Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest - Out There!

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a 3,800 acre tract of virgin forest in Graham County North Carolina. Named in memory of the poet Joyce Kilmer. It is one of the largest tracts of 'Old Growth' Forest in the Eastern United States. Some trees are said to be over 400 years old. Killed in action during WWI in France the VFW petitioned the United States Government to set aside some land in 1934. After investigating possible locations the United States Government decided on land along the Little Santeetlah Creek and on July 30 1936 dedicated the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. There are several types of trees here namely Yellow-Poplar, Oak, Basswood, Beech, and Sycamore. Some of the oldest are over 20 ft in circumference and 100 feet tall. Diseases on our cursed planet have wiped out many species as well. Gone today are the American Chestnut and the Hemlocks some of them so big their trunks are still visible rotting on the forest floor. In the months of April and May many different species of wildflowers cover the forest floor. There are two miles of looping trails here and all the trees and flowers are only accessible by foot. (Although half the trails were closed on both trips for me several months apart.) But because the forest which the Memorial is in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is apart of the Nantahala National Forest many trails cross here but the main trail is heavily traveled and easy to follow. If you plan on going off the main trail to one of the side trails we suggest using a real GPS. A phone is not a GPS and although some apps can increase the signal strength of satellites you should not rely on a phone for any kind of backcountry hiking. We also recommend checking out alltrails.com to find trails and research where you want to go before you head out. Just don't forget to the untrained eye trails on a flat map sure do look a lot shorter than when you actually get on the trail itself.

After hiking the easy-moderate trail and enjoying the sites. There is a place where folks swim or wade in the creek. The rocks are slick so be careful. There are picnic tables (should have seen those in the video......;)), grills, and a restroom with some flushing toilets. There is no camping or overnight parking 'allowed'. (Public Land)

So enjoy and have fun! And if you can't or just won't remember that is what we are here for!!

We will see you......-

-Out There!

35°21'32.23"N, 83°55'44.69"W

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/north-carolina/joyce-kilmer-memorial-forest-loop-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-view-full-map

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-#OutThere!2020 -#RumbleOutThere!2021