Sipsey trip in Sept.

“Oh yeah.. I uploaded my pics to a new webshots album. I haven't labeled them yet, I'll get to that tomorrow.

Here's the link:

Sipsey Trip

My pictures didn't turn out the greatest this trip. I'm not sure what happened. I was playing around with my picture editor with the sepia and the black and white pictures on the bottom. What does everyone think compared to the color pictures?”

“I liked the B & W picture!
Thanks for posting them. I gotta do my pictures the old fashion way; Take them to be devoloped. Hopefully mine will be up Wednesday night.”

“Nice pics Miss Opie. It was nice to meet you and the rest of the people on this trip. Up until this weekend I had only met walkindude, so I was able to add 10 people to my list.

Bama, thanks for a great trip and history lesson on the Sipsey.
I bet Ala has crashed for the night. You ought to be proud he is a good kid.

I still haven't got the software for my camera working so I can upload my pics of the trip, looks like I get to call Kodak for help. As soon as I can I will get them posted.”

“What kind of problems are you having Ewker? Maybe I can help, my camera is a 3500 but we should have similar software.

I agree with you Ewker.. Ala was a great addition to the trip. He was one cool kid! And a great backpacker too!”

“So was ALA asleep before yall got home?”

“Thanks walkindude! With my picture software I'm able to change any of my pics to sepia, black and white, mosiac, or coloring book.

I'm just upset that I didnt get a group shot! Maybe Bama will get his up soon.”

“Miss Opie, the computer isn't communicating with the camera. I have deleted it and reinstalled it twice but nothing. It is suppose to work with Windows 2000 but nothing happens. It says there is suppose to be a icon in "My Computer" but there isn't. Thinking something is wrong with the USB port. Oh well that is what the Kodak help line is for.”

“When you tried to upload your pictures did you have your USB port plugged into your computer and your camera connected to it as you restarted your computer? The cord has to be connected to the camera while Windows is loading. Sometimes I forget and try to upload my pics without restarting my computer and the software won't open properly. Your computer has to reconize the camera while it is loading. I hope this helps. I can't wait to see your pics with your new camera.”

“I will try that, I have nothing to lose.”

“Hey guys I made it back home and the shower felt great. Very tired tonight. Had a great time. I'll add to the Trip report when it's posted. Tango, Chili,& Leatherneck we were thinkin about y'all. Talk to y'all tomorrow.
Steve”

“what is the link for the pictures. I couldn't see it.?”

“Nice waterfalls!”

“Did you click on "Sipsey Trip?"

here's the link if it still won't work for you:

http://community.webshots.com/user/chelle4ua2”

“Bitpusher, fathergoose, Bama, Ala, HOI, Miss Opie, and myself made the noon jumpoff from the TH at the picnic grounds..Bama said that this was a quick venture to catch some nice waterfalls and we'd come back to the cars for packs later(hoi toughed it and carried his).
We headed off down Turkey foot creek. Saw the old car that is listed on some sipsey maps, and 2 gorgeous falls.

Big Gulp was at the Trailhead when we made if back to the cars. Jaws started dropping at the last minute repacking of his pack...Supertroll and humanpackmule may have lost their rights to the throne.
With the campsite being around a mile from the trailhead we headed off for fall creek falls.
About .5 miles in we had to cross borden creek. Boots popped off and out came sandals and other "interesting" footwear...dude looks like a lady!!...lmao
The crossing had most of us singing the high notes, but we all got over with no drops into the drink.
Fall Creek Falls were the best falls of the trip and we camped at the top of them. Hammocks and tents went up like mushrooms after the rain and we proceeded to cook, joke, and prepare a fire as we waited for the rest of the TN boys.

