I did a day hiking in Joyce Kilmer back in the late 60's and remember the number and thickness of the hemlocks making it dark enough to be able to change film in my camera without being afraid of light exposure. I also remember it be very cool and humid in the forest. I'll have to go back again someday. Thanks for jogging my memories and another great video!

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris! Yes I miss all those big, healthy hemlocks. Glad you enjoyed the video.

Just started exploring the Slickrock wilderness & have loved it. Great video & a lot of helpful information in it, thanks!

@BryanDeLay

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ross! Glad the video helped.

love hiking and camping in that area.

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

It's one of my favorite places to backpack.

@GrottoGroveGroves

4 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay mine too. in your video i saw two trees that i hung my hammock on while camping.

Hi Bryan- kind of funny names for those of us not from the area : ) I enjoyed the scenery and notice that you have good light and an open canopy in the early spring before the leaves become full on the trees. Too bad about the tree disease / dying.

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

The names are even funny for us that are from here:). The difference between hiking in summer with leaves and winter with no leaves is like night and day. Many more views without the leaves. The Hemlock Wooly Aldelgid is killing all the hemlock trees. Years ago they came from Japan to Washington state and worked their way the country. Very sad to see beautiful 500 year old hemlock trees dying.

Tenth of a mile, that ain't so bad lol. Randy told me that campsite was a good one, it looks pretty darn nice. The blowdowns on Stratton Bald looked crazy, that could've been a microburst with that kind of damage.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Yea, a tenth of a mile, or maybe a little less, to the water is not bad, especially for campsite that pretty. You may be right about a microburst. I also thought it may have been an ice storm.

Great Videos. 7 days out from a 10 day hike out there!

@BryanDeLay

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Lee, have a great trip.

The 1.6 trail down Big Stack Gap trail can be hairy but is some of the best scenery in the whole area

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

It's even worse going up Big Stack Gap Trail.

@robcochran6213

4 жыл бұрын

True, hiking up is a bitch

Watched this one a second time just to get a little bit better flavor of the area. Got a new good laugh about putting the cam up to crawl through that blowdown at about 10:10.

@BryanDeLay

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it again John. When you start making videos it changes your perspective.

I am not going to make it trail days unfortunately. My wife is doing a girls trip out to Sedona AZ. So I have to mind the fort and take care of my dog. lol However, am going to do a trip up there somewhere (god knows where) the end of May or 1st week in June. Until them I'm grounded an working.

Great video Bryan. And thanks for the interesting bits of information about that area. Said I’d never do the Hangover Lead trail, that starts where you began and ended, again...but probably will.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Carl! Glad you enjoyed the video. If possible I'd recommend going down Hangover Lead Trail:).

Great video Bryan, one of your best. Love that area, first hiked it way back before Kilmer-Slickrock and Citico Creek Wilderness’ were designated, no trail maps back then (Early on I found a hand drawn map on the trail that opened it up somewhat for me). Wonderful place.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Will! It is a great area and one that I just keep going back to. Hiking it with a hand drawn map must have been a real challenge.

Great trip and video. Thanks for the closeup shots of pants and flowers. Enjoy the spring.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Larry! Glad you enjoyed the video. Doing the best I can to enjoy spring, but like fall it seems to pass all too quickly.

@larrycarroll7371

5 жыл бұрын

It all seems to pass too quickly when I am 71.

Hey Professor, another good video. Looks like a fine trip except for the SDG climb up that mountain! Before I attempt such vertical nonsense, I need to loose about 20 lbs....So, I am home trying to lose weight by eating m&m's and drinking coke. I guess I haven't been educated on weight loss yet. But I have been researching the virgin patches of woods in the southern Appalachians (no hard conclusions yet). On another note, I do know I was on Naked Ground way back when I was about 17 or 18. That was a good trip...

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian! Let me know how those M&M's and coke work out with the weight loss.

Age is coloring a lot of my hiking and backpacking too! Thanks for another fine post of your outing.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks John! It's just amazing how much more difficult some trails are than they used to be.

