November/December, 2020.
All pics here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...mber-Blizzard/
18 DAYS
IN A
DECEMBER
BLIZZARD
TRIP 208
November 18--December 5, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
**BACKPACKER AARON BROWN COMES UP BRUSH MT TRAIL
**29TH BACKPACK OF BRUSH MT TRAIL
**ANIMAL CHEW HOLE IN TENT VESTIBULE
**HOPPIN JOHN AND PATMAN ON BOB BALD
**BACKPACKING AND CAMPING WITH PATMAN ON HANGOVER MT
**3,200 FOOT DROP IN 5 MILES FROM HANGOVER MT TO SLICKROCK CREEK
**BLIZZARD ON SLICKROCK CREEK
**10F MY COLDEST MORNING ON DAY 15
**DAY 15 HELLSLOG IN 10 INCHES OF SNOW WITH A GAIN OF 1,500 FEET IN 1.8 MILES
**DAY 16 SEVEN MILE HELLSLOG IN 16 INCH SNOW DRIFTS
**BUTT COLD RAINSTORM ON CITICO CREEK ON DAY 17
**FAMILY COVID EMERGENCY SHORTENS TRIP FROM 21 DAYS TO 18 DAYS
TRAILS (**denotes overnight camps)
Entrance at Jeffrey Hell Trailhead
Jeffrey Hell Trail Down to South Fork Creek
**Camp 28 on South Fork Creek**
South Fork Trail Down
**White Rock Camp on South Fork Creek**
South Fork Trail to Brush Mt/SF Creek Crossing
**South Fork/Brush Camp**
Brush Mt Trail Up
**Low Audrey Camp**
Brush Mt Up
**Bug Hollow Camp**
Brush Mt Up
**Brush Ridge Gap Camp**
Brush Mt Up to Trail 149
**Barrel Gap (2)**
BMT Connector to Fodderstack Ridge
**Snow Camp**
54A North Up to Bob Tee and Seven Mile Ridge
**Raven Camp Bob Bald**
Seven Mile Ridge Heading East
**Airjet Camp on Hangover Mt**
Hangover Lead South Trail to Big Fat Gap
Big Fat Trail Down to Slickrock Creek Trail
**Big Stack/Crossing 11 Camp (3)**
Big Stack Trail Up to Crowder Camp
**Crow Horse Camp**
Fodderstack Ridge Heading South
Pine Ridge Trail Down to Warden's Field
South Fork Trail Up
**Donner Camp (2)**
South Fork Out
Citico Creek Roadwalk to Indian Boundary Lake Roadwalk and OUT.
My trip begins on Jeffrey Hell Trail #196 in Citico Creek Wilderness in the mountains of Tennessee. I eventually swing into North Carolina too.
This pic shows Jeffrey Hell trail as it descends to South Fork Citico trail.
Before the trip I weighed my pack on the bathroom scale and it comes to a verified 93 lbs for a 21 day winter trip---shortened to 18 days due to a family emergency. The pack is a custom made Dan McHale load hauler able to comfortably carry such loads.
South Fork trail descends (dangerously so in places) to this mandatory SF crossing with yellow showing my preferred fording route. I'm looking back in this pic after the crossing.
South Fork is a 9 mile long trail and eventually I reach the trailhead to Brush Mt trail which requires another SF crossing. This pic shows the ford after it's done with the Brush Mt trailhead on the opposite creek bank.
People wonder if we should carry microspikes in the winter and heck I carry microspikes all year long---as the tip of my hiking pole is a micro spike. It aids in traction and balance.
Once I cross South Fork Creek on Brush Mt trail I reach a great CS and set up and discover some previous campers have been busy around the fire ring.