Sat, Oct 9 2010 - AOC 10th Anniversary: Backpacking: Naked Ground to Bob Stratton Bald (Joyce Kilmer Wildnerness) (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Bob Bunner, Steve W Participants: Bob Bunner, Steve W, steve, Carla, Scott J, Marcia, Michael Johnson, Jon B, Melanie Dawn, Jon Miner

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On 10/10/10, we completed our backpacking trip on one of the most picturesque October weekends in recent memory.  Yes, I'd give it a 10!

We started around 10:30 on Saturday and trudged our way about 4.5 miles to Naked Ground, the intersection to Bob Stratton Bald and Hangover overlook.  We encountered some yellow jackets on our way and a few of us got bit or stung.  But the hike itself took us up a ridge with the river roaring just below us.  We stopped for lunch at Naked Ground and loaded up for water.  There would be no water at Hangover.  Then we preceded another 1.5 miles to hangover and camped in a grassy field with unobstructed views to the east and the west.  The overlook is about a half mile north and it has an unobstructed 360 degree view of the smokies.  We could make out Clingman's Dome in the distance.  For dinner, a couple of man's best friends joined us.  The dogs appeared to be domesticated, but were obviously where they weren't supposed to be.  We all asked each other, who could leave such great pets out in a place where they don't belong.

That night we made out way out to the overlook to watch the sunset and then gaze at the stars.  Then, we made our way over to a campfire where we had a rousing fire under the stars.

The next morning, many of us made it back to the overlook to watch the sunrise.  After breakfast, we made our way down Jenkins Meadow, where there is in fact, no meadow.  We drove to the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a real lunch at the River's End restaurant.  A cheeseburger never tasted so good.  Some of us ran into a sometimes AOC'er, whose battery for his ignition key to his Mercedes had died.  So, we ran him into Bryson City where he could get a replacement battery.

Michael Johnson sent me a link to his pics:  http://picasaweb.google.com/BlackRockDiver/20101013JoyceKilmer#

Hope you all had a great time and that we'll see you soon.