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Details

Your Host(s): Robert Burgess

Drive Pace: Moderate

Day Start Time Finish Time Cost Meeting Place People Limit MINIs Limit
Friday 9:15am 2:30pm Pay for Lunch General Store Parking Lot at Fontana Village none 15

The Hike (via foot travel) : A few miles off the lower dragon sits Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, an approximately 3,800-acre tract of virgin forest in Graham County, named in memory of poet Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918), best known for his poem “Trees”. It’s one of the largest contiguous tracts of old growth forest in the Eastern United States.

We will hike the moderate two-mile, figure-eight trail to see and touch several trees that are over 400-years old! The oldest yellow-poplars are more than 20 feet in circumference and stand 100 feet tall. Half the hike is uphill. There will be lots of wildflowers in bloom as well. Restrooms are located at the parking lot.

The Hillclimb (via MINI):A few minutes from the Kilmer Forest is the start of a dead-end road “hillclimb” to Maple Springs Overlook. This approx 4.5 mile stretch of pavement gains over a 1,000 feet of elevation and is used for the SCCA “Chasing the Dragon Hillclimb” race event every year in September. Up at the top is a boardwalk built on the side of the mountain with spectacular unobstructed panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains to the north. We won’t be racing, but maybe the drive up the hill will be a little spirited at times. Here is a MAP from the SCCA race course

Lunch: On the way back to Fontana we will stop for lunch at Lynn's Place.in Robbinsville.

Your Schedule (give or take a little)

Start Finish Activity
9:15am General Store Parking Lot at Fontana Village
9:15am 9:45am Drive to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
9:45am 11:00am Hike the Trails
11:00am 12:15pm Hillclimb
12:15pm 12:45pm Drive to Lynn's Place
12:45pm 2:00pm Lunch at Lynn's Place in Robbinsville
2:00pm 2:30pm Drive Back to Fontana Village

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Additional Links: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Map Location
Scca Hillclimb Map
Lynn's Place

Who Is Going?

There are currently 0 people signed up with 0 MINIs attending.