Hiking Alone in Rugged Appalachian Wilderness | Nantahala & Cherokee National Forest

4 days solo backpacking the Citico Creek & Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness areas in the Cherokee & Nantahala National Forests of Tennessee & North Carolina. This loop hike included pristine mountain streams, windy ridges, 360 degree views, wildflowers, and great camping. These areas do not get a lot of foot traffic and there were numerous blowdowns, but the juice was worth the squeeze!
Recorded April 10th - 13th, 2022
Route Breakdown:
Day 1:
South Fork of Citico Trail → North Fork of Citico Trail
Day 2:
North Fork of Citico Trail → Fodderstack Mountain Trail / Benton MacKaye Trail
Day 3:
Fodderstack Mountain Trail → Big Stack Gap Trail → Slickrock Creek Trail → Big Fat Branch Trail → Hangover Lead Trail → Hangover Lead Alternate Trail
Day 4:
Hangover Lead Alternate Trail → Hangover Lead Trail → Haoe Lead Trail → Stratton Bald Alternate → South Fork of Citico Creek Trail
Total Miles: 29.2
Instagram:
/ outdooroperator
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/ @outdooroperator

[@TipiWalter]

4:00 is a pretty spot on North Fork trail. 4:19 is the rock ledge scramble on North Fork at crossing 5-6. 5:24 is Death Falls on upper North Fork. 5:45 is Crowder Camp of course. 7:41 seems to be Slickrock Creek (7:43 Slickrock crossing above Wildcat Falls by Big Stack trail jct). 8:05 trudging up Big Fat trail. 8:40 "table" rock overlook on Hangover Lead South trail. 9:22 Hangover Mt and 10:43 "Airjet" Camp on Hangover. 11:02 dropping west off Haoe Peak. 11:13 Naked Ground Gap. 11:36 Fir Tree Grove on Bob Bald. 12:17 Top "swamp" of South Fork trail. 13:04 main South Fork crossing.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks for the call outs Walter! I can confirm 7:41 is Slickrock Creek. It's great to know the names of the the different spots along this route. Sounds like you know this area like the back of your hand 👍

[@TipiWalter]

@@OutdoorOperator It's my second home.

[@OutdoorOperator]

@@TipiWalter I understand why!

[@bikhills]

This is another of your great videos. You do a perfect job of capturing the essence of solo hiking - which I prefer myself. The serenity and beauty of focusing on nature and not face shots and talking is perfect. With your skilled editing, these videos come across as an almost mystic experience.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Solo hiking has so many great upsides, it really is a great experience. I try my best to 'show, not tell' in these videos and I'm glad that resonates with you. Thanks for watching!

[@DixonHikes]

THE Outdoor Operator, ladies & gents. Dude, you kill it every time. But this was next level. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Chris!! This was one of my favorite backpacking locales. Loved the wild feel 🤙

[@beyondthecampfire]

Wow, this is so good I had to watch it a few times. Your editing and production just keep getting better. This one might be your best yet. I especially like the dreamlike quality. The transitions are just magical. I liked too many things to point them all out, but here are some of the highlights for me: The way you framed the shot at 0:13 to look like you were driving on the surface of the water. The transition at 1:15 that makes it look like you're underwater. The use of water in general throughout the video. At 2:30, the reflection of shadow on one side and light on the other 😮 The bluets at 4:30. The quality of the low-light shots around 6:30. Those 1.4 lenses are killing it. And the transition where the trees look like they have holes in them is amazing. The sound of rain through the fade at 7:05. At 8:00, the slug is one of my favorite shots. I love how you can see your reflection in his slime. This transition! 9:20 The clouds moving in the light of the moon at 10:05. The sound of the bell as the morning vista appears at 10:25 is my favorite part of the whole video. Well done. The umbel (Queen Anne's lace?) at 11:18 looks otherworldly. As does the next transition where you're walking in the clouds. The liquid-gold look of the water at 12:45. The isolated look of your car at the end. Very well done, as always. Your style makes these so watchable (and rewatchable). Thanks for sharing and for all your hard work. Keep it up!

[@ervinslens]

Gorgeous video, the way it is edited deserves all the praise. I enjoyed every second.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Ervin! Glad you enjoyed ✌️

[@dearmountains3431]

Thank you for giving me a wonderful experience. We were so relaxed to watching great nature.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Glad I could provide a relaxing experience. Thanks for watching ✌️

[@jamiern2]

Amazing video! It is so hard to capture how beautiful and magical it is out there on video. You did a wonderful job of doing that. I really enjoyed watching this video.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Glad you enjoyed it! I was taken back by the beauty of this area and how isolated it was. I will definitely be back!

[@infinitepaths]

Great film-making, loved the shots from opening and throughout, a great sense of calm and mystery runs through the whole experience.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks for watching Nick! Good to hear it evoked those feelings ✌

[@BluegrassBackcountry]

Another instant OO classic! Dude, I was feeling all those creek crossings. Hope you had lots of spare dry pairs of socks! Also, I mean this in the most complementary way, but your transitions are almost psychedelic!! Would love to know your motivations behind those shots. It makes it feel almost other-worldly at times, which is super rad. You might have the most creative and unique transitions of any backpacking KZbinr I’ve watched, and I’ve watched more than I want to admit 🙈. Keep up the amazing work!