Great hike. The Crowder branch Mill branch loop is one of my favorite short hikes. The Nutbuster is aptly named. Did it last fall and ended up coming out on naked ground after dark. Doing it again soon. Thank you for the great stuff.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks emsdad18! The Crowder Branch-Mill Branch loop is a great one night trip and I've done it often. Sometimes I'll camp at Big Stack Gap Branch Trail as I did on this trip and other times I'll camp at the grassy spot where Crowder Branch Spring is.

@emsdad18

5 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay Some people have asked me if there were still apple trees at or around Crowder spring. Ever seen any? They're not in physical condition to show me and it's been too long since they've been there to give me a good description of where the trees were.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

@@emsdad18, I've never noticed any apple trees there, but I haven't looked either. As I think about though there are some that might be apple trees, but I don't recall seeing any apples on the trees or on the ground.

@emsdad18

5 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay An old timer told me that the Crowder family was one of the last homesteads in that area. Thank you for bringing attention to the area, (hopefully not too much) it is one of my favorite places.

Great video, Bryan!! I just pulled this almost same trip in October 2019---Came in on Jeffrey Hell to South Fork and up Rocky Flats to Crowders and up to the ridge and down Big Stack and up the Nutbuster trail (my 47th backpack of the beast)---and over the Bob and down South Fork to JHell and out. Here's my take on your video, especially on the Nutbuster as it's my favorite trail--- 2:44 I found the top sign on the ground and nailed it to the post last year---the Slickrock Creek Trail #42 sign. Your CS #1 I call Fisherman Camp and often find it completely trashed!! 3:18 The big blowdown on Slickrock Creek crossing #12---now fixed by SAWS (and I sawed part of it away too). Day 2 Up Nutbuster Trail! 4:45 A great CS on Leg 1 of the Nut trail I call Nut Gate Camp (Gateway to the Nut). 6:10 End of Leg 1 into a CS I call Burnthouse Camp (between the two creeks). 6:56 Leg 2 on the Nut trail. 7:04 Used to be a nice wooden sign here that read "Ball Buster Trail". I have a picture of it. 7:14 Start of Leg 3. 7:21 Pig Bridge!! (Saw a family of pigs here once). 7:33 Start of 3rd switchback on Leg 3. 8:20 End of Leg 3 and start of Leg 4 with steep climb to switchback. 8:50 Beauty Rock on Leg 4. 8:57 Big rocks on Leg 4. 9:11 Finished with Leg 4 and now on Leg 5---used to be called the Open Cove section until all the hemlocks died and fell. Now Leg 5 is one big blowdown mess (or was until SAWS came out recently and cut most of them). 9:22 One of 30+ big blowdowns on Leg 5 and now 90% cleared by SAWS. 10:22 SAWS left 2 or 3 of the biggest blowdowns and so the trail follows mud chutes up and around and down these beasts. 10:52 Wow, you skipped the worst part of the Nutbuster trail ---Leg 6. Very steep!! Now you're on Leg 7 which I recognize by the scoot under archway blowdown. 11:00 You're standing on Leg 9 at the Heath Overlook. Almost done. (10 Legs total to Naked Ground). 12:10 I spent 3 nights in Naked Ground during a 60-70mph windstorm on October 24-26. Buckets of rain. 15:35 Bob's Wall ridgeline and highest point of combined wilderness at almost 5,400 feet. 16:10 Entering Bob's Fir Tree Grove my favorite place to camp. 16:48 I call this spot Bob Tee. Trail 54A (North) can sometimes be bad! 17:12 Snow Camp! Just south of Cherry Log Gap at 17:28. 18:03 The "Front Porch Rocks" in Harrison Gap. 18:19 The switchback right below Big Fodderstack Mt. 18:31 I call this spot Oglala Camp because of the Pine Ridge trail jct (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation) 18:47 Mill Gap aka Big Stack Gap. 19:57 Fave CS---I call it Crowder Camp. An equally excellent CS is down Crowder Branch trail to the old springhouse and creek. 22:33 The "pig seep" water source at the start of the Big Stack trail. 23:22 The rock overlook and the start of the 5 switchbacks down the Big Stack trail---a good place to rest. 24:04 The Slickrock crossing over to Wildcat Falls. 24:28 Slick's 12th and uppermost crossing. 25:49 Big Fat trail is a real nut hump.

