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Paddle the Nantahala (optional) + weekend at rustic Cabin + Hiking


The Basics:
Event Type:Overnight
Event Location: Nantahala National Forest, NC
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Aug 8 2008  10:45 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 6:45 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Thu, Jul 17 2008 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Aug 5 2008 12:00 pm
Event Duration:3 days, 2 nights
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:25
Minimum Group Size:5
Number Registered So Far: 10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
OVERVIEW: The main attraction of this trip is the remote and picturesque Swan Cabin in NC’s famous Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, where our group of 15 AOCers had an unforgettable retreat last October. To see photos and an account of our adventures that weekend go to our AOC post-trip writeup and photo-links at:

http://www.atlantaoutdoorclub.com/events/archivedetails.asp?eventid=662

The historic 77-year-old log cabin sits under giant shade trees by a mountain meadow where summer highs rarely exceed 80 degrees. It’s about a 4-hour drive (180 mi.) from Atlanta, and ordinary 2-wheel-drive vehicles normally do just fine on the final 9 miles of gravel roads to the parking area beside the Cabin. Our main carpool group will meet at 9:30 Friday morning, but you and your party are welcome to drive up later on Friday or in the wee hours Saturday if you prefer. Feel free to stay as late as midday Monday if you can spare the time. En route up on Friday we’ll offer about 3 hours of optional Nantahala River “funyaking” (see below) and on both Saturday and Sunday we’ll enjoy optional group dayhikes and waterfall excursions in the rugged surrounding Joyce Kilmer and Cherohala Skyway highlands.

AUG. 4 PRE-TRIP HAPPY HOUR & PLANNING MEETING: We’ll hold this informal “drop-in” gathering from 6:00--8:00 PM on the Monday evening before the trip. It will be in the “Kicks Lounge” lobby bar of the Century Center Marriott in NE Atlanta, on the southbound I-85 access road, 1.5 mile south of the “Shallowford Rd” I-85 Exit #93. We’ll introduce one another, discuss our Nantahala float and other optional activities, directions, equipment sharing, group cookouts & breakfasts -- and answer your questions about the trip. We’ll also work on carpool assignments and convenient departure/return times and meeting points for each carpool party. If you can’t attend, please email Charlie before the meeting and let him know your personal plans/ needs for the trip and any suggestions, etc. By Wed. Aug. 6 Charlie will email everyone on the trip a summary of our updated group activity plans and other final trip details.

CABIN LOCATION, AMENITIES, MEALS, etc. The Cabin is on the shoulder of Bob Stratton Bald, whose 5341’ summit (just 1.5 mile north of the cabin) is the highest point in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness -- just east of the NC/TN state line and only 15 miles SW of Great Smoky Mtn Nat’l Park. We can park within a few feet of the rustic Cabin, so think of this trip as “wilderness car-side camping” -- with an optional roof over your head if you prefer. It’s appropriate to bring ice-filled coolers with lots of cold beverages, 2-burner Coleman stoves, lanterns, lounge chairs, fold-up tables, full-size inflatable mattresses, large jugs of water, etc. -- no need to bring only ultra-light backpacking gear. Inside the Cabin there’s a woodburning stove, a few chairs and tables, and sleeping space for up to about 12 in rustic rope-frame bunks in its three rooms plus loft. Those who prefer sleeping in more privacy and quiet are encouraged to bring tents and put them up in the adjoining spacious grassy meadow or split-rail-fenced yard. We enjoy preparing and sharing our meals “potluck” style on the patio and porch, with all who would like to participate in any meal contributing a food item or two of your choice and pitching in with grilling, cleanup, etc. There’s no electricity or piped water but we always do just fine with the cabin’s interior woodburning stove, charcoal grills & fire ring on the patio, and our Coleman stoves, lanterns, headlamps, portable lavatories, solar showers, etc (See checklist of suggested items to bring below.). For personal hygiene there’s a “high-tech” $36,000 government-installed toilet just 60 feet from the Cabin. There are dozens of beautiful hikes in the area, including an easy 5-minute walk to the Cabin’s own little waterfall, complete with a hidden GPS “geocache!” Cell phone service, by the way, is normally unavailable in the area, but a couple of cellular “bars” can sometimes be found at high points on the nearby Skyway, etc.

OPTIONAL NANTAHALA “FUNYAKING” on FRIDAY: On several previous summer trips to the Swan Cabin, Charlie has enjoyed guiding “funyak floats” for friends and family groups on the beautiful Nantahala River, conveniently located on US-74 about 45 miles SE of the Cabin. Its Class I and II rapids are suitable for paddling without professional guides in rental inflatable kayaks (a.k.a. “rubber ducks” or “funyaks”) which we can rent on weekdays by just walking up without advance reservations at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The rental “ducks” are wide, stable, self-bailing, and available in 1-person (recommended) or 2-person models. Their rental fee ($35 for the single duck or $28 per person for the 2-person duck) includes your double-bladed paddle, lifejacket (plus helmet, splash jacket & splash pants if you wish), and a shuttle ride about 8 miles upriver to the put -in. We recommend wearing your swimsuit, a synthetic T-shirt, and a pair of tight-fitting Teva sandals (or old sneakers) with thick woolen socks -- the water is quite cool. The NOC’s convenient river take-out and boat return is on river left, directly in front of their Rental center where we checked in -- about 200 yards downstream of the famous Class III “Nantahala Falls” which you can easily portage around if you prefer. For more details and photos go to www.NOC.com or call them at 1-888-905-7238. If you and your party can’t join our group for paddling midday Friday (per our suggested schedule below) you might consider floating the river while en route home or on a future NC trip.

