This April/May backpacking trip was spent in Bald River Backcountry---about 100,000 acres stretching from Whiggs Meadow to Sycamore Creek and northwest to Bald River wilderness and Brookshire Creek/State Line Ridge to Waucheesi Mt and Warrior's Passage trail---all in the mountains of Tennessee.

All pics can be seen here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...T-Thru-Hikers/

TRIP 217
April 22-May 12, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS
** WHIGG RIDGE TRAIL 86 BACKPACKED FOR FIRST TIME
** TIC TOCK AND COOKIE BMT THRU HIKERS ON SYCAMORE CREEK TRAIL
** OLGA AND BLUEBERRY BMT THRU HIKERS AT FISH HATCHERY
** A TRIP OF NIGHTLY INCONTINENCE
** PANTHER TRAIL DESTRUCTION
** BACKPACKING SKULL MT TO BALD RIVER
** BMT THRU HIKER JARED "BEAST"
** BMT THRU HIKER SPITFIRE
** FIRST CAMP IN ROUND TOP COVE
** BALD RIVER TRAIL 80% CLEARED
** SANDY GAP BECOMES SATAN GAP
** TREMENDOUS TRAILWORK ON KIRKLAND CREEK TRAIL DAY 15
** FOUR DAYS ON KIRKLAND TRAIL IN A THREE DAY RAINSTORM
** DAD BOD AND ALY BMT THRU HIKERS IN SIX MILE GAP DAY 18
** FINAL QUEST TO WILDCAT CREEK ON WARRIOR'S PASSAGE

TRAILS(**overnights)
Entrance at Mud Gap on BMT
Mud Gap to Whiggs Meadow
**Whiggs Meadow**
Whiggs Mt Roadwalk for 2 Miles
Whigg Ridge Trail #86 Down Hill
**Thank God Creek Camp on Whigg Ridge Trail**
Whigg Ridge Trail to Sycamore Creek
Sycamore Creek Trail Going Up
**Low Hobo Camp**
Sycamore Creek Trail Going Up
**High Hobo Camp**
Sycamore Creek Trail Going Down
**Bear Camp on Sycamore Creek**
Sycamore Creek Trail Out to Fish Hatchery
Sugar Mt Trail Up to Top
**Pretty Pine Gap on Sugar Mt**
Logging Cut 40921 Heading Northwest
Logging Cut 40832 Heading Northwest
**Skull Cove Camp on 40832**
Cut 40832 to End
Henderson Top Trail North by Northwest
Cow Camp Down to Bald River
**Rock Ledge Camp on Bald River (2)**
Bald River Trail Heading South
**Big Pine Camp**
Bald River Trail South and Out
Bald River Roadwalk Heading East
Brookshire Trail Going Up
**Brookshire Horse Camp**
Brookshire Trail Up to Sled Runner Gap
**Sled Runner Gap Camp**
State Line Ridge Heading West
**Round Top Cove Camp**
State Line Ridge to Sandy Gap
Kirkland Creek Trail Down
**Crossing 12 Secret Camp on Kirk Trail (3)**
Kirkland Trail Backtrack up to Sandy Gap
**Sandy Gap Camp**
BMT from Sandy Gap to Six Mile Gap
**Six Mile Gap**
Waucheesi Mt Manway up to Mt Top
Waucheesi Mt Roadwalk Down
Warrior's Passage Trail Heading Northwest
**Wildcat Cove High Camp**
Warrior's Passage to Wildcat Creek
**Wildcat Creek Camp**
Warrior's Passage Trail to Old Furnace Roadwalk and OUT.

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I get dropped off at Mud Gap on the BMT and in 2 miles (and 500 foot elev gain) reach Whiggs Meadow at 5,000 feet. The mountain behind is Haw Knob at 5,500 feet and the highest point in Monroe Cty TN.

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Day 2 and it's time to leave Whiggs Meadow and explore a new trail never hiked---Whiggs Ridge Trail #86---newly cleared by the American Hiking Society. My McHale pack is about 90lbs of too much food and crap.

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After a two mile roadwalk off the Whigg (and off the BMT) I reach the elusive trailhead to #86---and it's a mostly dry scrub trail which drops hard to Tellico River.

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One of the best ways to descend a steep trail with a 90 lb pack is to wear cleats---in this case microspikes. They help immensely for traction.

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A nifty Whigg Ridge blaze.

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Before the trip I try to clean the throttle cable in my MSR Simmerlite stove and of course can't reinsert it so I go into my Gear Museum and pull out a vintage Whisperlite stove for the trip---and bring the usual 40-44 ozs of white gas.

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On Day 2 I find a neato CS by a creek on Whigg Ridge trail and then on Day 3 finish the trail where it jcts Sycamore Creek trail as shown---and now I'm back on the BMT.