Joyce Kilmer Slick Rock ECT

“Anyone interested in a trip in mid to late April?”

“This is one of my favorite trails I'll go.”

“I think I might be interested. How long of a trip will it be?”

“I'll be out of vacation time by then. I get restocked in June.”

“The whole trail is only 13 miles but you can add some if you want with some great side trips”

“Cool. So you would hike it from Naked Ground to the Lake, or the other way. Doesn't it get really steep going to Naked Ground?”

“Or in at Big Fat Gap or better yet go in at Jeffrey Hell an out Slickrock I've been wanting to do that an havent got around to it.

Ghost, What were you wanting to do?”

“My thoughts were to do a loop using the Haoe Lead and Deep Creek trails. On Fri. hike in about a mile and set up camp and let everyone arrive as thier schedules allow. Then on Sat. hike to the top on Haoe Lead Trail and then descend on Deep Creek Trail and set up camp again when we get to water. This should accomodate most skill levels, give some great views, and water won't be an issue.”

“Put me down for a maybe.”

“Sounds like a good trip Ghostman, I think BS might be interested in this trip too. I already have my maps of the area.It also happens to be at the edge of my recruiting area. I was just out that way yesterday.Keep me posted on this trip but I can't say yeah or neh at this point.”

“Possibly could make it!”

“That is wher I went walkin in the woods and sleepin in the woods the ferst time never!”

“Put me down.”

“Sounds great to me! I'l be there if it's a weekend I don't work.”

“"...This should accomodate most skill levels..."
ghost
06:22:18 AM
01/15/02

Ghost - you're OK! I appreciate your considerate planning.

I'll be thinking about it. Guess that makes me a maybe, if you permit newbies. From the interest shown, this could be a great trip.”

“I might be able to go as well.”

“You are a yellow-bellied, stinky butt, mangy coyote!

How's that for a put down?”

“dammit, jo! yer a dang funny stealer!”

“sounds good to me”

“Ghost....I am in on any trip you plan ...specially spring in Joyce Kilmer/Deep Creek....
however, i have one of my co-workers off from April 24-29 and that includes the last weekend in April, so...if it is any other weekend besides the one that falls during that time.......I-am-In on this one”

“Do the dates April 19 through 21 work for everyone?”

“I think so”

“i hope those dates are good...
re-joyce! re-joyce!
(is it too early to chant like that linville bunch?)
:) 3~”

“Ghost, put me down as a maybe if that is possible. I really want to go, but I can't say fo sho as of this moment.

I love Joyce Kilmer!”

“Woo hoo!! I'm off that weekend! I'm in.”

“Ok, mark your calendars for April 19-21.”

“A maybe for me and TWB.

Hi Y'all!”

“great to see you again Pamster

April 19-21 is OK for me but I am not too sure on where Joyce Kilmer is located - might be a bit too much of a drive”

“We've got it on the calendar. Rolex and I always wanted to go to this area!”

“oooo......i see a grand spring trek developing here! and a gorgeous destination......mmmmmm
~~”

“Ghost,
I could be wrong cuz. I'm here in La. an dont have my maps with me .But as I remember to do that loop, It's not really a loop you start at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial reception area ascend immediately up to Haoe Lead to Jenkins meadow trail then it's a hard to find if your not watching right descending down to Deep Creek my point is I dont think you can hike in a mile an camp unless you want a dry camp on the ascent then again if I remember correctly Deep Creek is not so deep it was dry the second time. it's a great hike I've done it twice took my daughter the second time once in early April it's a beautiful area maybe I'm remembering wrong? I think it ends at the end of the blacktop a couple of miles up from the recep. Area I tried to find a map of that area on the net but didnt know where to look what I did see of it looks to me how I remember do you have that map?”

“Looking on my map there would be no water a mile in toward Jenkins Meadow from the Memorial area. And no water on Jenkins Meadow/Haoe Lead until you got to Deep Creek. I'm going by map only not experience, it's the forest service topo map "Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock and Citico Creek Wilderness." Really good map by the way.”

“Where is this place? It sounds nice, I may have to make it.”

“its just south of GSMNP”

“If those intrested in going would e-mail at ghost_trekker@yahoo.com, we can start to formalize the plans.

As far as the route I suggested, it starts on the Haoe Lead Trail near the Maple Springs Observation Point, which is outside the Memorial area. About a mile in is the intersection with the Deep Creek Trail which should be close to a tributary of Deep Creek. But with the drought conditions, water could be scarce until we circle back around to Deep Creek again on Sat.”

“I think I can finally make a group trip, I looked on a map I have done that trail twice, beautiful area. Once there was plenty of water once not luck of the draw. and I went in one time at Joyce Kilmer Memorial up to Jenkins Meadow, to Haoe Lead, to Maple Springs that's what I confused with the loop that was really nice too. When you go in at the MP Observ. it's ascending to the Haoe lead split then ascends all the way till the Maple Springs turn off fantastic views. There is some good campsites along the Maple Springs part of the trail. It will be FUN!”

“if you are thinking on this trip, keep me in mind. I might be able to squeeze it in. we could kalaka.”

“During this time I have a 2 week trip planned either the VA or GA section of the AT..havent decided yet..but..if that falls thru count me in on this one.”

“Count me in for sure.”

“Sorry stikmon. I would like to, but we decided to take a cruise that week.”

“Count G00SE and I as definite maybes.”

“i am still on the viable list for this one I think.....!
I will need a strong dose of mountain karma by then, I have just been thru the experience of selling my comfy city hacienda to buy a fixer upper hacienda on 10 acres of woods and will be moving over easter weekend where i will be logging some "bag nights" till i get a bit of it ihabitable, so, if i don't rise into nirvana....i will see ya at the trailhead!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~jai”

“this one ehh... hMm.. ok.. let me read it.”

“i think this is a 6-7 hour drive for me...no vacation days yet...crap..I WANNA GO!!...*cough*..man i feel a sick day coming on”

“you're a manager, but you have no vacation? what the hell?”

“I sent ya an email, Ghostman.. count me as a possible.. but keep us posted.. I will be looking at joining 'all ya-y'alls.”

“I put this on my calendar and plan on being there. But every time I plan an ECT trip, I get shipped out of town on business, have some emergency or have some idiot slam into me in an intersection. My best bet on this is to blow it off and then the Wednesday before the weekend this trip takes place, I can just spontaneously decide to go.”

“chili36? Let's consider carpooling.”

“10-4”

“chili....spontaneity is a beautiful approach to the most satisfying traveling adventures.....the trips just unfold moment to moment like a surprise package...
:) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(i hope no surprises come out of the package for you in the time between Wednesday and the trailhead) lol”