[@OutdoorOperator]

Wow, thanks for the uplifting comment BB! I did bring a spare pair of water proof socks (sealskins) that I wore with my wet shoes when I got to camp. My motivation for the transitions is to create evolving visuals that support the main story. I experiment with them more and more with each video, learning something new each time. That's awesome they come off as psychedelic as I've been leaning more into those vibes 🤙 Thanks again for the feedback and apologies for the late response (just got back from another trip).

[@OutOnTrail]

Great stuff as always! You've got me craving some of that water 😂 Dug the shot of your reflection in the puddle while collecting wood and that shot of the sunrise on the final morning 👍

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks OoT. This was certainly a wet one. Loved the area and recommend it if you're looking to avoid crowds!

[@Smokeybeesnatural]

WONDERFUL!!! I love the music and the transitions! @4:10 i was saying "Dang, he's gotta go back for the camera!" and @8:40 would be a GREAT Thumbnail or photo! Great Job Sir!

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks SmokeyBees! When I'm hiking back to the camera for shots like the one at 4:10, sometimes I wonder why I like to film this way 😂

[@Smokeybeesnatural]

@@OutdoorOperator we all do sometimes 🤣

[@BryanDeLay]

Outstanding video Outdoor Operator! So much feeling in this video. Your first campsite is one of my favorites I call Bear Dog Cascades, because I was eating lunch there one day a bear hunter came bushwhacking down the side of the mountain across the creek dragging two bear dogs on a leash. Another one of my favorites was your second night at Crowder Meadows. And of course Hangover is an all time classic and your videos from the overlook were excellent. It was great meeting you on this trip and glad you had a successful backpack.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Bryan! It was too cool meeting you on trail. I planned on going further day one but when I saw how nice Bear Dog Cascades was I had stop for the night. Crowder Meadows was great and water source was easy to find. The Hangover is one of the best views I've seen in all of Appalachia. I definitely want to come back to do more of the Slickrock Creek Trail. Your channel has so much great info on this area and it made planning this trip possible. Thanks again for all of the insight. Til next time ✌️

[@hikingontario]

Absolutely wonderful scenery all the way! Thank you for sharing my friend! Happy hiking!

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks for watching. Have a great weekend!

[@hikesome]

Such a beautiful, calming, and relaxing video of a great outdoor adventure, exactly my kind of tase. I am glad I found your channel and will definitely follow you along with your future adventures. I would love to shoot a solo hike on the Appalachian Trail one day, but you really went wild man, so cool. Have a wonderful day and stay safe out there, Mario

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Mario. I appreciate your feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Looks like you have some relaxing hiking videos on your channel as well! I hope you're able to shoot a solo on the Appalachian trail some day as I'd love to see it ✌️

[@WALTERZOLNA]

Every once in awhile you come across a video on KZbin that just takes your breath away. This was AMAZING. I would love to know what camera you used because the look and feel of the images is so richly detailed and just beautiful. You covered 30 miles in a 14 minute film and every second was spectacular. This was really on the level of a Kraig Adams type production, simply beautiful content. I just happen to be setting out on my first ever backpack trip the 30 mile west rim trail in PA very soon, and needless to say, this has got me stoked. Hope this is seen by many and your work gets the recognition it deserves. EXCELLENT 👍👍

[@OutdoorOperator]

Wow, Walter what an uplifting comment!! I really appreciate the kind words. For camera I use the Fuji xt4 with 18mm f1.4 & 23mm f1.4 lenses. Rode videomic ntg and Sony pcm m10 for audio. That's awesome you're getting into backpacking and I'm stoked to see how it goes! I've heard good things about the West Rim Trail along the PA Grand Canyon. Should be a great time 🤙

[@WALTERZOLNA]

@@OutdoorOperator Thanks for the detailed response!

[@saltairswings]

So good. Great stuff as always

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Scott! I appreciate you checking it out ✌

[@rybread81]

Thanks for sharing, loved the visuals.

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Ryan. I appreciate you stopping by ✌️

[@mitnwes]

Great videography. New sub here

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Wes! I appreciate the sub ✌

[@scottsaz]

Very nice! Love the format. Do you by chance have a GPX for this trip? I'm fairly new to the southeast and looking for multi-day trips in the area. Subbed!

[@OutdoorOperator]

Thanks Scott, I appreciate the sub! Unfortunately, I didn't record the route on gps but below is a full listing of the trails comprising the route. I used Gaia gps for my navigation. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. Day 1: South Fork of Citico Trail → North Fork of Citico Trail Day 2: North Fork of Citico Trail → Fodderstack Mountain Trail / Benton MacKaye Trail Day 3: Fodderstack Mountain Trail → Big Stack Gap Trail → Slickrock Creek Trail → Big Fat Branch Trail → Hangover Lead Trail → Hangover Lead Alternate Trail Day 4: Hangover Lead Alternate Trail → Hangover Lead Trail → Haoe Lead Trail → Stratton Bald Alternate → South Fork of Citico Creek Trail

[@arctic6603]

What type of camera did you use for this?

[@OutdoorOperator]

I used the Fuji xt4 (mirroless camera) with 18mm f1.4 and 23 f1.4 lenses. Thanks for watching!