SUGGESTED GROUP SCHEDULE: FRI AUG. 8: For all who can arrange to drive up Friday AM, we’ll gather for carpooling at 9:30 AM in the I-85 Indian Trail Road MARTA Park/Ride lot (directions below). We’ll plan to depart the lot about 9:45 AM. It’s about a 2.5-hour drive to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC, directions below). We’ll rendezvous at the NOC rental area at about 12:15, and should be done with our float by about 4:30PM, at which time we’ll continue on to the the Swan Cabin (~45 miles NW of river -- directions below). For any carpoolers who choose not to paddle, you’ll still enjoy checking out the scenery and whitewater excitement at the NOC’s “Nantahala Falls,” etc. before continuing your drive to the Cabin. Whoever arrives first at the Cabin can unlock it for us (Charlie will give everyone the combination). After setting up camp at the Cabin, all of us who have arrived by about 6:30 PM will celebrate Happy Hour together followed by a group cookout and campfire on the patio. If the skies are clear on either night, you’ll not want to miss superb views of the Milky Way, the Summer Triangle, Polaris, meteors, and various planets & “deep sky objects” from the dark meadow by the Cabin.

SAT AUG. 9: After a big “potluck” breakfast you’re welcome to join Charlie at about 10:30 AM for a brief dayhike to the Cabin’s nearby waterfall. Those with GPS units will enjoy locating its hidden geocached box. Then at about 11:00 AM we’ll offer a longer 3-hour dayhike from the Cabin to the summit of Bob Stratton Bald and back (moderately strenous, ~5 miles roundtrip, with ~1500’ elevation gain). We’ll plan to carry our lunches with us in our daypacks. Those who would like a more panoramic view of the Smokies, Fontana Lake, etc. can continue from Stratton Bald via the “Naked Ground” saddle to the craggy summits of Haoe and Hangover and back -- adding an extra 4-mile-roundtrip spur (more strenuous with a few steep portions) to our easier hike up the Bald and back. When we return to the Cabin we can cool off by taking a dip in the waterfall. Beginning at about 6:00 PM we’ll toast our hiking adventures with a Saturday evening Happy Hour on the patio followed by another big group cookout and campfire party.

SUN AUG. 10:
After breakfast we can relax awhile and gather by the Cabin for a group photo, other parting-shots and goodbyes. As mentioned above, your carpool party is welcome to spend an extra night through midday Monday if your schedule permits. Those who have to depart on Sunday are advised to pack up their vehicles late Sunday morning and take advantage of one or two of the wonderful side excursions that are available en route home. Highly recommended are the dozens of beautiful viewpoint pulloffs along the nearby Cherohala Skyway and an alternate scenic route home via Tennessee. You’re welcome to join Charlie for a group caravan to some of the prettiest spots on the Skyway which will depart the Cabin about 11:00AM -- your party can “peel off” and head home or back to the Cabin whenever you like. If there’s enough interest, this carpool caravan can begin with a 90-minute hike and “tailgate picnic” at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial, dedicated to the poet who wrote “Trees.” The memorial’s famous 2-mile figure-8 loop trail has several giant 400-year-old tulip poplars that four adults can barely encircle with outstretched arms.

For all who can arrange to drive up Friday AM, we’ll gather for carpooling at 9:30 AM in the I-85 Indian Trail Road MARTA Park/Ride lot (directions below). This early group will depart the lot at about 9:45 AM. [ For those who can't depart until after business hours on Friday, we're planning a second carpool caravan that will meet at 6:30 PM at the I-85 Indian Trail Park/ Ride Lot, depart at 6:45 PM, and drive directly to the Cabin. The estimated arrival time for this group at the Cabin is 10:45 PM. ]

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

SLEEPING GEAR:

 Sleeping Bag (or Sheets & Blankets)
 Pillow
 Sleeping Pad, Air Mattress or Hammock
 Tent (Optional but recommended for extra privacy)

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES: (Adjust according to weather forecast.)
 Hiking Shorts or Running Shorts
 Swimsuit
 Exercise Pants or Jeans for night use
 TeeShirts (2)
 Long-sleeve Shirt
 Socks & Underwear (2 pair each -- synthetic preferable)
 Comfortable Hiking Boots or Athletic Shoes
 Light Sandals or Slippers for leisure & night use, etc.
 Jacket, Sweater or Sweatshirt (per weather forecast)
 RainCoat or Poncho
 Cap or Hat
 Sunglasses

