Okay boys, I decide to spend August backpacking in the Snowbird wilderness of NC and really get to know the place. For all pics see---

https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...WBIRD-PRETRIP/

20 DAYS
ON
SNOWBIRD CREEK

TRIP 167

August 15--September 1 2015

HIGHLIGHTS
** 20 DAYS ON SNOWBIRD CREEK

** 10 BACKPACKERS FROM OHIO STATE IN MITCHELL LICK

** SECOND OHIO STATE GROUP LED BY DUSTIN

** 65 HOUR RAINSTORM ON SNOWBIRD CREEK

** MIDDLE FALLS CAMPSITE

** DUSTIN'S GROUP VISITS MIDDLE FALLS

** BACKPACKING BURNTROCK RIDGE TRAIL

** DAY 8 RAINSTORM AND SNOWBIRD FLOODS

** 1-6-5-12(0) THE SNOWBIRD CREEK CROSSINGS

** 3 DAYS ON TRAIL 154

** A 40F MORNING BELOW HOOPER BALD

** CONNECTED MITCHELL LICK WITH 154 ATV TRACK BELOW LAUREL TOP MT

** DISCOVERED TRAIL 415 AND MARKED IT UP TO LICK MT

** OVER HAW MT TO WHIGGS MEADOW

** MEETING WUNKY TWO TIME AT THRUHIKER

** PATMAN FINDS ME AT NAKED GROUND AND WE PULL 3 DAYS TOGETHER

** MEETING 4 AT AND PCT THRUHIKERS ON BOB'S WALL

** PATMAN SEES THE WEDGE AND I CAMP IN LITTLE COVE CAMP


TRAILS
Entrance at Big Junction on Cherohala Screamway
Snowbird Creek Trail 64
Mitchell Lick
**Upper Bird Camp**
Snowbird Creek
**Crossing 6-7 Bearpen Camp**
Snowbird Creek
**Meadow Branch Camp**
Snowbird Creek
**No Crossing Camp**
Snowbird Creek
**Middle Falls**
Trail 64 Alternate
Snowbird Creek
**Upper Jalopy Camp**
Snowbird Creek
Sassafras Creek
Burntrock Ridge
Snowbird Creek
**Middle Falls**
Snowbird Creek
**Bearpen Camp**
Snowbird Creek
Trail 154
**154 South Camp**
Trail 154 and Backtrack
**154 North Camp**
154 Mystery ATV Trail Connecting 154 to Mitchell Lick
Mitchell Lick ATV Trail
Trail 415 Recon and Ribbon Marking up to Lick Mt and Back
Mitchell Lick ATV Trail
Snowbird Creek
**Upper Bird**
Snowbird Creek
Mitchell Lick
Upper Snowbird Trail 64
Big Junction
Haw Mt
**Whiggs Meadow**
Mud Gap BMT
Skyway BMT
Beech Gap
Fodderstack Ridge
Cold Gap
54A South
**Mighty Oak Camp**
54 A South
Four Mile Ridge
Naked Ground
**Airjet Camp Hangover Mt**
Four Mile Ridge
Naked Ground
**Fir Tree Grove Bob Mt**
Cold Gap
**Little Cove Camp in Wedge**
Cold Gap
Fodderstack Ridge
Beech Gap
Skyway Roadwalk
Jeffrey Hell
**Frustration Camp on J Hell Trail**
Jeffrey Hell
Skyway Roadwalk to Flats Mt and Lakeview Overlook and OUT




Here's a map of the Snowbird backcountry in North Carolina. I marked all the trails in red and the creeks in blue.



I get dropped off at Big Junction and the high elevation start of the Snowbird Creek trail. It's located off the Cherohala Skyway aka Cherohowler Monkey Screamway hiway 143 motorcycle noise racetrack and find this new trailpost put in by the Cheoah ranger district.


I always bring an emergency Thermarest and cache this one off the trail in case my inflatable dies.



The Snowbird Creek trail starts at around 5,300 feet on Snowbird Mt and drops hard to Snowbird Creek with 11 crossings (or 23) and I reach Bearpen Camp after 6 crossings and find it full of redneck trash so I pile it all up by the trail.



On Day 3 I cross the creek 5 more times and reach a big open spot on Meadow Branch for the night. On Day 4 I leave Meadow Branch camp in boots cuz there are no more crossings and run into this group of backpackers from Ohio State.



The Snowbird Creek trail reaches a choice---to take the north 64Alt bypasses 12 more crossings, to go south past Middle Falls means 12 extra crossings. I head down to Middle Falls and camp.



I make it to Middle Falls and set up camp and enjoy one of three major falls on the creek.