​We love this hike so much that we make it an overnighter for us!

It either begins or ends with a meal from Lucy’s 🙂 (a small town “step-back-in-time” restaurant).

​Joyce Kilmer Wilderness is close to “The Dragon Tail” (ask any motorcyclist what “The Dragon Tail” is and watch him or her smile) at Forest Service Road 81.

If you love climbing up elevator shafts and/or preparing for “The Next Ninja Warrior,” you can turn this day hike into a daaaaaaay hiiiiiiike and start a bit further down the mountain.

We’ll take Tripper’s Mountain Mercedes and get in a 4-wheel-drive Jeep excursion for about 14 miles before reaching the trailhead.

The trail is not only plush in the summer, but a beautiful reminder of why we enjoy true wildnerness hiking and camping (the trail seems to disappear into it’s natural display of growth and beauty).

As we enter the Old Hemlock Tree existence (like two children gazing wide eyed with wonder as they walk through a Christmas Tree Farm), we know that we are about to step into Bob Stratton Bald.

This year we set up camp underneath two trees on a blanket of thick grass.

We are The King & Queen Of The World, or so it seems for this evening! We are the only persons camping this night on top of Bob Stratton Blad!

It seems like a mountain has it’s own idea about the weather it desires to gift you with, as the day began with plenty of sunshine and hot temperatures only to end with a thunderstorm and temperatures in the low 50’s (on Independence Day week in the heat of the summer). Ahhhhhhh.

The hike out was a bit easier (downhill and much cooler) with yet another fond memory created from the experience.

I wish I was a lot faster with my ability to reach for my camera and shoot a picture because as we are entering Bob Stratton Bald, a covey of Grouse take flight right before us. Startled beyond words (okay maybe a few short words), I lift my hiking pole (like a rifle) and begin to shout: “BAM! BAM! BAM!”

Life Lesson- Whatever life brings your way, adjust to it, learn from it, give thanks for it and celebrate it.

We experienced fallen trees in our pathway (some to go under and some to climb over… sudden storms… unexpected temperatures… being startled by the flight of Grouse and the familiar yipping of coyote. Learn to adjust and appreciate the life lessons that Creator within His creation will teach you.

And might I add, please… please… please take care of and treat creation with respect, honor and true gratitude. One of the best ways we know how to do this is to “leave no trace of your visit behind.”

Do you know how a true Hiker/Backpacker has been in a certain area overnight?

Answer: You can’t tell that they have been there!

On our hike out we noticed where a few people left their trash behind.

​Not to mention that someone relieved themselves just steps away from the trail.

Here’s the deal, we all have to “do our business” when out in nature, but please do so in a manner that no one knows it, sees it or steps in it!

Get off the trail about 100′, dig a 6″ “cat hole,” do your business, clean up, cover it up, and be back on your way to creating memories and enjoying life.

Nobody wants to put up with your shit! Literally!

Remember… a true Hiker/Backpacker is one who has been there, but leaves no trace behind (except maybe where the grass is laid down where the tent used to be)

When you begin making plans for another day hike or overnighter, we hope that you will consider Bob Stratton Bald in The Joyce Kilmer Wilderness (just outside of Robbinsville, North Carolina). Maybe you too can be King and Queen for a day!