Backpacking Joyce Kilmer

Steve Hinkle and I went up to Joyce Kilmer on October 25-26, 2008. Parked at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest parking area and headed up the Naked Ground Trail to Naked Ground. From there, we headed up to the Bob Stratton Bald which is the highest point in the wilderness. We dropped down to a place near Cherry Log Gap which is on the Fodderstack Trail that heads off to the right off of Bob Bald (Okay, Bob Stratton Bald is called two balds on some maps. One is called Stratton Bald and the other Bob Bald. Actually, they are the same mountain top. They are just two different fields on top). We camped near Cherry Log Gap where the Benton MacKaye Trail intersects with the Fodderstack Trail. There was plenty of fire wood, so that was very nice. We listened to the UGA vs LSU game where the Dogs killed them. Next day we backtracked to the balds and to Naked Ground, then onto Hangover Lead and the overlook. It was very clear and you could see for miles and miles. You could see all of the Smokies from Gregory Bald to Mt. Guyot and in addition, Mt. Leconte. We could also see the southern Nantahala's along with the fire tower on Wesser Bald. It was a fantastic trip. Remember that when you go down the Jenkins Meadow Trail, that you need to take a left at one point where the trail appears to go straight. If you go straight and bushwhack it, it will end up on the Naked Ground Trail, but it's better to take the left. When you come to the trail intersection that marks the beginning of the Naked Ground Trail, note that there is a giant blowdown on this trail that caused me to backtrack and head out the trail that takes you to the Horse Cove Campground area which is a half mile from the parking lot.