Post by tipiwalter on Mar 2, 2016 8:35:18 GMT -8
I just returned from my February backpacking trip in the mountains of TN and NC and will post an abbreviated report here on bpbasecamp.
Trip 172
February 2016
To see all pics go here---
tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpack-2016-Trips-171/17-Days-in-the-Snow/
The trip began in the Citico wilderness of Tennessee and my Mystery Ranch G7000 pack was about 85 lbs full of 18 days worth of food, fuel, winter clothing, big tent, microspikes and Voile snow shovel.
My first snowstorm was light but 5 total snowstorms were to come on this trip. I put my Voile XLM snow shovel to very good use.
The most rugged and remote trail in the Citico wilderness is the Brush Mt trail but it's my favorite and so I hike to its trailhead and follow it down to South Fork Citico Creek. Here is a pretty view along Brush Ridge.
On Day 2 of the trip I set up camp in a gap below Brush Mt Ridge and get hit by my second snowstorm of the trip. The shovel comes in handy and helps immensely in moving to another camp and clearing the snow off the ground level. The red tunnel is a Hilleberg Keron 3 tent, a perfect solo winter backpacking tent.
On Day 3 I leave my ridge gap camp and try to follow the hard to see Brush Mt trail which is hard to follow even without the snow. Here I am on Satan's Tit at the top and ready to begin my long tough drop to Bug Hollow Gap. I am using my Kahtoola microspikes.
Here are the Kahtoola spikes in action or repose. They are excellent in cold dry snow and ice---TERRIBLE in wet deep snow as each one picks up a 5 lb clump of snow leaving you with absolutely no traction and you will fall.
My journey down the Brush Mt trail is almost over as I descend this beast of a foot path and only fall once due to the hateful microspikes picking up wet snow, so they are removed and my boot soles work much better.
Brush Mt trail takes me to South Fork Creek which must be crossed (butt cold in crocs!!) and then I take the South Fork trail out to Beehouse road and link up to another Citico trail called Rocky Flats. Notice my microspikes hanging from the sternum strap and quickly accessible if needed.
A very cold day on the Rocky Flats trail finds me running into my backpacking buddy Patman who helps me do trailwork with my folding saw. It's a cold day at 20F with night time temps at around 5F.
Patman and I camp together on the Rocky Flats trail in our separate tents and by the morning of Day 8 it is very cold at 8F so Patman packs up and prepares to head back out to his car. I wait an hour for the sun and pack to finish this trail and link up with Crowder Branch trail. Check out Patman's Mt Hardwear Nilas down mittens.
After an arduous day of backpacking I reach the top of Crowder Branch trail and get hit by my 4th snowstorm of the trip.
I leave Crowder Branch and take Fodderstack Ridge trail south to this campsite at the Pine Ridge trail junction where I see my 5th snowfall of the trip.
On Day 13 I finish Fodderstack Ridge trail and climb Bob Mt where I rest at 5,300 feet in ever-deepening snow.
On top of Bob Mt I use the snow shovel to clear 10 inches of wet snow away for my tent.
I leave Bob Mt and hike many miles to the top of Flats Mt at 4,000 feet for my last night before pickup.
I leave Flats Mt and make it to my pickup point and Little Mitten shows up soon with Zoe Dog. So ends Trip 172.
Trip 172
February 2016
To see all pics go here---
tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpack-2016-Trips-171/17-Days-in-the-Snow/
The trip began in the Citico wilderness of Tennessee and my Mystery Ranch G7000 pack was about 85 lbs full of 18 days worth of food, fuel, winter clothing, big tent, microspikes and Voile snow shovel.
My first snowstorm was light but 5 total snowstorms were to come on this trip. I put my Voile XLM snow shovel to very good use.
The most rugged and remote trail in the Citico wilderness is the Brush Mt trail but it's my favorite and so I hike to its trailhead and follow it down to South Fork Citico Creek. Here is a pretty view along Brush Ridge.
On Day 2 of the trip I set up camp in a gap below Brush Mt Ridge and get hit by my second snowstorm of the trip. The shovel comes in handy and helps immensely in moving to another camp and clearing the snow off the ground level. The red tunnel is a Hilleberg Keron 3 tent, a perfect solo winter backpacking tent.
On Day 3 I leave my ridge gap camp and try to follow the hard to see Brush Mt trail which is hard to follow even without the snow. Here I am on Satan's Tit at the top and ready to begin my long tough drop to Bug Hollow Gap. I am using my Kahtoola microspikes.
Here are the Kahtoola spikes in action or repose. They are excellent in cold dry snow and ice---TERRIBLE in wet deep snow as each one picks up a 5 lb clump of snow leaving you with absolutely no traction and you will fall.
My journey down the Brush Mt trail is almost over as I descend this beast of a foot path and only fall once due to the hateful microspikes picking up wet snow, so they are removed and my boot soles work much better.
Brush Mt trail takes me to South Fork Creek which must be crossed (butt cold in crocs!!) and then I take the South Fork trail out to Beehouse road and link up to another Citico trail called Rocky Flats. Notice my microspikes hanging from the sternum strap and quickly accessible if needed.
A very cold day on the Rocky Flats trail finds me running into my backpacking buddy Patman who helps me do trailwork with my folding saw. It's a cold day at 20F with night time temps at around 5F.
Patman and I camp together on the Rocky Flats trail in our separate tents and by the morning of Day 8 it is very cold at 8F so Patman packs up and prepares to head back out to his car. I wait an hour for the sun and pack to finish this trail and link up with Crowder Branch trail. Check out Patman's Mt Hardwear Nilas down mittens.
After an arduous day of backpacking I reach the top of Crowder Branch trail and get hit by my 4th snowstorm of the trip.
I leave Crowder Branch and take Fodderstack Ridge trail south to this campsite at the Pine Ridge trail junction where I see my 5th snowfall of the trip.
On Day 13 I finish Fodderstack Ridge trail and climb Bob Mt where I rest at 5,300 feet in ever-deepening snow.
On top of Bob Mt I use the snow shovel to clear 10 inches of wet snow away for my tent.
I leave Bob Mt and hike many miles to the top of Flats Mt at 4,000 feet for my last night before pickup.
I leave Flats Mt and make it to my pickup point and Little Mitten shows up soon with Zoe Dog. So ends Trip 172.
