Tipi Walter
03-27-2018, 11:32
I just finished up this March backpacking trip into the mountains of TN and NC---inside the Citico and Slickrock/Kilmer wilderness areas.
This trip is highlighted by the several Nutbusting trails I did---climbing Upper Slickrock Creek #42 (the Nutbuster trail), down Jenkins Meadow/Up Naked Ground Trail, down South Fork Creek trail twice, and up the Brush Mt trail on the Citico side.
All trip pics can be seen here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/
22 DAYS
IN THE
COLD
TRIP 189
February 27-March 20, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS
**38 HOUR RAIN AND 2 ZERO DAYS ON ABBEY CREEK
**HOPPIN JOHN MEETS ME ON ROCKY FLATS WHERE WE CAMP
**HOPPIN JOHN DRIVES ME TO FARR GAP
**SNOWSTORM ON THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL
**43RD CLIMB (AND TRAILWORK) OF THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL
**FIRST CRANBERRY LEADER'S TEAM IN NAKED GROUND GAP
**40 CREEK CROSSINGS
**TOUGH DAY CLIMBING NAKED GROUND TRAIL IN A BLIZZARD
**BRYAN AND NATALIE'S GROUP IN NAKED GROUND GAP
**PAUL AND ANDREW AND LILLY'S GROUP IN NAKED GROUND
**EARLHAM COLLEGE AT WATAUGA CAMP
**GREG MILLER AND GROUP PASSES THRU DONNER CAMP
**MEETING DAYHIKER JEBIDIAH JACK
**21ST BACKPACK OF THE BRUSH MT TRAIL
**BRUSH MT TRAIL TRAILWORKED AND RIBBONED
**CAMPING WITH GREG MILLER IN THE WEDGE
TRAILS
Entrance in Beehouse Gap
Beehouse Roadwalk into Warden's Field
Rocky Flats
**Ed Abbey Camp (3)**
Rocky Flats
**Chimney Site**
Rocky Flats
Hoppin John Drives Me up to Farr Gap
Fodderstack Ridge Trail Going South
**Horn in the West Camp**
Fodderstack Ridge South
Crowder Camp
Big Stack Trail Down
Slickrock Creek Up
**Slicnic Camps on Ledge**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Buckeye Camp**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Open Cove Camp**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Lonesome Ridge on Leg 6**
43rd Climb of the Nutbuster Trail
**Naked Ground Gap Main Camp**
7 Mile Ridge Going East
Haoe Lead Down
Jenkins Meadow Trail Down
**Kurt's Log Camp**
Jenkins Meadow/Connector
Naked Ground Trail
**Low Dog Camps**
Naked Ground Trail Up
**Mid Dog Camp**
Naked Ground Trail Up
**Naked Ground Gap Main Camp (2)**
7 Mile Ridge to Bob Mt
54A South to Cold Gap
South Fork Trail Down
**Iron Camp**
South Fork Trail Down
**Donner Camps**
South Fork Trail Up
Brush Mt Trail Up
**Bug Hollow Camp**
Brush Mt Trail Up
**Brush Ridge Gap Camp**
Brush Mt Trail Up
Trail 149 to Cold Gap
**Wedge Little Cove Camp**
Up Wedge to Cold Gap
South Fork Trail Down
**White Rock Camp**
South Fork Trail Out
Beehouse Roadwalk to Skyway and OUT
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-zQQBBpt/0/e033e659/L/Trip%20189%20%2810%29-L.jpg
My trip begins in Beehouse House Gap on Citico Creek road where I get dropped off as King Dog watches me pack on her McHale backpack throne. This time I'm loaded down with a 100 lb pack and 23 days of food and fuel---about 50 lbs of such.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-87SjqCw/0/06291d29/L/Trip%20189%20%2838%29-L.jpg
I leave Beehouse Gap on a short roadwalk and reach the trailhead to Rocky Flats and climb a couple nuts up to Abbey Creek where I get caught in a 3 day rainstorm which causes little Abbey Creek to go wild.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-nT3kddb/0/748cc6e0/L/Trip%20189%20%28105%29-L.jpg
After the big Rocky Flats rainstorm I meet up with backpacking buddy Hoppin John and we camp together near the Rocky Flats chimney---an old homestead site. On Day 4 we pack up and prepare to backpack out of the homestead valley and beyond.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-fRPBxqD/0/1682c066/L/Trip%20189%20%28106%29-L.jpg
After Hoppin John leaves (and I hitch a ride with him up to Farr Gap), I take Fodderstack Ridge trail south to Crowder Camp and stop for a break before descending down to Slickrock Creek on the Big Stack Gap trail. Here I am wearing my Dan McHale Demo pack with alot of weight.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-TZvwR64/0/beaa58bf/L/Trip%20189%20%28100%29-L.jpg
I make it down to Slickrock Creek and put up some red ribbon showing the 12th and highest crossing of the creek on the trail. The water is about mid thigh deep and butt cold but I make it.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-ZgZmzkx/0/6144b40b/L/Trip%20189%20%28112%29-L.jpg
After I cross Slickrock Creek I set up at a big campsite overlooking the creek. My tent is just visible on the far left.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-bXrBc7Z/0/06978a8e/L/Trip%20189%20%28129%29-L.jpg
On Day 7 I begin my journey up the Nutbuster trail aka Upper Slickrock Creek trail #42. This is my 43rd backpack up the "hardest trail in the Southeast". Since I've done it so many times I have it divided into 10 legs and this is Buckeye Camp at the end of Leg 3 and across from Hangover Creek.
