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Hike of the Month: Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness

After climbing 1500 feet in just 1.8 miles along the Big Stack Gap Branch Trail hikers will come to a campground area and an intersection in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Hikers must continue straight ahead along the Fodderstack Trail for another 3.7 miles before returning to Farr Gap. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)

Photo by Adam Brimer

After climbing 1500 feet in just 1.8 miles along the Big Stack Gap Branch Trail hikers will come to a campground area and an intersection in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Hikers must continue straight ahead along the Fodderstack Trail for another 3.7 miles before returning to Farr Gap. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)

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  • Tennesse wilderness campaign for Wild South director Jeff Hunter crosses Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The trail crosses the creek eight times over the course of 12 miles. Hikers should use caution during heavy rains and in the winter when conditions may make the creek impassable. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Hikers traveling along the 12-mile loop comprised of the Stiffknee, Slickrock Creek, Big Stack Gap Branch and Fodderstack Trails will cross Slickrock Creek eight times in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Hikers should use caution during heavy rains and in the winter when conditions may make the creek impassable. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Rattlesnake plantain grows on the side of the Slickrock Creek trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Simon Peter, right, hikes along the Slickrock Creek Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Peter says he is hiking the length of the roughly 288-mile Benton MacKaye trail. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Water pours over the four-tiered Wildcat Falls near the Slickrock Creek Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • A growth resembling a face clings to a tree on the Little Stiffknee Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The 12-mile hike encompasses the Stiffknee, Slickrock Creek, Big Stack Gap Branch and Fodderstack Trails. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • The first portion of the hike along a 12-mile loop on the Stiffknee Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness makes a steep descent as it heads towards Little Slickrock Creek near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • In order to hike the 12-mile loop hikers must bear left onto the Stiffknee Trail at this intersection near Farr Gap at the beginning of the hike in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Hikers will return to Farr Gap from the Fodderstack Trail seen here to the right. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • A lightly colored frond grows beside its counterparts on the Stiffknee Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Hikers will leave the Stiffknee Trail at this junction with the Slickrock Creek trail by crossing over Little Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. At this point hikers traveling the loop in a clockwise fashion will have traveled 3.4 miles from the Farr Gap parking area. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • Remnants of a railway can be seen on the Stiffknee Trail near Little Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Evidence of the railway is hard to find as much of it is over grown or like this one, enveloped into a tree. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • A mushroom grows in a gap in a rock near Wildcat Falls on the Slickrock Creek Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • After crossing Slickrock Creek for the eighth and final time along the Slickrock Creek Trail, hikers must continue along the Big Stack Gap Branch Trail as denoted by this sign in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. This section of the trail becomes very difficult as it gains 1500 feet in elevation in 1.8 miles. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)
  • After climbing 1500 feet in just 1.8 miles along the Big Stack Gap Branch Trail hikers will come to a campground area and an intersection in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Hikers must continue straight ahead along the Fodderstack Trail for another 3.7 miles before returning to Farr Gap. (ADAM BRIMER/NEWS SENTINEL)

September's Hike of the Month travels along a 12-mile loop comprised of the Stiffknee, Slickrock Creek, Big Stack Gap Branch and Fodderstack Trails in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness near Tellico Plains, Tenn. This strenuous hike makes eight stream crossings at Slickrock Creek and involves steep ascents and descents along the way.

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