View Full Version : Two days on Slickrock Creek
In 35 years of backpacking the combined Citico/Slickrock/Joyce Kilmer wilderness areas, most often I have tended to go in from Farr Gap, frequently from Beech Gap, sometimes from Wolf Laurel, and occasionally from the lower Citico side along Doublecamp Creek road or Warden Field, and a few times from Rattlesnake Rock, and rarely from Tapoco. Until now, I had never entered from the Big Fat Gap parking area.
Since I live in TN it just seems a long way around to come in from the “back side.”
It took me two hours to drive from Maryville to Big Fat. It didn’t help any that I got behind a pickup truck pulling a motorcycle on a trailer across the “Tail of the Dragon” on Hwy 129. He seemed oblivious that proper etiquette is to use the many available pull-outs to let faster traffic get around.
Once arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The parking area was spacious. All the trails leading off in every direction were clearly marked with new signs. The whole area seems to have new signs at trailheads and intersections. They are among the nicest signs I have ever seen in the wilderness areas.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1354_zpscvdamnpo.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1354_zpscvdamnpo.jpg.html)
Ready to hit the trail. I’m carrying a butt heavy pack (Mystery Ranch NICE 6500) loaded with all the creature comforts that I like to have while camping.
I have both a Silky Big Boy saw and a hatchet. My Slinglight chair. Two cook pots plus a frying pan. A white gas stove and two spare fuel bottles. A Purcell Trench grill. A spare tarp. The list goes on….
I’m also carrying a ton of food for such a short trip. A big prime ribeye steak, worchestershire sauce, 4 big potatoes, a bottle of cooking oil, mild Italian sausage, red beans and rice, a pound of bacon, half dozen eggs, 5 bananas, a jar of almond butter, a loaf of raisin bread, granola, powdered milk, a block of cheese, and the obligatory fiber bars. It’s fun to eat well in the woods.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1359_zpsjnnrdfkv.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1359_zpsjnnrdfkv.jpg.html)
I drop 1000 feet and a mile and a half to Slickrock Creek. It took me an hour and a half, going all downhill. Just across the creek on the “Tennessee side” (even though the creek at this point is not actually the state line) is one of my favorite campsites. I call it “Bass Solo.”
Upon my arrival in camp I find this mess left in the fire ring by previous campers.
It was full of tin cans. There were two small white cotton terrycloth towels similar to what might be stolen from a cheap motel.
There was also a pair of house slippers! No doubt some dufus thought they’d make great camp shoes. I’ll imagine that at the time they were left they were probably soaking wet.
There were a bunch of AA and AAA batteries thrown in the fire also. And an empty Coleman butane/propane canister. And even some Mountain House foil pouches. Hard to imagine that the same people who left those were the same who ate from the tin cans. It seemed that at least two separate groups had trashed the place.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1360_zpshtf9mmvr.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1360_zpshtf9mmvr.jpg.html)
There were a couple of red oak branches on the ground nearby. With the Silky saw I soon had firewood stacked up and neatly cut into forearm size pieces.
One of my favorite tricks is to string up a cheap aluminized vinyl 5’ x 7’ tarp over the fire ring to protect from rain. There have been times in the past when this literally saved my life after weather turned wet and cold. I also carry a 4’ square piece of Tyvek for covering firewood. But this time, despite the fact that I took the time to protect the fire I didn’t get a single drop of rain.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1362_zpssos29fv8.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1362_zpssos29fv8.jpg.html)
Camp all set up. For the very first time ever I tried out the camera timer on my iPhone.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1364_zps8uu8fpre.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1364_zps8uu8fpre.jpg.html)
Lit with the first match, the beginning of what would be a great fire.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1365_zpsvcvoqxlq.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1365_zpsvcvoqxlq.jpg.html)
I boiled water for coffee on the Primus Omni-light Ti stove and started cooking on the fire.
There’s nothing like a prime cut of grass fed dead cow on the grill in the back country. Fried potatoes clinch the deal.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1367_zpsag4n5yzv.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1367_zpsag4n5yzv.jpg.html)
I had to laugh. I managed to drop my steak twice!
