Colliers Mills Hike

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Ben,
I know the frustration you are referring to in regards to believing you found a remote area only to discover it has been fairly well explored. It is a trial and error sort of thing and you never know what to expect till you get there, despite what the map or satillite photo may suggest. Keep searching and I am confident you will be rewarded with an out of the way spot few, if any, know about. I have never explored the Colliers mills area although a friend of mine lives adjacent to it (he is not into exploring though). Thanks for a nice article. I'll have to check out this area some day.

As a quick fix for an islolation need. Try driving out in the plains near Spring hill at 3:30 a.m. on a week night some time. I have come to the conclusion that between 3 and 4 a.m. is the lonelist hour in the 24 hour spectrum. Do this and you will feel like you are the only person in the world. Yeah, I know, a little extreme but don't knock it till you tried it.

Jeff
 
bruset said:
Here's the lake:

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4432822&e=549836&s=50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25

The only reason why I didn't go to the bigger one more south was that this one was the only one that showed up on satellite photos.
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Ben, I used to work for a brief period at the Jet Sled Tracks Site, which is the fan shaped formation right below the lake area. You were in a very remote area from what I see. Its good you chose between two tributaries. The only thing that would interfere with its total remoteness is the heavily populated areas up the road like Lakewood. All the hunters try to squeeze in the Collier Mills area (my reckoning, just a thought).
 
It was just a little disappointing to see trash and whatnot whenever I started feeling like a "pioneer."

After I made my way to the lake, I sat down in a clearing to enjoy the solitude. Unfortunately I got a little sidetracked with all of the ticks that I found crawling all over me. Yuck!

And, although I don't have chiggers, my ankles itch like I do. :(
 
"I really did not enjoy bushwhacking as much as I thought I was going to."
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Ben,
I don't think anyone likes getting torn up by branches and briars or sinking to thier knees in muck. That's not what it's about. It's about discovery and the sense of achievement. It's about being awe struck by the beauty of the savanas, bogs and swamps you come across. It's about seeing things that maybe no one has else has seen before (or at least not in a very long time).
Bushwhacking is not easy, I had to call for two breaks towards the end of out last trip, but it is rewarding.

Steve
 
BEHR655 said:
Ben,
I don't think anyone likes getting torn up by branches and briars or sinking to thier knees in muck. That's not what it's about. It's about discovery and the sense of achievement. It's about being awe struck by the beauty of the savanas, bogs and swamps you come across. It's about seeing things that maybe no one has else has seen before (or at least not in a very long time).
Bushwhacking is not easy, I had to call for two breaks towards the end of out last trip, but it is rewarding.

Steve
Click to expand...

Well said Bear. I'll not forget the time I came upon the hidden lake I showed Guy. It was a great experience.

Plus, I have to mention the feeling I got on the three river crossing trip when walking with steady cadence through the area between "set up" and "crossing one". It feels exhilirating, like I am a person braving new territory, with other worldly cares left far behind. It is a grand feeling. I get it sometimes, and I like it, corny or not.......:)
 
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