Sipsey Wilderness Work detail

“HOI-that sounds very much like a red buckeye I have that stayed shrubby instead of going vertical.”

“H.O.I., you did this Va. boy proud to see you give a little tutorial on the cross-cut. That tree on the Bee branch trail would kill a lesser man. What an effort.

I knew that the Sipsey would be a jaw-dropper. It always is, no matter how many times you see it, but especially the first time.

That small bush with the red spike would probably bee the Buckeye. Pretty showy, ain't it.

How about a report over on the Trails Forum?”

“well Wade iffn I ever do a trip report I'll also put a link to the TT thread with the report over on the PATC forum even if the area is a little far from the "PATC's trail trail area". The supposed trip report however will be here on Trail Talk for various reasons.

Thanks every one - that bush is indeed AEsculus pavia, "Red Buckeye" which in 20-20 hindsight kinda makes sense since the leaves, seeds (which I did not see) and the flower arrangement on the spike are very much like AEsculus hippocastanum, "Horse Chestnut" sometimes also called Buckeye. The flowers themselves are quite a bit different however on close examination the parts of the flowers are organized in much the same way.”

“I gotcha, HOI.
You must have seen the bluebells also, though it might be a little early. Other common Bankhead flowers are Lousewort, Wood Betony, Lance Leaved Coriopsis and tons of Irises. What did you think of those Cucumber Magnolia leaves? Make pretty good tp if you are so inclined. I think you got a good, first hand, look at how big the trees get in that area. Did you make it up to the head of Bee branch to see that Yellow Poplar, know universally as "THE tree"? That is estimated to be 500 years old +. The other branch of that canyon, which has no trail, is also one of the largest stands of old growth in the State. I only hope that these Hemlocks can dodge the wooly adelgid. You did fumigate your car before leaving Va., didn't you? Just kidding.”

“Great to see that everone has made it home. HOI your one special dude to travel as far as you did and work as hard as you did.”

“Well I always wanted to see the Sipsey based on things that I had heard about the plants in the area. Now that I know how to get there it is easier for me to think about a return trip only instead of tools I would be carrying an appropriate reference book or guide for the plants in the area and really keep good records of what I saw. What I remember seeing are Claytonia virginica, "Spring Beauty" in flower; Mertensia virginica, "Virginia Bluebells" in flower, note the leaf of the Bluebells is very soft to the touch; Thalictrum thalictroides , "Rue Anemone" in flower; Stellaria pubera, "Giant Chickweed" in flower; Hepatica americana, "Round Lobed Hepatica or Liverleaf", only white flowers seen and the place most noticed (near blowdown on Bee Branch trail) the leaves were somewhat varigated with lighter and darker sections in a pattern; Anemone quinquefolia, "Wood Anemone", in flower, not 100% sure of this ID; Aesculus pavia, "Red Buckeye", in flower; Hydrophyllum virginianum, "Virginia Waterleaf", in foliage; and Erythronium americanum, "Dogtooth Violet or Trout Lily", in foliage. In addition there was what I believe is a Dicentra of some type - possibly "Squirrel Corn" or "Duthchman's Britches" noticed near the last blow down done.”

“I do hope we can get the Sept. trip together with Bama. And do a full circuit of waterfalls and other unique places!”

“Tango, I am in for a September trip.”

“Finally got my pics from the Sipsey Work Trip developed, scanned, and loaded in a Webshots album.

They are here.

Enjoy!”

“Very cool pics bit! Thanks”

“Good pics!”

“When i saw this thread pop back up to the top, i thought we might have forgot someone and they just made it out!!...lol..great pics bit..these show the bulk of the "work" pics!..Bravo!”

“Glad everyone liked them. I've got a slew of pics that I took at Monte Sano State Park too, that I need to scan and put in an album. A very cool (literally) place called the Stone Cuts up there. Maybe later this week.”

“I would like to thank all who worked on the Sipsey trail blowdowns. I climbed around some of those same blowdowns a few months before your work trip.
My next trip will be a lot nicer thanks to you guys.
Please let me know if you do another work trip. I'm there.”

“Hey bit, for the love of God, no Monte Sano pics. Wait a minute, that was Leatherneck that had the bad experience up there.”

“lol dayhiker, no, not those...I said Stone Cuts, not Stonewall...”

“stone cuts...or...blown butts?...god not that thread again!”

“Thanks for posting the pics BP.”

“You're welcome, WD. I had one of you, but it was so bad I decided not to scan it in. Believe me, you're glad I didn't...”

“Why did you have to go and mention Monte Sano? Now I have to start my therapy all over again!!”

“lol....wait'll you see the pics!”

“Was I picking my nose or something?”

“No, your eyes were closed, and you're standing with your pack on, leaning against a tree. You look like you're about to either pass out or barf.

Tango-bait, as it were....”