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Hiking & Camping Weekend at the Historic Swan Cabin + Optional Nantahala Float


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Joyce Kilmer Wilderness near Robbinsville, NC
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Aug 27 2010  7:00 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: N/A   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Jul 14 2010 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Aug 26 2010 7:00 pm
Event Duration:3 days/2 nights thru midday Sunday (or arrive/ depart at your convenience if you prefer.)
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Bobby Marie
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:5
Number Registered So Far: 18 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
OVERVIEW: The ruggedly beautiful mountains of the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness are a mecca for all who love the outdoors.  Late summer is an ideal time to enjoy the cool temperatures in this high-altitude region.  At 4300 ft above sea level, the 78-year old Swan Cabin is a historic log home (owned and managed by the U. S. Forest Service) on the shoulder of Stratton Bald, the highest peak in the wilderness.
  The Cabin serves as a convenient base for a wide variety of scenic hikes and excursions in the area.  It's about a 4-hour drive each way (180 miles) from Atlanta—see detailed directions below.  Ordinary 2-wheel-drive vehicles normally do fine on the final 9 miles of gravel roads to the parking area which is just a few yards up the hill from the Cabin.
  Although our AOC event won't officially begin until Friday evening, Charlie has the Cabin and its spacious adjoining patio, yard & meadow reserved and paid for from early afternoon Wed Aug 25 thru midday Sun Aug 29, so feel free to drive up early and enjoy a longer weekend if you prefer.  On our agenda will be cookouts, songfests & joke sessions around the roaring campfire, and optional dayhikes, waterfall walks, and scenic driving excursions, and an optional Nantahala River float trip en route home Sunday (see details below).
  Each person or party has the option of sleeping on a bunk inside the Cabin or putting up a tent in the adjoining meadow or split-rail-fenced grassy yard.  Year-round, figure on it being at least 10 degrees cooler at the Cabin than in Atlanta, and dress/pack accordingly.  We'll plan to keep the woodburning stove fired up for most of the weekend with a cauldron of hot water for hot chocolate, spiced cider & coffee.
  There are dozens of beautiful hikes in the area, including an easy 5-minute walk from the Cabin to a waterfall, complete with its own hidden GPS “geocache.”
   To see photos of the Swan Cabin and an account of our unforgettable AOC fall 2007 trip go to:
http://www.atlantaoutdoorclub.com/events/archivedetails.asp?eventid=662

AUGUST 10 OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP HAPPY HOUR & PLANNING MEETING –  6:30-7:30 PM PRIOR to AOC SOCIAL at the PRADO TACO MAC: You're sure to enjoy this “drop-in” gathering to meet one another and discuss the trip, so please try to attend if it's convenient. Due to the continued 90-degree+ heat wave we'll try to gather at a couple of adjoining tables in the air-conditioned interior of the restaurant—just inside the doors from the covered outdoor area where AOCers will gather (beginning about 7 PM) for the August Social. (The Prado shopping center is on Roswell Road just a quarter mile south of the I-285 "Roswell Rd" exit in Sandy Springs and has free parking in its multi-level decks.)  We’ll introduce one another, discuss our planned activities over the Swan Cabin weekend including hikes, optional Nantahala float, etc. – also directions, equipment sharing, group cookouts & breakfasts – and answer all your questions about the trip. We’ll facilitate formation of "custom carpool parties" and convenient departure/return times and meeting points.
  Charlie will follow up on the Aug 10 meeting with emails coordinating group meals and activity plans—also will facilitate our forming convenient carpool groups" via a system of "reply-all" email messages.

CABIN AMENITIES, MEALS, etc.   As mentioned above 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 in the Cabin. It’s appropriate to bring ice-filled coolers with cold beverages and fresh or frozen food, 2-burner Coleman stoves, lanterns, lounge chairs, fold-up tables, full-size inflatable mattresses, jugs of water, etc.—but ultra-light backpacking gear and freeze-dried fare are also OK if you prefer making do with less luxury.
  Inside the Cabin there’s a nice 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, flat grassy meadow just beyond the Cabin's split-rail-fenced yard.
  We enjoy preparing and sharing our meals “potluck” style on the patio and porch.  All who would like to participate in any meal simply contribute a food item or two of your choice and pitch 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.  
   Cell phone service, by the way, is normally unavailable in this remote area, but a couple of cellular “bars” can sometimes be found at high points on the nearby Skyway, etc.

TENTATIVE GROUP SCHEDULE:

 FRI AUG 27:  We encourage everyone to take Friday off from work if possible and drive up early (per pre-arranged "custom" carpools).  The I-85 Indian Trail lot NE of Atlanta (directions below) is suggested as a convenient meeting point for carpoolers.  All who have arrived at the Cabin by about 7:00 PM will celebrate Happy Hour together followed by a group cookout and campfire on the patio.  (As discussed above, feel free to arrive at the Cabin as early as Wednesday afternoon if you prefer and use it as late as midday Sunday!)

