Fall Splendor Weekend in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, NC - Fri, Oct 9 2009

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Fall Splendor Weekend in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, NC


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: 15 Miles NW of Robbinsville, NC
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Oct 9 2009  1:00 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 8:30 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Sep 9 2009 1:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Oct 8 2009 5:00 pm
Event Duration:3 days/2 nights thru Sun afternoon
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:5
Number Registered So Far: 5 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
OVERVIEW:  The fall colors should be nearing their brilliant peak for this backpacking adventure in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, just SW of Great Smoky Mtns National Park.  This event's difficulty level is suitable for hikers of all levels of backpacking experience, provided you're in good physical condition and have a basic backpack plus light-weight backpacking tent & sleeping bag.  Our general plan is as follows:

FRIDAY: We'll carpool up in the morning (about 4 hours) and backpack that afternoon about 4 miles up to Bob Stratton Bald, highest point in the wilderness—about a 1500' elevation gain from the trailhead near the NC/TN line.  We'll set up camp in the open meadow on the west end of the summit ridge at 5300 feet.  Stargazing should be excellent that night, weather permitting.

SATURDAY: We'll first enjoy a 7-mile round-trip dayhike to incredible "Hangover" by way of "Naked Ground" and "Haoe."  Our 360-degree view of the Smokies, lakes and colorful surrounding wilderness should be spectacular from this high crag.  Early Sat afternoon we'll break camp at Stratton Bald and backpack down to lovely Swan Meadows on the southern shoulder of Stratton Bald where we'll set up camp for Saturday night.

SUNDAY:  After breakfast we'll relax awhile in the beauty of Swan Meadows and take a short dayhike to its little waterfall, complete with a geocache!  Our vehicles parked nearby will make for an easy midday departure.  We'll consider several scenic hiking/excursion options en route home including dayhikes along the Cherohala Skyway and at beautiful Bald River Falls in nearby Tennessee.
  
FOR SOME GREAT FALL PHOTOS taken at Bob Stratton Bald, Swan Meadows, etc. by Lisa Santore on our unforgettable Oct 2007 AOC trip, go to:
http://LSantore.smugmug.com/gallery/3703835/3/213551941
 
OCT 6 OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP PLANNING HAPPY HOUR  – 6PM-8PM in LOBBY of CENTURY CENTER MARRIOTT: You're sure to enjoy this “drop-in” gathering from 6:00-8:00 PM on the Tuesday evening before the trip, so please try to attend if it's convenient. We'll meet informally in the lobby bar of the Century Center Marriott hotel, in NE Atlanta on the I-85 access road between the Shallowford Road exit (#93) and Clairmont Rd exit (#91).  We'll introduce one another, discuss directions, itinerary, equipment sharing, and answer your questions about the trip—also try to firm up carpool assignments and possibly "custom carpools" for those who live near one another.
  On the day after this planning meeting Charlie will send a second email to everyone summarizing what we discussed and other final trip details including a weather forecast for the Joyce Kilmer region.

Required Items to Bring:

- Backpack
- Lightweight Tent 
- Warm Lightweight Sleeping Bag & Insulating Pad
- Headlamp or Flashlight
- About 2 Liters of Water + Filter or other water treatment system
- Meals—you'll need the following:
- 2 Dinners (Fri & Sat)
- 2 Breakfasts (Sat & Sun)
- 2 Lunches (Sat & Sun)
- Freeze-dried meals (using a light camp stove for boiling water) + trail mix, jerky, etc. work well on trips like this.
- Sturdy Hiking Boots (comfortable & well-broken-in)
- Layered Clothing, spare dry Socks, etc. appropriate for weather
- Cap & Light Rain Suit or Poncho
- Light Daypack or Fannie Pack for dayhikes
- Trekking Poles or Hiking Stick are recommended.
- Compact Camera, a few "Mini-Toiletries, etc.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

- Don't forget to bring a Cheerful Disposition and plenty of Vim, Vigor and Vitality!

How to Get There:
Event Directions:FROM I-85 INDIAN TRAIL RD PARK & RIDE LOT to SWAN MEADOWS (~180 miles Total, ~3.5 hours):
SUGGESTION TO DRIVERS: Rezero your odometer at each instruction and pay close attention to mileages given and driven.

1) From the Park & Ride Lot at I-85 Exit #101 take I-85 North about 12 miles to I-985, Exit #113.
2) Bear Left onto I-985 and stay on it and its continuation 4-lane highways for about 96 miles northward to Dillsboro, NC. (Beyond Gainesville, GA I-985 becomes US-23 North, then merges into US-23/441 North through Tallulah Falls, GA, and Clayton, GA. After bypassing Franklin, NC, you reach Dillsboro about 20 miles further up US-23/441.
3) About 1 mile north of Dillsboro’s Tuckasegee River bridge, merge (straight ahead) from 441 North onto US-74 West and stay on it for about 22 miles to the NC-28 right turn jcn near little town of Luada, NC.  (This is 3 miles beyond the NC-28 South left turn jcn toward Franklin.) 
4) Turn Right onto NC-28 North. and follow it about 11 miles to the NC-143 left turn jcn toward Robbinsville, NC.
5) Turn Left onto NC-143 West and follow it about 9 miles to the traffic light at US-129/NC-143 in Robbinsville. 
6) Turn Right at this traffic light onto US-129/ NC-143 and follow it 1.4 miles to the NC-143 left turn jcn. 
7) Turn Left onto NC-143, and follow it about 4 miles to a stop sign. (Along this leg you may wish to stop at the “Cheoah” Nantahala Nat’l Forest Office on your right -- open weekdays ~8AM-4:30PM. They have free up-to-date Joyce Kilmer/ Cherohala Skyway materials and clean restrooms. It’s a good idea to call them at 828-479-6431 for latest Joyce Kilmer Wilderness road conditions, weather, etc., and to store that number in your cellphone in case of emergencies.)
8) Turn Right to stay on NC-143 and continue about 7 more miles, passing a stone “Snowbird Mountain Lodge” entrance sign on your left. About 200 yards past the Snowbird Lodge you'll reach a big leftward curve where the “Cherohala Skyway” begins.
9) IMPORTANT: As this left curve begins, avoid the Skyway by bearing Right for a few yards (toward the “Joyce Kilmer Memorial”), then turn immediately Left onto the paved road that parallels the Cherohala Skyway's guardrail. This is Forest Svc. Road #81. In about 200 yards the pavement ends and FS-81 becomes a good quality gravel road.
10) Follow FS-81 down the hill about 1.3 miles, cross a bridge, turn Left, then continue for about 5.0 more miles beyond the bridge on FS-81 (westward, parallel to Santeetlah Creek) to Forest Svc. Road #81F on your right. (There is normally a “Wolf Laurel / Swan Cabin” sign visible here in the middle of the "Y" fork.)
11) Bear Right (northward) onto FS 81-F and take this winding road uphill for about 2.5 miles (toward the “Wolf Laurel” trailhead). Look for a “Swan Cabin” sign at a small gravel spur road that branches to your left.
12) We'll park along the shoulder of the main FS-81 road near this Swan Cabin spur road junction and regroup there for our backpacking.

CARPOOLERS: DON’T FORGET TO CHIP IN GENEROUSLY TO COVER YOUR DRIVER’S GAS & VEHICLE EXPENSES!
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):360Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:30 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $144.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Free event with free parking!  Just bring your own backpacking food & gear.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.