Joyce Kilmer Wilderness (NC) advice

“Some buddies and I are thinking about doing a 3 day trip to Joyce Kilmer. None of us have ever been. Guidebook and maps are on order. We'd like one option where we finished with less than 2 miles on Sunday so that we can raft the Ocoee on teh way home. Any advice from folks that have been there on different trip options/places to see?”

“Hi John.
I miss your "Kid's Saying" posts.
Say hi to my little hiking buddy!”

“Park at Big Fat Gap and do a loop to the east. The lower falls are fantastic. Watch the water levels - Slickrock can come up and there are many crossings.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tn/nwis/uv?03518500
http://www.boatingbeta.com/cgi-bin/myflows.pl?view
Or go to whiteblaze and pm tipi walter - he knows every inch of that area.”

“SS - will do.

hottyhoo - thanks for the tips.”

“Dayhiker, why are you asking questions about hiking? What kind of place do you think this is?”

“places to see - Hangover was kinda nice and of course take the dayhike around the big trees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdMNUu85JDo

I like Slickrock area also but not when the water is up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-jHfUpJd_c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d91j0bIY3SA”

“Nice videos”

“Very nice. I'd hate to do that with a full pack.


ductape - exactly.”

“I'd hate to do that with a full pack.

Been there, done that.
Do not want.”

“I've been waist deep with a pack after a big rain at Sipsey in January, but it was a sand bottom and not nearly as fast moving as that was.

HOI saw what happened when I tried a waist deep crossing with a rock bottom in fast moving water.....lost a big toe nail.”

“yeah that toenail still makes me twitch just to think of it

btw those videos of the Slickrock remind me strongly of a TT trip to the Cranberry that me, Fridge and Lonewolf were on - much the same level and swiftness”

“I started to link the photo but thought better of it.”

“The second video was funny. Don't think we'll even think about going there. Especially considering the last trip we took Tom on.

Your friend,
Formerly Hot Chocolate Williams”

“No, you were Cocoa Williams”

“That trail name came at a price...


...anyone who put whiskey in their hot chocolate deserves to be called "cocoa williams".”