I figure I might as well post this trip report in the BMT Forum as I spent 8 of the 9 days on the trail in the Big Frog wilderness.
To see all the pics go here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...og-Wilderness/
9 DAYS
IN THE
BIG FROG WILDERNESS
TRIP 168
September 12--20 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
** 9 DAYS IN THE BIG FROG
** A NEW CAMP ON GRASSY GAP TRAIL
** BIG FROG MOUNTAIN HAS A TRAIL SIGN AND A NOTEBOOK TRAIL REGISTER
** CAMPING WITH CALEB ON BIG FROG MT
** FIRST HIKE OF LICKLOG RIDGE
** SAW A BLACK BEAR IN THE BIG FROG
** SECOND NIGHT ON BIG FROG MT
** 9 DAYS OF PERFECT SEPTEMBER WEATHER
TRAILS
Entrance Thunder Rock Campground
BMT South
**West Fork**
West Fork/BMT
Rough Creek West
Big Frog Trail
Grassy Gap
**Penitentiary Creek Camp**
Grassy Gap
Wolf Ridge
**Curbow Fields**
Wolf Ridge
**Big Frog Mt High Camp**
Hemp Top (Big Frog to Licklog)
Licklog Ridge
Rough Creek East
Fork Ridge
**Fork Ridge Camp aka Christine Thuermer Camp**
Fork Ridge
Big Frog Trail 64
**North Frog Camp**
Big Frog Trail
**Big Frog Top Camp**
Big Frog 64
**Frog Pond on Rough Creek Trail West**
Rough Creek West
West Fork
BMT North
Thunder Rock and OUT
My backpacking trip begins on the BMT at Thunder Rock campground on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. This is a brand new sign.
Going South on the BMT, the trail passes thru the campground (very loud with Highway 64 noise---who would willingly camp there???), and the trail climbs steeply on 8 switchbacks and levels out here with a double blaze at a turn.
In about 4 or 5 miles from Thunder Rock I make it to the West Fork of Rough Creek and set up at my usual first night spot. I'm now in the Big Frog wilderness and still on the BMT.
On Day 2 I take the West Fork trail south (BMT) and junction with Trail 70, Rough Creek West trail, and take it to the Pond and get on Trail 64 and go south to Low Gap and take Trail 67 southwest (the Grassy Gap trail). Day 3 is my only day off the BMT.
Grassy Gap trail is a neato long trail in the interior of the Frog and passes over Penitentiary Creek where I find this level campsite for Day 2.
On Day 3 I finish Grassy Gap trail and it pops me out on Wolf Ridge atop Bearpen Hill where I get one of the few views of the trip---looking down into the Cohutta wilderness.