SAT AUG 28:   After a big “potluck” breakfast Charlie will lead a brief dayhike to the Cabin’s nearby waterfall – those of you with GPS units will enjoy locating its hidden geocached box. Then at about 10:30 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).  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.  Beginning at about 6:00 PM Saturday we’ll cap off our hiking adventures with another happy hour on the Cabin porch and patio followed by another big group cookout and campfire.

SUN AUG 29: After another big group breakfast we can take our time breaking camp and loading our vehicles—then relax awhile and gather by the Cabin for group photos and goodbyes.  I strongly suggest that you join me for a midday Nantahala River Float (see below!) en route home.  For carpoolers who choose not to paddle you’ll still enjoy checking out the scenery and whitewater excitement at the NOC’s “Nantahala Falls,” etc. while en route home.   There's also a beautiful "scenic route" home via the nearby Cherohala Skyway, with panoramic viewpoint pulloffs.

OPTIONAL SUNDAY NANTAHALA RIVER FLOAT: The famous Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is located conveniently on US-74 en route home, about an hour's drive from the Cabin. The river's Class I and II rapids are suitable for paddling without professional guides in rental inflatable kayaks (a.k.a. “rubber ducks” or “funyaks”). The rental “ducks” are wide, stable, self-bailing, and available in 1-person (recommended) or 2-person models. Their rental fee (about $37 for a single duck or $29 per person for a 2-person duck) includes your double-bladed paddle, lifejacket, helmet, wetsuit, splash jacket, and a shuttle ride about 8 miles upriver to the put-in.  The NOC Rental Office assures me that advance reservations are unnecessary—they expect to have plenty of "ducks" and bus shuttle space available on a walk-up basis on Sun Aug 29.
  For all who would like to join Charlie and Bobby for an exciting 2-hour float, we’ll plan to rendezvous at the NOC rental area at about 12:30 PM where we'll individually register for the 1:00 PM shuttle bus departure.  We expect be done with our paddling trip by about 3:00.  The NOC’s convenient river take-out and boat return is directly in front of their Rental center where we check 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 photo go to www.NOC.com or call them at 1-888-905-7238 + "2" for "Rafting."  If you prefer using your own boat, the NOC can transport you and your boat with our group to the put-in for an $8 fee, which includes the private-boater day-use river fee of $1. 

Required Items to Bring:
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 ~2 gal per person per day while at 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)
 Insulated Personal Drinking Mug
 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 Equipment & 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,
- Washable Hard Plastic Plates, and stainless steel Knives, Forks, Spoons,
- Plastic Wash Basins, Dish Detergent & Scouring Pads for Cleanup,
- Napkins, Paper Towels, Aluminum Foil, Garbage Bags, ZipLocs
- Butter, Cooking Oil, Salt, Pepper, Misc. Spices

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)
 OPTIONAL: Saw, Hatchet, etc.  Nature Guides to Tree/Wildflowers/Birds/Stars, etc.  Any Musical Instrument you play  Reading Material, Frisbee, Ball, etc.

FOR HIKING:
 Day Pack or Fanny Pack
 Items for your Pack:
   Beverage Bottles (or Camelbak Water System), Map & Compass,
   Trail Mix, Apple, Cheese, Sandwich, Chips, etc., Sunscreen
 Trekking Poles or Hiking Stick (if you like to use)
 Personal Handheld GPS Unit (if you have)
 Lightweight Binoculars (if you have)

FOR OPTIONAL NANTAHALA RIVER "FLOAT":
BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD for BOAT RENTAL and WEAR:
 Swimsuit
 Synthetic T-Shirt
 Tight-fitting Sport Sandals (or old Sneakers)
 Thick Woolen Socks		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:
FROM I-85 INDIAN TRAIL RD PARK & RIDE LOT to the SWAN CABIN (~180 miles Total, ~3.5 hours):
SUGGESTION TO DRIVERS: Re-zero 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 35 miles to the US-129 junction in the little town of Topton, NC. 
4) Turn Right onto U.S. 129 North. and follow it about 11 miles to Robbinsville, NC.
5) 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.
6) 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.)
7) 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.
8) 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.
9) 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.)
10) 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.
11) Turn Left at this Swan Cabin sign (a bit steeply uphill at first) 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!  Please park in such a way that other vehicles can also easily park and get out without your having to move your vehicle.

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: N/A
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!  Just bring your own food, refreshments and camping & hiking gear.

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