I pull a 21 day backpacking trip in August 2021 and most of it is spent in Snowbird wilderness in NC. During the trip I get hit by two hurricanes---Fred on Snowbird Creek and Ida on top of Flats Mt in TN.

All trip pics can be seen here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...wo-Hurricanes/

21 DAYS
IN
TWO HURRICANES
TRIP 213
August 12-September 1, 2021

HIGHLIGHTS
** 38 CREEK CROSSINGS
** NO BACKPACKERS SEEN 17 OUT OF 21 DAYS
** REDNECK GARBAGE CAMPS ON SNOWBIRD CREEK
** HURRICANE FRED WALLOPS BIRD CREEK CAMP DAY 6
** DAY 10 FIRST BACKPACKERS SEEN ON BIRD CREEK TRAIL
** 4TH BACKPACK OF KING'S MEADOW TRAIL
** ROB BUSH SURPRISES ME IN COLD GAP DAY 15
** BUMBLEBEE STING BATTLING COW PARSNIPS
** PATMAN ARRIVES ON BOB BALD WITH WATERMELON
** ROB BUSH ARRIVES ON BOB FROM WILDCAT FALLS
** BACKPACKING WITH PATMAN AND ROB TO BEECH GAP
** HURRICANE IDA HITS FLATS MT

TRAILS
Entrance at Hooper Bald in North Carolina
King's Meadow Trail Down
Mitchell Lick Trail 154
**154 Cove Camp**
Trail 154 Down to Snowbird Creek Trail
Snowbird Creek Trail Downstream 11 Crossings
**Upper Meadow Camp**
Snowbird Creek Trail Heading Southeast
**Middle Falls New Camp**
Trail 64A Alternate to Mouse Footbridge
**Mouse Creek Secret Camp**
Snowbird Creek Trail Downstream
**Upper Redneck Camp by Sassafras Creek Crossing**(2)
Bird Trail Backtrack Upstream
Sassafras Creek Trail 65 Up
**Sassy Creek Camp**
Burnt Rock Ridge Trail Northwest
Cross Snowbird Creek
**Burnt Bird Safety Camp**
Snowbird Trail/64A Alternate Heading East
**Mouse Creek Secret Camp**
Snowbird Creek Trail Downstream to King's Meadow Footbridge
**Owl Creek Camp**
King's Meadow Trail Heading Up
**King's Arrow Camp**
King's Meadow Trail Up
**King's Royal Oak Camp**
King's Meadow Trail Heading Northwest and Out
Trail 154 Heading Southwest
ATV Track Heading North by Northwest by Southwest to Mitchell Lick
Snowbird Creek Trail Heading Southeast and Down
**Little Bird Camp**
Snowbird Trail Backtrack Up to Mitchell Lick
ATV Track Backtrack Heading Northeast to High Point
Laurel Top Manway to Big Snowbird Trail to Big Junction
Backtrack Big Snowbird Trail to Manway Down
**Laurel Top Spur Camp**
Laurel Top Manway to Big Snowbird Trail to Big Junction
Haw Knob Manway to Top and Down West to BMT
BMT to Mud Gap
Skyway BMT to Beech Gap
Fodder Ridge Trail to Cold Gap
**Cold Gap Camp**
54A South to Bob Bald
**South Col Camp on Bob Bald**(2)
BMT Backtrack Off Bob to Beech Gap
Patman Drives me 4 Miles to Grassy Gap
Grassy Branch Trail Down
South Fork Trail Down
North Fork Trail Up
**North Fork Crossing 1 Camp**
NF/SF Trails Out to Citico Creek Roadwalk up to Beehouse Gap
Flats Mt Trail Up
**Camp Hope on top of Flats Mt**(2)
Flats Mt Trail Out to Skyway
Skyway Roadwalk West to Lakeview Overlook and OUT.

Trip 213 (2)-XL.jpg
My trip begins atop Hooper Bald in NC at around 5,240 feet in cool summer temps when Little Mitten and Zoe Dog and Mitten's Mom drops me off with my approx 100 lb McHale pack.


All trips start with a map and this is my old Snowbird map with trails in red and creeks in blue---drawn in at home. I always go into the Birds during the furnace heat of summer as it stays cool and pleasant.


A sample of my Accoutrements of Idiocy---Zamberland Evo Lite boots and two food jugs---peanut butter and vegan mayo (mayo used as condiment sauce in cooked meals). The boots are goretex and keep my feet dry in shallow creek crossings.


I leave Hooper Bald and connect to Mitchell Lick Trail 154 and descend Snowbird Creek trail 11 crossings to this "hidden" CS on Meadow Branch Creek. Tent of choice is 8 lb 10 oz Hilleberg Keron, an excellent solo backpacking tent.


What's for lunch on Day 2? Red grapes smothered in organic peanut butter.


No trip to Bird is complete without visiting Middle Falls---and I find a new CS by the falls for my third night.


I leave Middle Falls and continue down Bird Creek and pass this important trail junction with Sassafras Creek Trail---which I will return to after finding a hunker squat station to get thru Hurricane Fred.