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video Tipi and thanks for all the information.

Thank you for the video. Hopefully, I will get your reply soon enough. How was FS 62 Slickrock Road from HWY129 to Big Fat Gap trailhead.

@BryanDeLay

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video. FS 62 is in very good shape.

Cool loop! Love the Joyce, especially the Hangover and Wildcat Falls. Slickrock Creek trail is no joke. Been in there 5 times, now I'm looking at connecting both wilderness areas on a 5 or 6 day backpack starting from the Memorial Forest on Little Santeetlah. Haven't been into Citico in years. Have you been on the Jenkins Meadow trail lately? Wondering how it looks after the burn years back.

@BryanDeLay

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks desertraky78! I haven't been done the Jenkins Meadow Trail in maybe 5 years. It's my understanding that after the burn and a storm the trail was heavily damaged, but about two years ago SAWS spent about 40 weeks doing trail maintenance in Citico and Joyce Kilmer.

@desertratky75

3 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay SAWS has had their work "cut" out for them over there lately! They do good work. I'll check it out in early May if we decide to finish our loop that way. Taking my wife there for the first time, 3 day trip. Keep the videos coming, enjoying seeing so many places I've already been and places I want to go.

Thanks for making this vid! I discovered this loop around 9pm on Wednesday (5/1) and was on trail Thursday around 1pm (back to the car around 1pm on Friday). I did the loop in a counterclockwise lollipop from Hwy 143. Around 7pm on Thursday I was hanging out at Wildcat Falls and planning to camp there when I decided I'd rather head up to your favorite campsite. That was a TOUGH climb on an extremely overgrown trail...whew! The hike out was tough but not as bad. I was solo and right when I turned off my headlamp at camp, a great horned owl started hooting right beside the campsite. Scared the bejesus out of me. I could hear another one off in the distance hooting too. They went on for awhile, which was cool and a little unsettling...never had that happen before. Are you the awesome person who stacked up a bunch of firewood at that campsite? If so, it was much appreciated and I tried to leave it nicely for the next person. All in all, great area and I'll definitely get back.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video Kenan. So it sounds like you started at Beech Gap on Cherohala Skyway. In the late 90's when you could drive down the logging road from Cherohala Skyway to Cold Springs Gap, two friends and I hiked up to Bald Bald, down to Naked Ground, out to Hangover, down Hangover Lead Trail to Big Fat Gap and down to Slickrock Creek. Then up Slickrock Creek Trail to Naked Ground, back up to Bob Bald and back to Cold Springs Gap, in a day hike. If you left Wildcat Falls at 7 pm and climbed up Big Stack Gap Branch Trail, you must have arrived at the campsite at Fodderstack Trail junction at dark or a little after. The climb up Big Stack Gap Branch Trail is tough but nothing like the upper part of Slickrock Creek Trail. Owls whooting at night is not uncommon and pretty cool. Except when you're trying to go to sleep. I think my son and his friend left some firewood at the campsite. Thanks for leaving the campsite clean and glad you enjoyed the hike.

Another great video! I admire your creek-crossing skills! Steady and sure. Also, I very much liked the information on the confusing trail intersections, since I aim to do some loops there in those adjacent wilderness areas. Much appreciated. As with you, I miss our hemlocks. If only Uncle Sam had expended a bit of that vast budget treating our southern groves against the invasive adelgids.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you James! I agree more should have been done to save the hemlocks. A few in the GSMNP are being sprayed, but not enough. It's sad to lose those massive hemlocks. After falling many times on slick rocks crossing creeks, you learn to be a little careful.

Great video, Bryan! Love the way you are putting together these videos! I am more than a little jealous that you're out there wearing shorts hiking through the woods and we're up here trying to find trails without any snow on them!