This trip is highlighted by the several Nutbusting trails I did---climbing Upper Slickrock Creek #42 (the Nutbuster trail), down Jenkins Meadow/Up Naked Ground Trail, down South Fork Creek trail twice, and up the Brush Mt trail on the Citico side.
All trip pics can be seen here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/
22 DAYS
IN THE
COLD
TRIP 189
February 27-March 20, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS
**38 HOUR RAIN AND 2 ZERO DAYS ON ABBEY CREEK
**HOPPIN JOHN MEETS ME ON ROCKY FLATS WHERE WE CAMP
**HOPPIN JOHN DRIVES ME TO FARR GAP
**SNOWSTORM ON THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL
**43RD CLIMB (AND TRAILWORK) OF THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL
**FIRST CRANBERRY LEADER'S TEAM IN NAKED GROUND GAP
**40 CREEK CROSSINGS
**TOUGH DAY CLIMBING NAKED GROUND TRAIL IN A BLIZZARD
**BRYAN AND NATALIE'S GROUP IN NAKED GROUND GAP
**PAUL AND ANDREW AND LILLY'S GROUP IN NAKED GROUND
**EARLHAM COLLEGE AT WATAUGA CAMP
**GREG MILLER AND GROUP PASSES THRU DONNER CAMP
**MEETING DAYHIKER JEBIDIAH JACK
**21ST BACKPACK OF THE BRUSH MT TRAIL
**BRUSH MT TRAIL TRAILWORKED AND RIBBONED
**CAMPING WITH GREG MILLER IN THE WEDGE
TRAILS
Entrance in Beehouse Gap
Beehouse Roadwalk into Warden's Field
Rocky Flats
**Ed Abbey Camp (3)**
Rocky Flats
**Chimney Site**
Rocky Flats
Hoppin John Drives Me up to Farr Gap
Fodderstack Ridge Trail Going South
**Horn in the West Camp**
Fodderstack Ridge South
Crowder Camp
Big Stack Trail Down
Slickrock Creek Up
**Slicnic Camps on Ledge**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Buckeye Camp**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Open Cove Camp**
Nutbuster Trail Up
**Lonesome Ridge on Leg 6**
43rd Climb of the Nutbuster Trail
**Naked Ground Gap Main Camp**
7 Mile Ridge Going East
Haoe Lead Down
Jenkins Meadow Trail Down
**Kurt's Log Camp**
Jenkins Meadow/Connector
Naked Ground Trail
**Low Dog Camps**
Naked Ground Trail Up
**Mid Dog Camp**
Naked Ground Trail Up
**Naked Ground Gap Main Camp (2)**
7 Mile Ridge to Bob Mt
54A South to Cold Gap
South Fork Trail Down
**Iron Camp**
South Fork Trail Down
**Donner Camps**
South Fork Trail Up
Brush Mt Trail Up
**Bug Hollow Camp**
Brush Mt Trail Up
**Brush Ridge Gap Camp**
Brush Mt Trail Up
Trail 149 to Cold Gap
**Wedge Little Cove Camp**
Up Wedge to Cold Gap
South Fork Trail Down
**White Rock Camp**
South Fork Trail Out
Beehouse Roadwalk to Skyway and OUT
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-zQQBBpt/0/e033e659/L/Trip%20189%20%2810%29-L.jpg
My trip begins in Beehouse House Gap on Citico Creek road where I get dropped off as King Dog watches me pack on her McHale backpack throne. This time I'm loaded down with a 100 lb pack and 23 days of food and fuel---about 50 lbs of such.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-87SjqCw/0/06291d29/L/Trip%20189%20%2838%29-L.jpg
I leave Beehouse Gap on a short roadwalk and reach the trailhead to Rocky Flats and climb a couple nuts up to Abbey Creek where I get caught in a 3 day rainstorm which causes little Abbey Creek to go wild.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-nT3kddb/0/748cc6e0/L/Trip%20189%20%28105%29-L.jpg
After the big Rocky Flats rainstorm I meet up with backpacking buddy Hoppin John and we camp together near the Rocky Flats chimney---an old homestead site. On Day 4 we pack up and prepare to backpack out of the homestead valley and beyond.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-fRPBxqD/0/1682c066/L/Trip%20189%20%28106%29-L.jpg
After Hoppin John leaves (and I hitch a ride with him up to Farr Gap), I take Fodderstack Ridge trail south to Crowder Camp and stop for a break before descending down to Slickrock Creek on the Big Stack Gap trail. Here I am wearing my Dan McHale Demo pack with alot of weight.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-TZvwR64/0/beaa58bf/L/Trip%20189%20%28100%29-L.jpg
I make it down to Slickrock Creek and put up some red ribbon showing the 12th and highest crossing of the creek on the trail. The water is about mid thigh deep and butt cold but I make it.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-ZgZmzkx/0/6144b40b/L/Trip%20189%20%28112%29-L.jpg
After I cross Slickrock Creek I set up at a big campsite overlooking the creek. My tent is just visible on the far left.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2018-Trips-188-/22-Days-in-the-Cold/i-bXrBc7Z/0/06978a8e/L/Trip%20189%20%28129%29-L.jpg
On Day 7 I begin my journey up the Nutbuster trail aka Upper Slickrock Creek trail #42. This is my 43rd backpack up the "hardest trail in the Southeast". Since I've done it so many times I have it divided into 10 legs and this is Buckeye Camp at the end of Leg 3 and across from Hangover Creek.