Okay boys, I just got back from a June/July backpacking trip into the Citico/Slickrock mountains of TN and NC. My goal was to spend 18 days backpacking along two major creeks---the North Fork Citico and Slickrock Creek---in order to stay cool during the summer Furnace heat.
All trip pics can be seen here---
https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backp...illy/i-sWRPPLX
18 DAYS
WITH
JIMMY, JOHNNY
AND
BILLY
Trip 191
June 15--July 2, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS
**QUEST FOR THE TWO CREEKS
**BAKED INTO SUBMISSION: 18 DAYS IN CHEROKEE NF
**MR. STONE GLACIER NORTH FORK BACKPACKER
**55 CREEK CROSSINGS
**49 BACKPACKERS SEEN
**NORTH FORK JIMMY MY RATTLESNAKE FRIEND
**THE HELL SLOG ACROSS FODDERSTACK RIDGE
**FODDERSTACK JIMMY MY RATTLESNAKE FRIEND
**VERY COOL DAYHIKERS JIM AND TIM IN CROW CAMP
**22 MORMON BACKPACKERS AT CROWDER CAMP
**RANDY CADENZA, WALL TENT DAVE AND JOE ON BIG FAT TRAIL
**BIG FAT BILLY MY RATTLESNAKE FRIEND
**STUDENT CONSERVATION CORPS IN ELYSIUM FIELDS
**BACKPACKER WSP SCOTT CLIMBS HANGOVER MT
**LIGHTNING STORM ON HANGOVER MT
**DAYHIKE TRAILWORK ON NUTBUSTER TRAIL
**BIG HAMMOCK CAMP ON NORTH FORK TRAIL
**RANDY DRAPER BACKPACKS THE NORTH FORK
TRAILS
Entrance at Beehouse Gap on Citico Creek Road and Roadwalk
South Fork Trail
North Fork Trail
**NF Crossing 1 Camp**
North Fork Going Up
**Stump Camp After Crossing 6**
North Fork Going Up
**Camp 7 After 7th Crossing**
North Fork Up
**Rock Ledge Camp**
North Fork Up
Fodderstack Ridge Heading North
**Mill Gap**
Fodderstack Ridge North
**Crow Horse Camp on Crowder Creek**
Crowder Branch/Fodderstack Ridge
Big Stack Gap Trail
**Wildcat Crossing Camp on Slickrock Creek**
Slickrock Creek Trail Upstream
Nutbuster Trail Leg 1
**Nut Gate Camp**
Nutbuster Leg 2
**Burnthouse Camp**
Nutbuster Leg 3
**Buckeye Camp**
Nutbuster Trail Backtrack Down
Big Fat Gap Trail Up
Windy Gap Trail
**Windy Gap Spring Camp**
Windy Gap Backtrack to Big Fat Gap
Hangover Lead South Up
**Elysium Fields**
Hangover Lead South Up
Hangover Mt
**Airjet Camp on top of Hangover Mt**
7 Mile Ridge
**Landon Camp Naked Ground Gap (2)**
7 Mile Ridge
Bob Bald
54A North Down
Fodderstack Ridge North
North Fork Down
**North Fork Crossing 1 Camp**
North Fork Trail
South Fork Trail
**Donner Camp on Citico Creek**
South Fork
Beehouse Roadwalk
Indian Boundary Lake Roadwalk to Skyway and OUT
My trip begins with a shuttle from Little Mitten and Zoe Dog (Devil Dog) to Beehouse Gap on Citico Creek road above my first trailhead on the South Fork 105 trail. This is my fourth long trip using a Dan McHale Demo pack pictured above in blue (with my green tent sticking up). Total pack weight is about 85 lbs.
My first day gets me off my roadwalk and up the South Fork Citico trail to veer off on the North Fork trail which starts with its wooden footbridge. Check out the McHale Demo pack---loaded with the Accoutrements of Idiocy.
I camp here by North Fork Creek and it makes for a pretty picture with the falling side creek waterfall. Backpacking in the summer heat is better when you do it next to a creek---cooler air, loud creek music, frequent swimming to cool off etc.
As I backpack up the North Fork trail I run into my first friend of the trip---North Fork Jimmy--and we spend 20 minutes talking and exchanging trail information. He's curious and wants to talk.
This pic shows my sleeping gear and the new 10mil white ground cloth I cut for the trip---brand new. I always place my ground cloth inside the tent for various reasons. The pad of choice is the second generation Thermarest Trail Pro pad in large size. Excellent 4R pad.
I finish my North Fork hump---it's steep---to Cherry Log Gap and take Fodderstack Ridge trail north as seen in this pic.
As I make my way north on the ridge trail I hear a buzzing underfoot and have the good fortune of seeing Fodderstack Johnny resting by the trail and so we talk and he wants my email address so we can meet on a later trip. A beautiful fellow.