The first time, I dropped it right onto the ground. One side was covered in all matter of Earthen debris. Dirt, leaf flakes, bark, probably insect droppings and body parts.
I scraped it off with the potato spatula and put it back on the grill.
A second time I dropped it in the fire. It bounced off a stick and landed almost completely back on the grill. I tried to wipe the ashes off but only succeeded in grinding them into the steak.
The 5 second rule doesn’t apply when you are in the woods and hungry. It was the best steak I have ever cooked on a campfire!
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1369_zpsyfheowsu.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1369_zpsyfheowsu.jpg.html)
It was nearly 10:00 PM by the time it got completely dark. I went to bed.
At 1:00 AM I woke up. I probably would have awakened anyway because a little girl size bladder is incompatible with my old man prostate.
But my first conscious thought was that my eyes were seeing weird lights. Then, I saw light again and thought it might be lightening.
After laying in the hammock a few more seconds I realized I was seeing flashlights. I went on red alert!
There had been no one camping near me. Now all of a sudden at 1:00 AM I had intruders. I watched as three people came in the middle of the night and set up camp directly across the creek from me.
I watched as they tried to hang bear bags. Soon they were inside what appeared to be a huge tent and lights out. The next morning after daylight I could see it was actually a tent and a hammock tarp.
As I was making breakfast, (eggs, bacon, fried potatoes)….they came to the creek for water. It was two young guys and a girl. I don’t think they had known I was there until the next morning. They later packed up and headed up the nut buster trail.
I was somewhat proud of the way I had cleaned up the fire ring considering how I found it.
I stomped most of the tin cans flat and buried them. Hopefully rust and corrosion eventually return them to the Earth.
I had managed to burn the terry cloth towels, the house slippers, Mountain House foil pouches, etc.
There were several low profile tins as commonly used for packing sardines. I never did get rid of all of them as they just kept turning up from the ashes.
Here I burn the last paper towel and the last of my trash before leaving.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1370_zps0yu3irr7.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1370_zps0yu3irr7.jpg.html)
On the way out I came across this hooch. Probably some bush crafter redneck playing “Batman-in-the-boondocks” had built a lean-to shelter.
Gotta admit the hippie cairn was a nice touch.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/61panhead/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1372_zpsokfbckbu.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/61panhead/media/Camping/2015-7-25%20Big%20Fat%20Gap%20to%20Slickrock/IMG_1372_zpsokfbckbu.jpg.html)
The hump back out to Big Fat Gap kicked my butt. Long and steady uphill is a calf buster. It took me three hours from Slickrock Creek back to the car at Big Fat.
An hour up the trail I met a group of day hikers. There were about eight total. Two men, one carrying a small daypack. About three women and about three young girls.
They stopped to chat for a minute. The guy told me it’s only about 20 minutes to the top. Yeah, walking downhill and not carrying packs you may have gotten here in 20 minutes but it will take me another two hours to get up this hill while carrying this load. And sure enough,....two hours later I made it back, legs throbbing, sweat pouring.
I carried too much, struggled with the load, and paid the price. But the camping was worth every second of it.
Last Call
07-26-2015, 15:51
Nice trip report, thanks for posting it. Where is this area?
Nice trip report, thanks for posting it. Where is this area?
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=joyce+kilmer+slickrock+wilderness&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4
Gear failure:
On my trip last month I had a new SeaToSummit inflatable pillow. It worked great for a week.
I go out on this trip almost exactly a month later, and it wouldn't hold air at all. I couldn't even blow it up!
It has been stored in its stuff sack, and attached to the ridgeline of my hammock. Nothing could have punctured it. There were no signs of distress. It just simply wouldn't hold air.
So much for that worthless piece of gear!
Tipi Walter
07-26-2015, 17:46
Thanks for a great report with interesting pics. I was the one whole scoured the surrounding area and found those slippers hanging on a tree 50 feet from camp and found all those Mt House wrappers laying a 100 feet away from camp and destroyed by animals. I carted all the crap to the firepit and dumped it as I had a week more to go and wasn't going to carry it out. I camped there recently like around July 20 etc.
