Here's my trip report from April/May 2021 into the mountains of NC and TN.
TRAILS I Backpacked---Trip 211
**Jeffrey Hell down to South Fork Creek.
**South Fork trail downstream.
**Brush Mt trail up to Trail 149. (30th Backpack of Brush Mt Trail).
**Trail 149 to North Fork trail up to Cherry Log Gap.
**Fodderstack Ridge to Farr Gap.
**Stiffknee trail down to Slickrock Creek.
**Ike Branch trail from Slickrock Creek to Calderwood Lake.
**Patman drives me from Calderwood Lake to Big Fat Gap.
**Hangover Lead South trail up to Hangover Mt.
**Seven Mile Ridge to Bob Bald.
**54A South to Trail 149 to Brush Mt Trailpost.
**Trail 149 to Cold Spring Gap to Beech Gap.
**Skyturd Road BMT from Beech Gap to Whiggs Meadow.
**Sycamore Creek trail down to Fish Hatchery.
**Tellico River roadwalk to Bald River 126 roadwalk up to Sugar Maple Gap.
**Logging Cut 40832 to Skull Gap.
**Henderson Top trail to Fire Crew Manway to Panther Branch to Tellico River.
**Tellico River roadwalk and hitchhike to Bald River Falls.
**Bald River trail heading south.
**Bald River 126 roadwalk to Basin Gap to end of 126 at FS 384 road.
**Warrior's Passage trail northwest to Old Furnace roadwalk and OUT to Tellico Beach Drive In.
My trip begins in Citico Creek wilderness (TN) on Jeffrey Hell trail down to South Fork Creek where I stand by the Grassy Branch trailpost and jct. Pack of choice is McHale loaded with about 95 lbs of food and books and gear. Boots of choice---Zamberlan Evo Lites goretex. Top green sack under lid is 5th overflow food bag.
Jeffrey Hell trail gets me on South Fork trail and several miles later I reach Brush Mt's jct with SF trail where you have to cross SF Creek and so I begin my 30th backpack up the hardest trail in Citico---Brush Mt. Here I stop on Brush Creek's first of seven crossing to put on crocs.
Amazingly all of my 21 day trip is in below normal cold temps and so I don't have to suffer in the furnace heat. Here I am in my warmth torso layers---Patagonia thermal hoody with turtle fur hat etc. The two plastic jugs behind me are vegan Mayo and of course peanut butter.
Of course backpacking Brush Mt is never easy and Mother Blowdown is always fun---dump the pack and slide it underneath. Like sliding a gun safe under a church pew.
One of my favorite spots on Brush Mt Trail---Beauty Rock reststop atop Brush Ridge. Notice Felco #9 pruners on rock. All backpackers should carry hand pruners.
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A typical Brush Mt blowdown. Out comes the invaluable Corona 10 inch folding saw.
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VOILA fixed and an easy step-over.