Slickrock Creek - Hangover Loop: Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness

[@ervinslens]

Spectacular, absolutely spectacular work my friend! Such a beautiful trail🥾🥾

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks ervinslens!

[@wendingourway]

Plenty of those beautiful fall colours still hanging on! Awesome!! Bruce and Otis

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Bruce and Otis! Yes, lots of fall colors then. Now they are almost gone.

[@cherylbarns-y4m]

Challanging. Beautiful. Colors spectacular. What an awesome backpacking adventure. Those leaves add an extra degree of danger!!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks! Yea, when you can't see what you are walking on it's a little tricky.

[@1mazforall]

Lovely 🇨🇦❤️❤️❤️👍👍🥰🇺🇲

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks!

[@ProspectorAl]

I love the Fall colors. This area is not just a Wilderness area, but also a long way from any civilization. I really like the complete solitude. I love Wildcat Falls too. We went there years ago and camped on the ridge above. It came a storm and blew the tent over and got all of our stuff wet.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks, the fall colors were spectacular. All of your stuff getting wet sucks!

[@donrobinson5540]

I’ve been to Naked Ground from the other side. Several of us from Cleveland, TN camped there several years ago. This was a beautiful video with all the Fall foliage. I appreciate all of the obvious effort you put into your videos. Thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much Don!

[@TheWanderingWulfs]

Great backpacking trip! Loved all the Fall color, too! 🍁🍂 Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@whshome]

Wow Bryan, those fall colors are better than I've seen anywhere. Backpacked in the BSF and not as good and drove around the Tellico River area and also not as good. Great Video!

[@BryanDeLay]

The colors were better than I expected Will, although the peak colors were a few days before this trip.

[@williamadair1260]

Yep doing great. Running. Hiking. Working. Enjoying life in Western NC

[@BryanDeLay]

Perfect!

[@vonniek347]

What a beautiful area to hike in! Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Vonnie, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@mountainwanderer]

Fantastic trip! Love when I can watch these videos and it's stormy here in North Idaho, and Bryan is out there hiking in shorts! It's so cool that your son hikes with you as often as you guys do!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Travis! We had a very warm and dry fall, which helped with all the creek crossings. Just got back from a three night trip with my son and we weren't wearing shorts on this trip. It rained a little yesterday and this morning there was some snow and ice on the higher peaks.

[@mark-ib7sz]

Another great video !!! Thank you so much. Those creek crossings were much easier then normal with the drought going on.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Mark, a lot easier!

[@chrislonsberry1974]

Really enjoyed the video! You sure lucked out with weather and temps for October. Scenery was beautiful! Thanks for letting us hike with you!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Chris! It's been a very warm and dry fall.

[@blackoakpropertymaintenanc6981]

Really glad you posted this video, Bryan. The weather was so incredibly nice leading up to Halloween, I was dying to get out. Pam was up in NH visiting family so I stayed put and took care of the homestead. I am living vicariously through this one man, it's the best I can do. I had a couple of non backpacking related questions regarding one of our conversations at Sam Billings CG. I'll drop you a text this weekend. Hope you are well, and again, thanks for the terrific video this evening! Tom

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Tom! Just got back from a three night trip (no video this time) Feel free to text me when it's convenient.

[@JenniferLupine]

Gorgeous fall colors Bryan! Must have felt wonderful being out in the forest! I did notice your new pack- looks great! So many creek crossings, and they were pretty deep too. Sounds great to have 70 degree weather- our weather has turned much cooler for the season now. With all those leaves and blow downs, it's a wonder you can see the trail sometimes!! Fun to meet up with Nathan... he's going to have some cold nights. Enjoyed the video, thanks Bryan!!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jennifer! We've had a very warm fall and very little rain; no significant rain since I've been back from the west. Although some of the crossings may have appeared deep the water levels are really low. You are correct sometimes the trail was difficult to follow. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@woodycarr]

Beautiful Fall adventure! Thanks for sharing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad you enjoyed the video Woody!

[@dannystephenshiking951]

Great video Bryan. Thanks for sharing. 🦉

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Danny!

[@johnnyrussell8729]

Really pretty area. All your videos are good but this is one of your better ones. You captured it.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Johnny!

[@strickysbackpackingadventures]

Beautiful trip Bryan! Glad it was warm while you had all those crossings. Thanks for sharing. 👍😊 26:30

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Stricky! The low water levels helped with the crossings too.

[@andreabuzeta4297]

Looks like some great fall color days

[@BryanDeLay]

The fall colors on this trip were fantastic andrebuzeta4297.

[@jmash41]

Hi Bryan! When you made this trip, my wife and I were in the Smokies just over in the Tremont area doing some day hiking. I'm recovering from back surgery and hope to backpack soon. Maybe Nathan's dog helped keep him warm. Haha! The scenery was beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad you are recovering jmash41! Hope you can do a backpack soon. That extra warmth comes with a penalty, she likes to sleep on the pad with him.

[@jmash41]

@@BryanDeLay That's hilarious! I've seen dogs carrying their own food in a doggie backpack🐶

[@DixonHikes]

Stellar scenery, Bryan! I always enjoy your trips in this wilderness area. I was on the Foothills Trail last week & man, the colors were insane. Nice pack!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks DixonHikes! Glad the colors were great on the FHT. Really enjoying the pack.