What you call Bass Solo Camp I call Little West Camp and yes there's a Little East Camp as you found out with the shining headlamps.
I saw the NC ranger guys who put up all those trail signs. They fixed new ones too all along the Bob to the Hangover etc.
That's cool. Knowing you picked up trash and placed it there is better than having cretin rednecks leave it intentionally in that condition.
I know you don't generally build fires except to burn your own trash.
It took a considerable hot fire to burn those towels and slippers.
Except for some aluminum foil and sardine cans which were buried in the ashes, I got it cleaned up respectably.
I even left some good firewood for the next person who uses the site.
I love that campsite!
About 4 years ago David and I came DOWN the nutbuster trail. It was getting late and we were ready to stop. The first campsite we came to was maybe a little over a mile up. It's tucked back and hidden. It would be easy to miss. We named it "Stop Time." In jazz a stop time chorus is when the rhythm section drops out and a soloist continues unaccompanied.
The next day we made it to this campsite and immediately loved it. David named it "Bass Solo." That name stuck and we have called it that ever since.
Been there many times, excellent fishing.
love that area down there...
wonder how long those new signs will last?
did ya go down/up big fat gap trail?
and yes, that is a beast going up..................likewise, i think it took me over an hour to get up it from slickrock creek......
The Cleaner
07-27-2015, 15:05
Nice report and pics.That's about normal for backpackers these days,leaving trash and other unnecessary acts.The best way to avoid it is to hike little used areas and they are hard to find as most places look the same on a trail map.Here in the southeast a "Wilderness Area" is just a nice touch for a map.You might hike 4 hours uphill,sweating bullets only to find that the summit is a redneck 4 wheeler camp as there is non Wilderness land only a few yards past the summit.No one to enforce any laws,unless you go to Shining Rock Wilderness without a bear canister.:eek:
wonder how long those new signs will last?
did ya go down/up big fat gap trail?
and yes, that is a beast going up..................likewise, i think it took me over an hour to get up it from slickrock creek......
The signs will last until the next round of low-life folks need firewood.
I went down from Big Fat to Slickrock. I was carrying about 75+ lbs. It took an hour and a half.
Then I went back up. Carrying almost 70 lbs. That took three hours. It was nearly 90 degrees and I spent nearly half that time standing still trying to stop sweating.
Yes,....I'm slow. But I make a comfortable camp and I can cook like a 5-star chef on a campfire. I use secret ingredients. :cool:
But I make a comfortable camp and I can cook like a 5-star chef on a campfire
thats what i enjoy about the backcountry.....
but instead of a rib eye-----i take in a filet mignon.......
marinate the thing all day in a bag in a backpack----get a good fire a roaring and cook that thing over it.....
The signs will last until the next round of low-life folks need firewood.
the sad part about it is that area has a ton of firewood for the taking....
the only place that it may be tough to gather is up at hangover or naked ground...
any other place ive camped-----ive had enough wood to last 8 or 9 hours (im usually up late reading by the fire)...
Nice pictures and report Cadenza.
I came upon a similar mess in the fire ring at hangover camp, in the middle of the winter, 20 degrees. I figured some boneheads came in and couldn't take the cold. Left a lot of stuff. Four MRE's a can of fuel, lots of fire pit trash and a can of Spaghettios. I hauled most of it out. I couldn't fit two of the MRE's.
thats what i enjoy about the backcountry.....
Me too!
If you compare the two separate trips I did this past week,.....I MUCH preferred this one.
On this trip I took everything I wanted. I enjoyed making a cozy camp, I enjoyed cooking, I enjoyed the fire, I enjoyed everything except humping the stuff in.
On the second trip I took bare bones minimum. It was a forced march of a big loop on tough trails. My legs are sore, my feet hurt, and I didn't take the time to enjoy any of it.
Batman in the boondocks. LOL. I gots ta stop in your camp when the likes of Tipi, Rainman, and you get on a roll. And, you guys don't even do illicit drugs. Whew.
No drugs for me.
I don't even take my prescribed meds for acid reflux and cholesterol.
