April 6th Sipsey Willderness Clean-up

“Okay, so I guess we are meeting at Thompson Creek TH then. That's cool, I've never been to that area. But it sounds like we are gonna use up the available parking pretty quick. Do we want to arrange carpools to cut down on auto impact in the area?

Maybe I'm too worried about it?

Just love being OCD....”

“i see no harm in car impact in this area..i've seen this area hold alot of cars, and horse trailers”

“I am planning on leaving Memphis around noon. I should be there between 3 and 4. I need a trail map. Where is the best place to get one?”

“That is I will be leaving Memphis on Friday the 5th. :)”

“There is a little country store just south of Moulton on 33 that sells maps to the Sipsey. I have two, the Carto-Craft, and the Backcountry Surveys map. Each has it's own qualities, but the Carto-Craft map is better. The Carto-Craft map can be ordered directly from Carto-Craft by calling 1-800 444-4095. I'm not sure that the Carto-Craft was available at the country store the last time I was there.”

“Chili36 the Wild Alabama Trading Post, Indian Trading Post or something like that on 33 near Moulton has some good maps if your going by there. Someone else might be able to give you better direction than I.”

“Nevermind, bitpusher beat me to it.”

“Thanks, I am going to order today.”

“Directions to Thompson Creek

From the North - I'm assuming you'll be driving south from Moulton along Alabama 33. You'll take the last right hand turn in Lawrence County. The road is Cty road 6. On many maps it's labeled cty rd 60 because you switch back into Winston County. Anyway, turn right and after a few miles you'll cross a bridge. The Sipsey Rec Area is on your left, FYI. Continue straight for a several more miles until you T-bone at an intersection. Most of the signs tell you to go back the way you came to go to Sipsey. They are talking about the rec area. Turn right. You'll follow this road for several miles. It will switch to dirt. You'll come to a sharp switchback with a brige. There are some nice falls at this location. Continue on until you come to another T-bone. There is a church called New Macedonia on your left. The intersection is sort of scewed. Turn right and then take the first right again. It's after about 50 yards and is NOT marked. It's a straight shot to the trailhead. After you've driven just long enough to question whether you're going right or not you'll come to the switchback that OPIE mentioned. Within a mile you're at the trailhead.

Directions from East West or South. I'm assuming you'll be arriving by way of Double Springs. Instead of the usual Hwy 33 route go one intersection West in Double Springs and take (it's either 195 or 95) the road north. After about 10 miles there will be a little brown building on your right that looks like a Forest Service Building. It is actually a business, but turn right here. There will be a brown sign that says to turn right for Sipsey. After about a mile you'll come to an intersection where you can go right or straight. The signs say go right, but go straight. You are now at the point I mention above at the first T-intersection.

Chili - I don't know if you'll be coming through Moulton or maybe Russellville. If you're coming down 95/195? instead of 33 your direction will actually be identical to that of the folks coming from the south, you'll just have a left hand turn. I've driven in this way before when coming from my parents in Hamilton. This left hand turn in only a couple miles after a main road ties in from the right that goes to Haleyville. You can probably find that on a map.

I have an Alabama Gazetter that shows all of these roads. If anyone would like me to scan this page and email let me know by emailing me at dayhiker@tidefans.com. I'll be out of town this weekend and won't be checking the site. Please use email.”

“Thanks bitbusher, I ordered Sipsey, Mammoth Cave, Big Bend all on water proof paper.”

“Cool chili. Glad to be of help. I've thought about hiking at Mammoth Cave sometime too. There's a big backcountry area there that looks pretty neat.”

“yeah, its has been afew years but the last time I bp'd at Mammoth Cave, I enjoyed it. It tends to get crowded in the summer, but these days, it seems like all the parks are that way in the summer months.

I have a good friend who is the hydrologist for MCNP. She will take care of the permits if we plan a trip.”

“Chili,
Carto-Craft prints two maps for Sipsey, I have both. One is pretty good and the other is useless (The trails and the contour lines are just about the same color) If you haven’t ordered yours yet, I can look tonite and let you know which one not to order.”

“rabbitman, I saw this post and called carto craft back, they say the one they are shipping has good contrast between trail and contour line. Thanks for the tip.”

“I just ordered the map from Carto-Craft - the gentleman was a little surprised to get two orders for the same areas (I also ordered Mammoth Cave) - btw chili36 - the person tazking the order asked me to pass on the fact that the Big Bend map will be on back order and as a result will be delayed from the other two maps.”

“I will post direction to Trail head through Mount Hope this weekend. A new 4lane has just been opened up and I will go see what the Mile marker is that turns through Mount Hope. Anyone coming from Moulton or Russeville on Hwy 24 would be better off to go through Mt. Hope. I'll detailed directions this weekend.