[@BearKat9]

I was just there working on Slick Rock trail maintenance with Sierra Club and the National Park service. We worked on clearing, widening, and the bridge repair on that first section.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks BearKat19 for maintaining this trail. Hope you enjoyed this video.

[@NicoleHikesalot]

that was absolutely amazing Bryan. The fall colors, the streams, the campsites... and that you got to meet with Nathan and his dog. What a great adventure. Great music too!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much Nicole! It was a great backpacking trip.

[@KimHong-iq2ll]

Very nice video friend great i super like video friend

[@bolleolympus]

10:18 Thanks Bryan!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks very much bolleolympus!

[@zenandink3531]

Gorgeous area😮

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you!

[@williamadair1260]

Great video. Been a little over a year since I was in that area. Time to revisit. Hope you are well.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks William! Doing well and hope you are too.

[@davyhaynes6716]

Another great video Bryan! I too have a love-hate relationship with the Nutbuster section. One year, we backpacked it in early spring after an ice storm. The blowdowns were all but impenetrable--lots of climbing over, under, and fighting just to drag your pack and trekking poles through the mess. I've never cursed so much on all my other backpacking trips added together! I was surprised the NG spring was still flowing, given how dry it's been. I wonder about the Bob spring. Have you heard anything of it?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Davy! In June 2017 I went up it after a big storm and blow downs were everywhere. If was pure hell. At the time I thought it was the hardest hike I'd ever done. Well I wouldn't say the NG spring was flowing. We were getting water out of small pools. Two weeks before this trip I heard Bob Bald Spring was almost dry.

[@deweytarver8985]

Great video! Dean and I are planning a slick rock trail trip. I hear it’s a pretty hardcore trip. Seen somewhere online that it’s ranked in the top 10 most difficult trails in the US. Something like that.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Dewey! I've not heard that, but it could be. I remember Backpacker Magazine in the 1990's rated the Hangover Lead Trail, the one I came down on the last day, the steepest trail in North Carolina.

[@markswisher1152]

Thanks

[@BryanDeLay]

You're welcome Mark!

[@j817madi]

Yep, looks like a Hilleburg footprint at 14:27

[@BryanDeLay]

That's exactly what I was thinking!

[@vincedavis5326]

That is the lowest I have ever seen Slickrock. Nice trip!

[@BryanDeLay]

It was very low Vince. Made all the creek crossings a little easier.

[@theoballer96]

We missed each other only by days! I saw many bear hunting dogs that weekend. Also got lost between bob bald and cherry log gap. Luckily I found the trail.

[@BryanDeLay]

Lots of bear dogs in that area in the fall. I had one spend the night with me two weeks ago. The trails around Bob Bald can be confusing if your not familiar with the area.

[@DrJohn493]

Gorgeous Fall colors in your neck of the woods Bryan, thanks for the scenery! With our dreary, rainy weather here this Saturday morning it was a good time to stay inside and catch up on this video. Gotta say though that I'm worried about your losing your telekinesis skills when hanging the food bag! 😁😉 Good on Nathan for rescuing/adopting that pup! Did you treat yourself to a meal at the Tapoca Lodge? Stopped in for lunch in the Spring when I was moving from the Citico Creek to Catalooch and had a great hamburger after 8 days of camp food.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks John! I'll have to work on my telekinesis skills, maybe in the next one. Nathan was telling me how good the pizza is a Tapoca Lodge, but I decided to wait till I got home to eat.

[@karakoramclimber]

You just missed us, and Tipi at the hang.

[@BryanDeLay]

Sorry I missed you guys.

[@stefenmangtun3036]

Hi friend, Absolutely Great! Your content is great in originality and method. I can see in this video what makes someone happy to watch. The spirit of motivating and inspiring others is well expressed in the content. Many people will be inspired and motivated by watching your video. AMThank you very much for your unstinting encouragement and supportM Have a great day!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much stefenmangtun3036 for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed this video.

[@bereantrb]

Beautiful hike. Curious what led you to the 70 liter pack as you’re pretty minimalist?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks! The price is the same as a 60L and the weight is only slightly more. Also, I've found on multi-day trips, especially during the winter, the extra 10L can be helpful.

[@jamesdavis9258]

Brian, just curious, what's your base weight on your Smoky Mountain trips?

[@BryanDeLay]

My base weight for the trip this past weekend was 12.5 lbs., but of course this was summer gear. Depending on how cold it will be my base weight can get up to 15.5 lbs. for winter trips.

[@NolanGoodall-d2v]

Sorry for the random question but has anyone here had any native American/paranormal experiences in this area?

[@BryanDeLay]

I've hiked all the trails in Slickrock Creek Wilderness and Citico Creek Wilderness multiple times over the last 25 years and have never any strange paranormal experiences. Although I've heard rumors of people claiming such experiences.

[@NolanGoodall-d2v]

Thank you for the reply. These videos bring back a ton of great memories on these trails from swimming in the falls feeling fish nibble your toes to sitting on a boulder watching hawks glide through the air at eye level while eating peanut butter and honey out of a bag lol. Oh yeah can't forget looking forward to stopping at the only restaurant at the top of the dragons tail after only eating dehydrated food for a couple weeks.