This trip was totally 'dry,' but I sometimes go with a long-time buddy who tempts me to take a tiny little sip of George Dickel while in a trance staring at the fire. Nothing radical or crazy. ;)
So, is it safe to say you did this trip more as scamper rather than a hiker? :D
Wow, a butt heavy 75 lb + load jammed inside a 6500 cubic inch pack for a two day mid summer trip. My eyelids are feeling heavy just reading that.
"I have both a Silky Big Boy saw and a hatchet. My Slinglight chair. Two cook pots plus a frying pan. A white gas stove and two spare fuel bottles. A Purcell Trench grill. A spare tarp. The list goes on….
I’m also carrying a ton of food for such a short trip. A big prime ribeye steak, worchestershire sauce, 4 big potatoes, a bottle of cooking oil, mild Italian sausage, red beans and rice, a pound of bacon, half dozen eggs, 5 bananas, a jar of almond butter, a loaf of raisin bread, granola, powdered milk, a block of cheese, and the obligatory fiber bars. It’s fun to eat well in the woods."
WOW, oodles of calories, protein, cholesterol, and fat. Did you note your body wt pre and post trip? Were you expecting a small troop of Boy Scouts short on chow to stop by? :D Must have sat in that sling chair likely napping alot? :D Are you one of those outdoorsy scamper types that return from their trips weighing more and having raised cholesterol several points? I see you noted you are already on cholesterol meds.
"I drop 1000 feet and a mile and a half to Slickrock Creek. It took me an hour and a half, going all downhill."(with a 75 lb load).
"The hump back out to Big Fat Gap kicked my butt. It took me three hours from Slickrock Creek back to the car at Big Fat Gap."(with a almost 70 ln load). ,....two hours later I made it back, legs throbbing, sweat pouring."
No surprises there. At least I saw that you used trekking poles. So, you're cool about all that? Ever stop to consider the toll it all has on your body?
Thanks for the report Cadenza. Enjoyed painfully reading about it. :D The pics helped me digest the pain I felt for your body. You should label this the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink Trip." :p
Ooops, you've been prescribed cholesterol meds but you refuse to take them.
Hey, I never said my way is the only way. It's A way.
I did this trip and enjoyed it. Then I went back home, regrouped, switched packs, came back for another go at it, and hiked hard for 6 hours straight, spent the night, got up and hit the trail hard for 10 hours of virtually non-stop hard hiking the next day. I burned a couple of calories. :D
But the first trip was way more fun! :)
75 lb load and you didn't even pack some JD?
You know I'm only screwin with ya Cadenza, right?
Indeed, HYOH. You managed to even clean up some. That tells us a lot. You certainly left that campfire ring in much better looking shape. THX.
stir crazy
10-09-2015, 08:12
I haven't hiked in the Slickrock area yet. I hike a lot in the Cohutta Wilderness because it's so close to where I live. I'm going hiking next week and was wondering if any of you could tell me a good 2 night loop hike in the Slickrock area. I'll be coming up from Canton, GA. How would you compare that area to hiking in the Cohutta?
How would you compare that area to hiking in the Cohutta?
ive only been to Cohutta twice------but have spent a bunch (not as much at tipi) nights in JK/Slickrock areas............
the biggest difference is that i thought cohutta was flat compared to most anything in the JK area.....
JK has more ridges and what not, so the trails have to go up to ridge...............
one of the other biggest differences-----saw way, way more people in cohutta...
i stayed by panther falls and it was crowded, then when i cut over to a trail i cant remember the name----a ton of people were coming up from beech bottoms area...............
as for a two night loop---------i would think one of the best hikes would be to involve the hangover....
park at big fat gap----take hangover lead south up to the hangover----camp there................or go over to naked ground and camp there.....
next day---go down slickrock creek trail-----go down to the creek and theres a bunch of campsites in that area.......
and then complete loop by going up big fat gap trail to parking lot..........
Tipi Walter
10-09-2015, 11:43
I always like to compare the Big Frog/Cohutta to the Citico/Slickrock. When I'm sitting in my tent in the Cohutta I often write up a short paragraph on the differences. As TNhiker says, the Cohutta seems flat when compared to the other wilderness areas. Citico/Slickrock is all bunched up and has many Nutbuster trails: Upper Slickrock 42, Jenkins Meadow, Naked Ground Trail, Hangover Lead South, (and Hangover Lead North!!), North Fork Citico, Brush Mt, Mill Branch---you name it, you'll get your butt handed to you.