BAMA”

“I will cut through the Shoals and make a bee line for Moulton. I will coming in from that direction.”

“The Croft map does not show some of the trails.
The best map IMO is the Backcountry Trails Surveys map. Trails of the Sipsey Wilderness. This map is $3.95. This is the one you can pick up at the Wild Alabama Trading Post. If your going south through Moulton, it's on the left side of the road.

There is a book called "Alabama Trails" by Patricia Stenger Sharpe that gives some good info about the area and some of the trails. It also shows a map of part of the Wilderness Area in the book.”

“Well sure the Backcountry Surveys map shows all the trails, but the Carto-Craft has all the bells and whistles man! It's even got GPS coordinates for PackRat's GPS!

I'll bring both of mine.

BTW WD, is PackRat coming?”

“I'll ask him and see if he wants to.”

“chili36,
If your coming through the shoals you dont need to go through Moulton. You will be on hwy 157, You can turn right onto hwy 101, go to the end of it about 10 miles and you will come out on the new 4 lane I was refering to eariler. When you get to the 4lane you will be about 5 miles from the bankhead. ( crowfly ). I live in this area. I plan to go to the trailhead this weekend and get milages and mile markers for directions. I also go close to the Trading post so if anyone need me to pick up maps let me know.

BAMA”

“Bama, thanks. Looking at the map, it would appear that coming down 101, I would go through Hatton and hit 24 (which I presume is now the four lane) between Mount Hope and Landersville. If I come in that way it looks like it will shave off 15 miles or so. Get me the directions and I will get there. Even though I am from Lower Alabama, I think I know enough about the northern dialect to get directions if I get lost. LOL.”

“My last trip to the sipsey it was raining so hard i missed the mount hope turn, and ended up in russellville...but that was for the best...closest hardee's around i think”

“just on the off chance - do the Golden Eagle Passports cover the daily fee at Sipsey or is it like most FS sites where they don't accept the Golden whatever Passports?”

“HOI - I remember seeing something about some sort of pass like that at the trailheads, but since I can't get one (yet) I didn't pay attention. Since these are USFS trailheads, I would guess that they match other USFS sites that you are familiar with.”

“You have an e=mail coming.”

“The USFS appears to have its own yearly pass for the Sipsey - $25 I think (could be old info) - the USFS office would have current info - 205 489 5111

On as slightly different subject I noticed that Alabama Trails Assoc. has a planned Sipsey Trails Maint. scheduled for April 6 also - see Work Schedule - has anyone talked with these folks about what we would like to do? Or is this less than a good idea politically?”

“I noticed that too HOI. As far as I know, no one has contacted the ATA to coordinate. The Sipsey is pretty big though, so we probably won't butt heads.

I don't have enough experience with the ATA (read: none) to know what their internal politics are, or if dealing with them is likely to get our ad hoc group relegated to "trash collector" status. Is that what you're worried about HOI?”

“No - its more of a politeness thing with me - if I know there is a group that is normally maintaining a trail system and I do some work on the system I will generally tell the normal maintaners what I did after the fact and in some detail so as to avoid people hiking out a few miles only to find that I had already removed a blow down that they were going after. Based on some interactions with local managers I rarely seek out the local maintainers to do any coordination of my work with theirs - basically they have an approach that does not work for me and so I seek my recreational activities without their prior knowledge. Like I said however I find it only polite to tell the maintainers what I did or what I found that should be done but I didn't have time for after I have left the area.”

“We could probably put together a post-mission summary of what we accomplished (other than getting blitzed in camp) and email it to them.

I dislike working with large organized groups because there's almost always at least one frustrated would-be politician or control freak whose ultimate goal is to boss people around. Ad hoc groups of friends like ours is my preferred method of interaction.”

“I agree even if we do have a big boss foreman Mr. OPIE (BSEG)”

“Getting a yearly pass would probably be a good idea for me. Nine dayhikes or 5 overnighters and it's paid for.”

“OK here is the results of the call to the USFS office in Double Spring - Golden Eagle Passes are not usable for Sipsey access use fees; an annual pass is not possible to mail order - need to show up, with tag number and license in hand; USGS map and NF map are available for mail order but no plastic - they want checks.”

“I agree with ya about organized groups like that Bitpusher. I do however help with construction and maintence of the CT (Cumberland Trail) in Tennessee. Also usually go to the TTA (Tennessee Trails Association) meetings once a month to keep up on things but DON'T go hiking with them. The majority of the people that I've seen in the TTA are backcountry incompitant.
I'm suprised you don't here about TTA hikers bodies being recovered 2 miles from the Trail Head. They wonder why I don't ever lead hikes. HA!”