SUGGESTED PERSONAL ITEMS:
 About 5 Gallons of Water per Person (e.g. in plastic jugs, etc. -- based on about 2 gallons per person per night at the Cabin.
 Collapsible Water Bag (with tap) or “Solar Shower” (if you have)
 Personal HeadLamp and/or Flashlight/ Lantern & Extra Batteries
 Camera & Extra Batteries
 Towel & WashCloth
 Toothbrush & Paste
 Biodegradable Soap/ Shampoo
 Insect Repellant
 Lip Balm & SunScreen

FOR HAPPY HOURS, “POTLUCK” MEALS, LUNCHES, etc.:
 Misc. Items to Share for “Potluck” Group Dinners, Bkfasts, etc.
 Any small entree items you’d like to cook on BBQ grill
 Cooler with plenty of ice & your favorite beverages & food items.
(In addition to crushed ice, pre-freeze plastic bottles/jugs of water for long-lasting solid ice and cold drinking water as it melts)
 Misc. Daypack Lunch Items (See “Hiking” below.)
 Covered Box or “Action Packer” recommended to protect perishable food items, etc. from critters & rain.
 Compact Fold-up Table (if you have and can bring conveniently)
 Large Covered Pot & Frying Pan or Griddle (preferably Non-Stick for easy cleanup), + Spatula, Spoon, Sharp Knife or two
 Gas Stove (preferably 2-burner)+ Fuel & Lighter if you have
 Lantern if you have + Fuel or extra Batteries CHARLIE will provide the following group-use items & supplies:
Large Coffee Percolator, Ground Coffee, Creamer, Sugar, etc.,
Charcoal & Starter for the Barbecue Grills, Butane Lighter, Tongs, 2-Burner Coleman Stove, large Water Pot & Ladle for group hot water,
Paper Plates, Plastic Cups, Plastic Knives, Forks, Spoons, Napkins, Paper Towels, Aluminum Foil, Garbage Bags, ZipLocs, Plastic Wash Basins, Dish Detergent & Scouring Pads for Cleanup,
Butter, Cooking Oil, Salt, Pepper, Misc. Spices, Large Pot and Ladle

FOR CAMPFIRES, COMFORT & LEISURE, ETC.:
 Lounge Chair
 Rain Fly or Canopy Tent (if you have and rain looks likely)
 Light Nylon Cord for clothesline, tarp, etc.
 1 or 2 Packaged “FireLogs” (or several sticks of Firewood if you have on hand and can conveniently bring)
 Saw, Hatchet, etc. (optional)  Nature Guides to Trees, Wildflowers, Birds, Stars, etc. (optional)  Any Musical Instrument you play (optional)  Reading Material, Frisbee, Ball, etc. (optional) FOR HIKING:  Day Pack or Fanny Pack  Trekking Poles or Hiking Stick (if you have)  Items for Pack: E. g. Beverage Bottles (or Camelbak Water System), Map & Compass, Trail Mix, Apple, Cheese, Sandwich,Chips, etc. Sunscreen  Personal Handheld GPS Unit (if you have)  Lightweight Binoculars FOR OPTIONAL NANTAHALA “FUNYAK FLOAT,” WEAR::  Swimsuit  Synthetic T-Shirt  Tight-fitting Sport Sandals (or old Sneakers) & thick Woolen Socks

How to Get There:
Event Directions:CARPOOLERS: DON’T FORGET TO CHIP IN GENEROUSLY TO COVER YOUR DRIVER’S GAS & VEHICLE EXPENSES! SUGGESTION TO DRIVERS: Rezero your odometer at each instruction and pay close attention to mileages given and driven.

From INDIAN TRAIL MARTA LOT to NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER (NOC), WESSER, NC (~135 miles Total, ~2.5 hours):
1) From the MARTA Park/Ride Lot at Indian Trail Rd (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. It’s about 27 miles from this point to the NOC, with the final few miles of US-74 narrowing down to 2 lanes in the river gorge.
4) When you reach the NOC vicinity you’ll notice a concrete bridge that crosses the river to your Right. Turn Right across that bridge (it’s about 100 yards before the NOC retail shop on US-19/74) -- then bear Left into the large NOC parking lot. We’ll rendezvous at the “Rentals & Rafting” check-In building (Target time for our main carpool group to check in is 12:15 PM Friday.)

From NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER to SWAN CABIN: (~45 miles Total, ~ 1.5 hour)
1) From the NOC continue on US-19/74 westward about 10 miles to the US-129 junction in the little town of Topton, NC.
2) Turn Right onto U.S. 129 North. and follow it about 11 miles to Robbinsville, NC.
3) At the Robbinsville traffic light continue straight ahead on US-129/ NC-143 for 1.4 miles, and look for the NC-143 turn sign.
4) 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 left -- 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.)
5) 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.
6) 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.
7) 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.)
8) 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.
9) Turn Left up the hill at this Swan Cabin sign onto the slightly rougher spur road, pass immediately through a steel gate (which should be unlocked) and continue about 0.2 mile to the cleared parking area just uphill of the Cabin and just outside a second (normally locked) steel gate. Congratulations -- you made it!
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):360Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 6:45 pm
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.


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