Big Frog/Cohutta on the other hand doesn't have any 5,300 foot mountains---the highest is Big Frog at 4,224---and the trails are very gradual. The only nutbuster I can think of is Panther Creek from Conasauga River up to East Cowpens trail. It's rough. And I haven't done Tearbritches or the short section of Hickory Creek running from Conasauga River west to forest road 17.
Of course, Hickory Ridge from Jacks River up to Cowpens is also tough in short spurts so there's some backpacking involved either way.
The main difference is the Citico/Slickrock has a hateful noisy road cutting thru the best of it so you get to hear harley motorcycle roars and screams all day. Except in winter. Cohutta has none of that, although it's closer to Atlanta so I often hear many more overhead jets and frequent helicopters passing overhead.
And Cohutta doesn't get walloped as bad with winter storms and arctic outbreaks. You still might need your microspikes in January and February in Cohutta but probably not your snow shovel.
TNhiker's loop is pretty good, although going down 42 the Nutbuster from Naked Ground Gap will prove to be harrowing.
I like this loop: Park at Joyce Kilmer near memorial lot, hike up Naked Ground trail to the ridge and swing over to the Hangover and camp, head down Deep Creek trail and junction with Haoe Lead trail. Go up Haoe Lead trail and go past Jenkins Meadow trail jct to the flat ridge on Haoe Lead for night 2, then backtrack to Jenkins and descend down to your car.
Tipi Walter
10-09-2015, 11:48
Another loop idea if the water is down:
Park at Slickrock Creek trailhead off Highway 129. Go up Slickrock Creek 12 crossings to the final crossing and either camp or camp by Wildcat Falls after the 10th crossing.
Find the Nichols Cove trailhead (off the Slickrock Creek trail by the Big Fat Gap trail)---take Nichols up to Windy Gap and down to the little gravesite and either camp or take Yellowhammer to Ike Branch trail and camp in a high gap above Ike Creek. Third day go down Ike Branch trail which junctions Slickrock Creek and out to your car.
stir crazy
10-09-2015, 14:58
Thank you Tipi and Tnhiker. Any idea of the mileages for these loops? I need to run to REI and get the map. Sounds pretty challenging. I really don't mind the steep ups and downs as long as I'm not doing it all day long. I've done the AT through GA and NC so I have some experience with the ups and downs of higher elevations, but I'm definitely a section hiker -- usually 3-4 day variety. On a 3 day hike with elevation, I would like to stay in that 10-12 miles/day range if possible.
I really don't mind the steep ups and downs as long as I'm not doing it all day long
then you dont wanna do slickrock going up..........
i dont have mileages on me.........my map is at house and i wont be home for a few days..
but, all of the loops suggested (both mine and tipis) are in the 10-14 mile.....maybe a touch longer............and thats total mileage and not one day mileage.......
Ashepabst
10-12-2015, 13:32
as for a two night loop---------i would think one of the best hikes would be to involve the hangover....
park at big fat gap----take hangover lead south up to the hangover----camp there................or go over to naked ground and camp there.....
next day---go down slickrock creek trail-----go down to the creek and theres a bunch of campsites in that area.......
and then complete loop by going up big fat gap trail to parking lot..........
it's about 2.8 from Big Fat Gap up to the Hangover and then maybe another mile over to Naked Ground.
my notes say that it's about 6 miles from Naked Ground down to the first intersection with Big Fat Tr. and then another STEEP 1.5 miles up to Big Fat Gap.
Ashepabst
10-12-2015, 13:36
hey TNHiker, we may've already talked about this but did you ever end up doing the dead end trail up Horse Cove? I've wondered what the story behind that is.