“Spoke with Carroll Wilson the Coordinator of the ATA work groups..hehe..i asked for Mrs Wilson...LMAO!!! Dude..it's a dude!
ok well they are resposible for 210 south of 208, someone else has 210 north of it. 203, and 200. They will be doing work on 2 miles of 210 south of 208 april 6th. He agree'd with me that thompson creek and the sipsey river trail are in need of work. I don't know who assigned them these trails..he made no mention of the FS..i even kinda asked him about their involvment with them. He said if we wanted to talk more to their group show up at the rec center at 9am. This is your foreman...and that's all i have to say about that

Glen Gaines should be back in office next week..i'm gonna talk to him again since Cook never faxed me the paperwork or called me back AGAIN...i hate that crap..HATE IT!”

“correct me if I am wrong but aren't 210, 208, and 203 roads outside of / bordering Sipsey? I think 200 is the Borden Creek Tr. On the other hand I am working from a really bad map.”

“210 is also known as the Mitchell Ridge Trail. It's a relatively new trail. The 208 is a FS road, but closed to auto traffic inside the Sipsey. The 203 is a new trail, so new it's not on the Backcountry Surveys map. It's called the "Borden Creek Area" Trail.”

“I have to work all weekend this week but I went to the trailhead at 206 today to give everyone good directions through Mt Hope.


Coming from the Shoals –
Take 157 to the 50 mile marker, turn right ( South) onto State Hwy. 101 at the caution light. Stay on Hwy 101 until the 1 Mile marker, Turn right (west) onto State Hwy. 24. ( People coming from either Moulton or Russelville will be coming in on this road. It is recently 4 laned so it may not look familiar ) Stay on hwy 24 about 2 miles, You will cross 2 bridges near the 42mm continue to the top of the hill and turn left ( south ) onto county rd 39. Set odometer, this road changes into county road 23 and crosses old 24 in 1.7 miles, Cross old 24 , a quick left - right. ( RESET odometer) Go beside the Texaco, Mt. Hope school will be at 1.2miles, continue strait till mileage 2.4. County road 23 turns right. to go up the mountain. Turn right onto 23 ( I don’t know why they didn’t rename it, its confusing to me and I live near here ) RESET odometer after taking this right, continue on cr23. , at 1.3 miles pavement ends, The road becomes FS203 at 2.0 miles a lefthand hair pen curve, (ahh the mountains) continue on this gravel road up the hill. At 2.3 miles a road enters on the Right stay straight, at 3.5miles a road (FS213) enters from the left, continue around the slightly right curve, at 5.8 miles are some houses and private land, at 6.7 miles is a road to the left that is not marked but there is a pull over on your right. After turning left RESET your odometer and you will see the road is marked 208 about 100 yrds after the turn, stay on 208, at 2.5 miles a road enters on the left, (FS208-A) stay straight, at 2.9 is a pullover with the unmarked trail to Kings Cove, stay on 208. At 3.1 miles is a hairpen curve to the right ( its all downhill from here) continue until milage 3.9 and you will be at the bridge/trailhead. For all you GPS toteing, techno geeks ( I can call you that , Im one myself ) the coordinates are N 34 deg 20’ 27.2” and W 87 deg 28’ 15.2” Trail 206 will be to your right across the creek.
Lets see to make this long story short - from Shoals take 157 to hwy 101, turn right, go to cr 39 cross over old 24 go to hwy 23 turn right , go till you come to some houses and take the next road to the left. Stay on this road till the bridge.

BAMA”

“The wife has plans that weekend so I won't be able to make it.”

“Bummage. Sorry you can't make it Leatherneck.”

“good job Bama, I think I can get there from here.”

“As far as the list goes change me from a maybe to a probally, if it makes any differance. I have a little vacation time I'll try to take.

BAMA”

“By the way the road is in good shape. Any car will be fine I was there today a truck from Vermont, a small car from Mississippi and a 15 passenger van from Bham was there. There are some potholes but nothing big.

BAMA”

“bama, I really hope you can make it. Even if you can't, your work has been outstanding in scoping this area. I look forward to meeting you on the trail.”

“OPIE - any further word from Glen Gaines?”

“do we have a count on how many are going yet?”

“I have a count of 12...

1 OPIE
2 Michelle
3 Rabbittman
4 Chili36
5 Bitpusher
6 Tango313
7 Walkindude
8 HOI
9 gojo
10 Supertroll
11 Trailhound
12 Bama-Strong maybe
southerngal- weak maybe
moontrailbabe- weak maybe
mdshiker- weak maybe (almost sure he has work)
Towndawg -weak maybe

Leatherneck is out due to wife..*laughs and points*

I'll try to call Glen Gaines today..if not tommorrow definately”

“We had some really rough rain and are expecting more. The road in is prone to washing. I will go back around the 1st of april to check on the road again.

BAMA”

“I may go out this weekend (booty calls come first)..and definately may go out the 29th to check it out alone”

“don't torture yourself there OPIE”