2. Backpack 2017 Trips 179--187

19 Day Quest For Scorch Mountain

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TRIP 181 QUEST TO SCORCH MOUNTAIN
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TRIP 181 QUEST TO SCORCH MOUNTAIN

INTO THE CITICO
Little Mitten and Zoe dog and I drive thru Tellico Plains and end up on the other side of Flats Mt in Grassy Gap where I saddle up with an 85 lb pack and leave the gap and Little Mitten to tool down the Grassy Branch trail and very carefully as it's steep and covered in wet snow, but first I say goodbye to Little Mitten in the Gap.

QUEST
FOR
SCORCH MOUNTAIN

TRIP 181
March 17-April 4, 2017

HIGHLIGHTS
** 19 DAY QUEST FOR SCORCH MOUNTAIN
** 64 BACKPACKERS SEEN
** BACK WITH THE CRANBROOK SCHOOL ON THEIR 48TH ANNUAL WILDERNESS TRIP
** SEEING GORDON'S GROUP ON THE SOUTH FORK TRAIL
** CAMPING WITH CHAD'S GROUP IN THE DONNER CAMPS
** FRANK NORTON SWINGS INTO DONNER CAMP
** MEETING HEATHER AND JAMES FOX ON THE NORTH FORK TRAIL
** ALL DAY BACKPACKING UP THE NORTH FORK WITH HEATHER AND JAMES
** CAMPING WITH JEFF AND CAROLINE'S GROUP IN SNOW CAMP
** THUNDER HELLSTORM ON BRUSH MOUNTAIN RIDGE
** 7 BACKPACKERS FROM EARLHAM COLLEGE ON FOUR MILE RIDGE
** 13 BACKPACKERS COMING UP THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL FROM CARSON NEWMAN COLLEGE
** 42ND CLIMB (WITH TRAILWORK) OR THE NUTBUSTER TRAIL
** JENKINS MEADOW TRAILWORKED
** NAKED GROUND TRAILWORK FINISHED
** THE DOUBLE HELL LOOP: DOWN JENKINS, UP NAKED GROUND, DOWN NAKED GROUND, BACK UP JENKINS

TRAILS
Entrance at Grassy Gap in the Citico Wilderness
Grassy Branch
Clemmer Detour
South Fork Citico
**Donner Camps**
South Fork
North Fork
**Stump Site**
North Fork
**Rock Ledge Camp**
North Fork
Cherry Log Gap
Fodderstack Ridge
**Snow Camp**
BMT Connector
Trail 149
Brush Mountain Trail
**Brush Mt Ridge Gap Camp**
Brush Mountain Trail Backtrack
Trail 149
Cold Spring Gap
Trail 54A South
**Bob Bald Meadow**
Four Mile Ridge
Naked Ground Gap
**Hangover Mt Clearcut Camp**
Hangover Lead South
Big Fat Gap Trail
Slickrock Creek Trail (Leg 1 Nutbuster Trail)
**Nut Gate Camp**
Nutbuster Trail
**Buckeye Camp (End of Leg 3 on Nutbuster Trail)**
Nutbuster Trail 42nd Climb
**Naked Ground Landon Camp (2)**
Four Mile Ridge to Haoe Peak
Haoe Lead Trail
Jenkins Meadow Trail
**Jenkins Switchback Camp**
Jenkins Meadow Trail
Jenkins Connector Trail
Naked Ground Trail
**Low Dog Camps Santee Creekside Camp**
Naked Ground Trail
**High Dog Camp**
Naked Ground Trail
**Naked Ground Gap Landon Camp**
Naked Ground Trail Descending
Jenkins Connector
Jenkins Meadow Trail Ascending
Haoe Lead Trail
**Toad Camp**
Haoe Lead Trail to Haoe Peak
Four Mile Ridge
Naked Ground Gap and Bob Bald
54A South to Cold Spring Gap
**Wedge and Little Cove Camp(2)**
Wedge to Cold Spring Gap
Fodderstack Ridge to Beech Gap
Skyway Roadwalk to Jeffrey Hell Trailhead and OUT

little mittengrassy branch

  • TRIP 181 QUEST TO SCORCH MOUNTAIN
  • My trip gear.
  • THE ACCOUTREMENTS OF IDIOCY
  • Grassy Branch trailhead with trail sign. The only snow I see on the trip is on Day 1.
  • My Mystery Ranch G7000 pack somewhere on the Grassy Branch trail.
  • Next to Grassy Branch Creek on the trail.
  • Past the first crossing of 9 on Grassy Branch Creek.
  • After 9 crossings and the Clemmer Cove detour I reach South Fork Creek and the South Fork trail.
  • The South Fork Creek cable to the Brush Mt trail side.
  • REDNECK IDIOTS RETURN
  • I find the trailpost 30 yards down and in the creek where I put on my crocs and get it out and return it to its rightful place.
  • Closeup of the discarded Brush Mt trailpost.
  • This dang post is heavy but I hump it out of the creek and back to its spot.
  • Voila! Post fixed and upright!! It's a good thing too as Gordon's Cranbrook kids pass by looking for the Brush trailhead and the South Fork crossing.
  • Closeup of Brush Mt trailpost.
  • I continue down the South Fork trail and run into Steve and his son and two dogs camping by the creek. He's from Harriman, TN.
  • Steve's other dog.
  • My first Cranberry group is led by Gordon et al. He is using the same pack as me, a Mystery Ranch G7000.
  • At the South Fork/North Fork Citico split.
  • All set up on the lower South Fork trail in the Donner Camps.
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