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mountain Wanderer! In July and August I'll be jealous of the cool weather your enjoying. In fact so jealous that I'll come out there to cool off:).

Hey Bryan.. Whats next.. plans?.. Im heading up end of may somewhere..... Oh I added your channel to one of my featured channels...

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Tom, just got back yesterday evening from a two night trip and I'll probably do a couple of one or two nighters before Trail Days. Right now I'm planning on going to Trail Days on Friday, the 17th and then on Saturday afternoon, the 18th, go up to the Mt. Rogers area for 5 or 6 days. Are you planning on going to Trail Days? Thanks for featuring my channel.

@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD

5 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay I am not going to make it trail days unfortunately. My wife is doing a girls trip out to Sedona AZ. So I have to mind the fort and take care of my dog. lol However, am going to do a trip up there somewhere (god knows where) the end of May or 1st week in June. Until them I'm grounded an working.

Why do slick rock that many times? Got my butt kicked there royalty once and that did me. The first night where you camped is one of the best sites of all times!

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

Well it's a beautiful trail and I guess I like a challenge. Yea, the campsite on Slickrock Creek is awesome.

Bryan, that was an excellent video. Some tough portions on that trail but seem like some great views. You know these areas so well. Frustrating for me this time of year to be so far from the Mts. But, looking for a window to get up real soon.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tom! This area is only about an hour and 45 minutes from my house so I've backpacked it often. In fact there are not many trails within 3 hours of Knoxville that I not hiked.

That should read "plants and flowers"

What mapping software/app is that in the info? Thanks for the awesome content

@BryanDeLay

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael! The base map is from Caltopo and the highlighted trail with the campsites was done with PowerPoint. Lately I've been animating the maps using Blender.

Hey Bryan how are you liking those Altra Lone Peaks? I’ve been thinking about getting a pair of those or the Timps.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Dony, I like the Altra Lone Peak 4's. They are very comfortable and dry really fast after crossing creeks, but the downside is the slightest amount of water and your feet get wet. The only real issue is I wish the soles had a better grip. When I replace the Lone Peak's I may try the Altra Olympus 3.0 or the Topo Athletic Terraventure 2, because they have vibram soles.

@donyerwin4587

5 жыл бұрын

Bryan DeLay Thanks Bryan! I have also heard good things about the Altra Timps. I have been wearing Merrell Moab ventilators for years and really like them, especially with a superfeet insole, but at 61 years old I am beginning to experience some knee pain, so I am considering trying the Altras. Must admit though, I don’t enjoy hiking in wet feet! I usually don my crocs for stream crossings unless they’re so numerous I get tired of having to switch out shoes, which is when I just plod on through (especially if it’s the last day on trail. I’ve also seen people hiking in sandals but I don’t think I would like that too much. Happy hiking! Love your videos!

Great video Bryan. Looks like you may have some new gear(OR jacket, new hat). What's killing the hemlocks? take care out there.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Martin! Yes some new gear and today I received a new Mountain Laurel Designs Trail Star DCF (cuben fiber) tarp. The wooly hemlock alelgids are killing them. They came into Washington state from Japan and worked their way across the country. I hate to see them die.

Excellent Bryan! Loved the slowmo camp shots. Do you have waterproof socks? It’s a beautiful area. Kudos for crossing the creeks twice for a great camera shot 😎 Next time, bring your chain saw!

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sweeps! I did bring waterproof socks on this trip, but didn't use them. I use them at night if my shoes and hiking socks are still damp and want something dry to wear, but don't want to get my sleeping socks wet. Designated wilderness area; no chainsaws allowed:). I do have a folding saw that I take often, but didn't bring it on this trip because of the camera gear I was carrying.

Hi there!! Have you ever spoken about tarp camping in terms of animal visits? I am curious what it is like for you through the night. Do animals (bears) come and sniff you out...walk on you? What about bugs etc.? I am new to camping and quite timid about even being in a tent around wildlife...would love to know!!