Tipi Walter
10-12-2015, 15:14
Thank you Tipi and Tnhiker. Any idea of the mileages for these loops? I need to run to REI and get the map. Sounds pretty challenging. I really don't mind the steep ups and downs as long as I'm not doing it all day long. I've done the AT through GA and NC so I have some experience with the ups and downs of higher elevations, but I'm definitely a section hiker -- usually 3-4 day variety. On a 3 day hike with elevation, I would like to stay in that 10-12 miles/day range if possible.
It's not the steepness of the trails that are a problem, it's the CONDITION of the trails---most especially the Nutbuster Upper Slickrock. If you like thickets and brush and saplings and sawbriars and briars and hemlock blowdowns you'll love this trail. Add some near vertical stretches and you'll be right at home.
it's about 2.8 from Big Fat Gap up to the Hangover and then maybe another mile over to Naked Ground.
From Big Fat Gap to the Hangover may only be 2.8 or 3 miles, but it seems like 8. It's also now part of the newly rerouted BMT.
Ashepabst
10-12-2015, 17:08
From Big Fat Gap to the Hangover may only be 2.8 or 3 miles, but it seems like 8. It's also now part of the newly rerouted BMT.
agreed. me and my buddy did this loop back in late July last year and didn't make too far passed the Hangover on day 1. upper Slickrock was even worse, for the reasons you just described.
Ashepabst
10-12-2015, 18:27
...*PAST the Hangover...
hey TNHiker, we may've already talked about this but did you ever end up doing the dead end trail up Horse Cove? I've wondered what the story behind that is.
no.......found it on a few maps but never really explored in that little cove that it starts in off the road...............
its on the long list of places to check out, but i seem to get distracted by other things.............
agreed. me and my buddy did this loop back in late July last year and didn't make too far passed the Hangover on day 1. upper Slickrock was even worse, for the reasons you just described.
and hellfire, ashe---this is the loop you suggested to me once i got around to exploring that area...
and thanks for the arse kickin.... ;P
Traffic Jam
10-15-2015, 07:59
I was on Ike Branch trail 2 days ago and the blowdowns are terrible.
I agree the new BMT from the Hangover to Big Fat Gap seems like 8 mi. It stormed the night before and was muddy and slippery. I fell numerous times. It took me about 3 hours.
As far as the new section of the BMT from the Hangover to Yellow Hammer Gap, I'll never do it again by myself.
Traffic Jam
10-15-2015, 08:08
Ike Branch trail
32310
32311
Traffic Jam
10-15-2015, 08:14
One more comment, if you camp at Naked Ground, the water source is about 0.1 mi down Slickrock Creek trail.
Tipi Walter
10-15-2015, 08:46
Ike Branch trail
32310
32311
Wow, that's some crap. Get the corona folding saw out, boys!!! Ike Branch used to be part of the BMT and so it was well maintained by Sgt Rock and the Crosscut Mountain Boys. But now the BMT is rerouted from Yellowhammer Gap straight down to Tapoco Lodge and Highway 129 and Ike is totally avoided, meaning that these blowdowns will probably never be fixed.
But looking at your pics (and since I carry a corona folding saw), I could probably at least make enough room for myself and my ginormous pack to pass thru. OR cut a "reach-around" detour either above or below the mess.
Traffic Jam
10-15-2015, 09:22
Wow, that's some crap. Get the corona folding saw out, boys!!! Ike Branch used to be part of the BMT and so it was well maintained by Sgt Rock and the Crosscut Mountain Boys. But now the BMT is rerouted from Yellowhammer Gap straight down to Tapoco Lodge and Highway 129 and Ike is totally avoided, meaning that these blowdowns will probably never be fixed.
But looking at your pics (and since I carry a corona folding saw), I could probably at least make enough room for myself and my ginormous pack to pass thru. OR cut a "reach-around" detour either above or below the mess.
A saw would have come in handy. I tried to go above and it was way too steep for me. I think in the 2nd photo, when I tried to go above, I slid backwards and nearly ripped off two of my fingernails grabbing onto roots and branches. Somehow, I pushed and pulled my pack through but it sure as heck wasn't easy. I think I earned the title of "Adventurer". ;)
Oh yeah, if Cadenza is still planning a trip this week, wear orange!!!! ...lots of hunters in this area.
Too bad there's not a color to ward off wayward hunting dogs.