21 Days in a Copperhead Furnace

[Tipi Walter]

This backpacking trip occurs from August 30 to September 19, 2023 in the Bald River backcountry of TN.

TRAILS HIKED
**Beach Drive In on Tellico River up Old Furnace road on a 3 mile tough roadwalk(uphill).
**Warrior's Passage trail to Mule Pen Gap.
**Old Logging cut 126A to Basin Gap.
**Basin Gap-Bald River roadwalk down to Kirkland Creek trailhead.
**Kirkland Creek trail up to Sandy Gap.
**Sandy Gap on State Line Ridge to Sled Runner Gap.
**Down Brookshire Creek trail to Bald River roadwalk.
**North up Bald River trail into Bald River wilderness and backtrack out to road.
**Up Kirkland Creek trail for a second time to Sandy Gap.
**Sandy Gap to Six Mile Gap and up and over Waucheesi Mt.
**Down Warrior's Passage to Old Furnace roadwalk and OUT.

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Little Mitten drops me off at Tellico Beach Drive In and I pull the tough uphill roadwalk on Old Furnace road for 3 miles to Warrior's Passage trailhead. It kicks my butt since the pack is around 115 lbs.

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I reach Warrior's Passage and one mile in I set up camp.

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My Hilleberg tent set up on Warrior's Passage trail.

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I cross Wildcat Creek---always a challenge with a heavy pack---and pass thru Wildcat Cove, the wildest part of WP trail.

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I reach Tobe Creek and set up camp.

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Past Tobe Creek the trail climbs to Mule Pen Gap where there is a little used gated logging cut called 126A on the old maps so I hike it up to Basin Gap and stop at its top end by the bargate.

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Once in Basin Gap I roadwalk Bald River road down to Bald River and Kirkland Creek trailhead and pass this poor snake.

[Tipi Walter]

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After a long day of humpage I reach the bottom trailhead to Kirkland Creek in Upper Bald River wilderness.

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Kirkland trail is usually a hellish exercise in futility but I run into a trail crew clearing it and it takes them 10 days to do the job. They are SAWS---Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.

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A SAWS cutting saw---his "sword".

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Near the top of Kirkland trail I run into SAWS checking out the rest of the trail and with them is Tellico Ranger district Ranger Robert.

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Kirkland punches me out in Sandy Gap on the BMT so I head up State Line Ridge and stop at this pretty rock gateway near Moss Gap after a tough uphill slog.

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I reach Moss Gap on the BMT and set up camp by a spring water source.

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Preparing to leave Moss Gap after burning a trash and book fire.

[Tipi Walter]

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I'm on State Line Ridge-BMT and stop on the other side of Nit Top Mt to check out its spring.

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After about 11 tough hill climbs I reach Rocky Top TN on State Line Ridge and set up camp nearby in Sled Runner Gap.

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I leave Sled Runner Gap and descend Brookshire Creek trail to this spot where Brookshire leaves the BMT.

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I finish Brookshire trail and roadwalk past Holly Flats campground and enter Bald River wilderness here at its back door.

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On Bald River trail stopping to rest at Cascades waterfall.

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As I head north thru BR wilderness I stop at one of my favorite CSs---Big Pine Camp.

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Bald River trail crosses Papaw Cove Creek where I stop to get water.

[Tipi Walter]

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After spending several great nights on Bald River in the wilderness I backtrack south to exit and run into a new friend on the trail. We exchange greetings.

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I leave BR wilderness and return to Kirkland Creek's bottom trailhead and slap on the crocs so I can cross Bald River.

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On Day 15 near the top of Kirkland trail I run into my first backpackers of the trip---four guys from Ohio out for one night on Kirkland.

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Ohio boys head off Kirkland trail to their car in Sandy Gap.

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As I finish Kirkland up to Sandy Gap I run into SAWS again who return to finish their work.

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Once in Sandy Gap I head north out of the gap and get on the BMT to Six Mile Gap and take the manway trail up to Waucheesi Mt for a view.

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A mile on the other side of Waucheesi Mt is the top trailhead to Warrior's Passage and my exit route out to my pickup spot.

[Tipi Walter]

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The top part of Warrior's Passage is very steep so I slap on the microspikes for safe traction.

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I use a couple short roadwalks to connect parts of Warrior's Passage.

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It's time to cross Wildcat Creek on Warrior's Passage.

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Easy crossing cuz the pack is much lighter now near Day 20.

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I finish Warrior's trail and prepare for a 3 mile Old Furnace roadwalk on Day 21.

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My trip ends on Tellico River where I wait for Little Mitten and my ride home.

[Tipi Walter]

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Day 1 pack at around 115 lbs.

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Day 21 pack at around 35 lbs.

[xMagnolia]

Thank you for sharing the details and pictures. It's fun to go along with you.

Charlotte

[cneill13]

Great report as always. An inspiration to us all.

[Mockernut]

Really love this area...especially Kirkland Creek and the Upper Bald wilderness. Thanks for the report!

[chknfngrs]

Looks like your food carry was heavy! Love the photos, too good!

[Slugg]

Damn, 10 days for SAWS to clear Kirkland Creek. Much appreciated and it was much needed.

[Fëanor]

Tipi that rattler looking up at you... wonder what was on his mind...

[Astro]

Looked like it might be a copper head