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

Only once have I mentioned animals in a video, I think and that was a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountains NP last February. A raccoon kept coming into our camp. We chased it out of camp several times and finally I smacked it with a hiking pole and he never came back. Also some wild boars came into camp during that night and rutted up the ground, but all three of us slept through their visit and none of us heard the boars. Several times I've had boars come into my camp at night, but I've never had a problem with them. As far as I know I've never had a bear come into my camp at night. If mosquitoes are bad I have a bug net I can hang under my tarp. I don't think the fabric of a tent offers much more protection than a tarp. Since 1998 I've been using a tarp and have slept over 1,200 nights under a tarp. Hope this helps!

@catherinej7347

4 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay Bryan, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a descriptive response. I am new to camping and the wildlife in BC, so this actually put my mind at ease in terms of safety, even if just in my tent! I am surprised you have not had more encounters, considering you are out in the back country! 1200 nights.... I would say that makes you an expert. I just need to perfect your bear bag technique! :)

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

If you have any questions about my bear bag technique just let me know. I've had lots of animal encounters, including 25 or so bear sightings, but just not at night around my camp. Of course I'm sure you know that if you are backpacking in grizzly country in BC you should always carry bear spray.

@catherinej7347

4 жыл бұрын

@@BryanDeLay I just got my very first can of bear spray, as I am new...hoping I never have to use it! Have you ever had to use yours? It makes me feel a lot better about your camp experience. I really appreciate you sharing. I am going to go camping in a couple weeks, so I will try your technique and see how it goes!! Thank you! C

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

Hey Catherine, I've never had to use bear spray, but years ago I fired one just to see what would happen. It shot a 3 foot diameter spray about 30 feet.

Speaking of age Bryan, I just turned 56 and wondering do I even need to start 🤔😁

@BryanDeLay

4 жыл бұрын

Only you can answer that question, but if you health is good I'd say go for it. I've been around the sun 10 more times than you:).

@allenstocks6074

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement Bryan 👍🏼

I can understand a lot of the restrictions for Wilderness areas, but without the use of power saws to clean up trails every once and a while the trails are almost impassable.. once the word gets out of the trail conditions people go elsewhere and puts stress on other areas..

@davyhaynes6716

5 жыл бұрын

Cross cut saws and axes are used in these wilderness areas to clear blow downs. I am glad chains saws are prohibited in these wilderness areas. I usually take at least a folding saw, and sometimes a collapsable bow saw and axe, to do my part to help. I have always enjoyed these wilderness areas due to the fact they are relatively wild, and not over used like so many popular trails. The price of admission, so to speak, keep many away. There are not many wilderness areas left; and I am glad to see the few that are protected from mechanization.

@BryanDeLay

5 жыл бұрын

Hey Jeffery, until I had a conversation a few years ago with Bill Hodge, the founder and director of Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) I used to believe that too. But according to Bill by the time he gets someone through the government required training programs to work on a trail maintenance crew the difference between using a crosscut saw and axe vs a chain saw is minimal.

@emsdad18

5 жыл бұрын

I know some who have trained to work on trail maintenance, and are discouraged by the lack of time actually maintaining the trail. I feel like I owe something to the maintainers for their services besides, " thank you's". I wonder if there is a way to streamline the process. I know of several folks who would be willing to help if we were allowed to just work.

@davyhaynes6716

5 жыл бұрын

If I’m not thru hiking or trying to make miles where low weight is critical, I always carry at least 1 tool for trail maintenance, and usually just do some during the course of the day as I hike along. It can be fun planning shorter days and lolly gagging to do so. Of course, with the tools I typically carry, and with usually only two of us, what we can attack is limited. I leave the two-foot diameter trees down with severe top bind, or anything that has complicated cross bind, to the professionals. That being said, I’d love to learn clearing those and cross-cut saw use. But the government certification process seems overly bureaucratic and burdensome for someone who simply wants to volunteer. So I just do my own thing and clear what I can. If everyone did a bit as they go, only the really big stuff would remain.