

It’s still Day 13 on the Ozark Trail. I’ve just finished breakfast at Ottery Creek and I’m about to set out on the Taum Sauk Section from the Hwy A trailhead. The next 10 miles will take me through the Bell Mountain wilderness, past several Missouri glades, and up Goggins Mountain for a beautiful night camping with a view.

It’s the morning of Day 8 of my Ozark Trail Thru Hike. I have 11 miles left of the Blair Creek Section before reaching Highway 72 Trailhead, where I originally planned to camp for the night. Do I stay or push onto the Karkaghne Section?

Day 4 of my thru-hike of Missouri’s Ozark Trail and I’ve arrived at my first big question… Do I hike to Big Spring Campground, which is 5 miles off the trail, or do I pass by it, shaving a day off my total hike?

Hiking the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail is all about water planning. It’s Day 3 and I set out on the Between the Rivers Section hiking 15.4 miles from the 3152 Trailhead to Milligan Spring.