This backpacking trip starts out on the Benton MacKaye trail at Beech Gap on the NC/TN state line. It's notable for having my newish Thermarest Trail Pro pad blow seams and crap out on me by Day 2 into Day 8.


18 DAYS
WITH
A
BLOWN
THERMAREST
TRIP 218
June 20-July 7, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS
**BACKPACKERS MADISON AND MEG ON DAY 1
**BRYAN DELAY SWINGS THRU WATAUGA CAMP DAY 5
**TWO HOURS WITH BRYAN AND NATHAN DELAY ON HANGOVER MT DAY 6
**BACKPACKERS STEVE AND RIN ON HAOE PEAK
**TRAIL PRO PAD BLOWS OUT AND FAILS ON DAY 8
**TRAIL 55A NAKED GROUND ALTERNATE IS EXPLORED
**HIKING KILMER MEMORIAL LOOPS DAY 10
**ATLANTA BOYS IN NAKED GROUND GAP DAY 12
**9 HORSEBACK RIDERS ON BOB BALD
**PAPA D (TROLL) ON NORTH FORK TRAIL DAY 14
**NORTH FORK TRAIL COMPLETELY CLEARED EXCEPT FOR ONE HELLISH BLOWDOWN

TRAILS (**overnights)
Entrance Beech Gap TN/NC State Line
Fodderstack Ridge (BMT) Heading North
**Cold Spring Gap**
Trail 149 Heading North
**Dean Camp on 149**
Trail 149 Backtrack Heading South to Barrel Gap
149 (Old BMT) Connector up to Fodderstack Ridge
**Snow Camp South of Cherry Log Gap**
Trail 54A(North) Heading South to Bob Tee
Seven Mile Ridge to Bob Bald
**South Col Camp on Bob Bald**
Seven Mile Ridge Heading East Past Naked Ground Gap
**Watauga Camp**
Seven Mile Ridge Heading East to Hangover Mt
7MR Backtrack West towards Haoe Peak
**Haoe Tree Camp**
Seven Mile Ridge Bactrack West to Naked Ground
**Landon Camp in Naked Ground Gap**
Naked Ground Trail Down
**Middle Dog Camp by Little Santeetlah Creek**
Naked Ground Trail Down
**Low Dog Creekside Camp**(2)
Naked Ground Trail Backtrack Heading Up
**High Dog Camp**
Naked Ground Trail Up to Naked Ground Gap
**Landon Camp in Gap**
Seven Mile Ridge Heading West to Bob Bald
**South Col Camp**
7MR Heading West
Trail 54A (North) to Fodderstack Ridge Going North
North Fork Trail Heading Down
**North Fork Crossing 1 Camp**
North Fork Out
South Fork Trail Up
**White Rock Camp Next to South Fork Creek**
South Fork Trail Backtrack Down
**Donner Camp**(2)
South Fork Trail Out to Citico Creek Roadwalk up to Beehouse Gap
Roadwalk to Indian Boundary Road Jct with Skyway and OUT.

Trip 218 (5)-XL.jpg

My summer trip begins at Beech Gap on the BMT with my 80-85 lb McHale pack as I head north on Fodderstack Ridge trail to Cold Spring Gap.

Trip 218 (11)-XL.jpg

While in Cold Gap on Day 1, I run into these backpackers pulling an intricate wilderness loop from Maple Springs/Horse Cove on the NC side. They are Meg and Madison.

Trip 218 (25)-XL.jpg

My crappy Trail Pro pad begins to delaminate and has only 81days of backpacking under its belt. Piece O' Crap. The glued foam valleys are detaching into the air pocket ridges.

Trip 218 (40)-XL.jpg

I leave Cold Spring Gap and take Trail 149 to North Fork Creek and then backtrack up the old BMT Connector to near Cherry Log Gap and take Trail 54A(N) to this spot west of Bob Bald---I call it Bob Tee.

Trip 218 (52)-XL.jpg

I reach the top of Bob Bald at 5,300 feet and enjoy the solitude and cooler temps as the purpose of this trip is to "get high on a mountain" and avoid the furnace heat of TN valley.

Trip 218 (54)-XL.jpg

The best backpacking chair is rolling out my Solar ccf pad and using my pack as a lazy-boy leaning backrest. Boots of choice are Zamberlan gtx Evo Lites.

Trip 218 (46)-XL.jpg

I set up camp on the Bob and go east exploring and find a couple fir tree blowdowns near camp.