Before the walkindude contingent showed up, Bbinkley acquired a new trailname...in a 30 minute time span he ate 6 johnsonville cheese brauts, 1 pack of tuna, 1 ramen noodle, and about 6 of the 16oz bud lights he packed in, we thought tapeworm was to be the new name..but logan (ala) started calling him big gulp and a star was born!!!
Around 10:30 and the FSR's buzz to life that we have incoming at the creek crossing. A short while later the TN boys are in safely with our new TT hiker Ewker..this trip containing many first for him.. First TT trip, First night hike, first creek crossing, first new tent setup in the dark, among many other first and near first..welcome EWKER!

The next morning started around 7ish with me and miss opie pulling a skully and goose....no not ducttape related...but we almost got left!..lmao
We headed up fall creek to the ust marker tree...it was marked a few years before alabama's statehood as a section corner..a bronze marker in 1931 shows that the tree is only a yard off..and i think thats just cause there wasn't a tree in the right spot.
We continue to follow the creek and venture off the beaten path to find FS 224. Along the way we cross the creek 8-9 times and big gulp finds the first copperhead rattler of the trip..after 256 pictures and an hour of watching it (ya'd think we never saw a snake before) we continue onward.

The bushwacking starts getting rough and gps's aren't finding sats..must be terror status yellow messing with em! We send HOI, Pack and Walkin out as recon to find the road and plop down for lunch. Word comes that the road isn't too much further and we head out.
once on FS224(bunyan hill) we head for 204 into bee branch canyon. 224 was pretty bad with blowdowns and some mud..and the junction of 224 and 204 looked like a game of pickup sticks. Once at the top of the falls big gulp started leaning over the edge to get pics and started making us gulp...shesh man!!
We dropped packs at the bottom and went to the big tree to rest and take pics..the falls were a lil meager this trip, but the tree was big as ever...we strung logan across it to measure it!

The whole group is whupped and we strike out again for the junction of bee branch and the sipsey river
We know we're close when we pass through HOI pass(see sipseywork thread) Once we hit the new campsite and tents are up and dinner cooking several white, and whiter than white boys jump in the river. I was modeling this years sage green boxer briefs with a marrrrrrvolous moontan!
(to be continued)..this is a long freaking post!”

“To elaborate a bit on
Big Gulp; the boy not only had a 12-PACK of 16oz Miller Lites (plastic bottles - no dangerous glass) and a 3lb package of Johnsonville brats (we almost re-named him 'Big Johnson' - snicker), but he was carrying it all in a cooler full of ice IN HIS PACK!!! This guy has a prodigious appetite...it's a good thing his chihuahua (no, you're not hallucinating) 'Trail Snack' wasn't along, or he might have gone missing, LOL!







That copperhead crawling through camp Saturday night did kinda creep me out a little...”

“FG you weren't as creeped out as Big Gulp was, every sound he heard he had his light shining that way thinking it was the snake coming to get him.”

“cool pics! sounds like a fun trip.”

“Hah! Yeah, Ewker, I think I about had him convinced that copperheads climb ropes and trees, LOL!”

“Sorry I missed this one. However chili12 once again placed second in the Junior Chili Championship.

Next year, his sister will be entering.......I am not too sure I will be able to survive that rivalry.

Chili36 placed 19th out of 72 cooks.”

“Congrats to chili12! Sounds like it's time for you to move aside chili36...”

“Opie, was that the dreaded Southern Copperhead Water Rattler?

If I see a kid playing with a snake, I always tell them it is a Copperhead Water Rattler and they will usually leave it alone.”

“Not to be confused with the dreaded 'copper-headed rattle moccasin'...”

“Yes, FG, he is a more patient cook that I will ever be. His sister can't stand losing.....she will be the one to eventually win the International Championship in this family.”

“opie,
I guess Rabbitman didn't hike in and get there before you got up.”

“oh yea...hehe..rabbitman got there early the next morning at fall creek falls..lost his fsr at the creek crossing and joined the group trip going cross country to 224 and big tree”

“I've got an idea for a new book. The title will be "BAMA AND HIS BUSHWHACKING ADVENTURES"...lol......Thanks for being an excellent guide on this trip.I loved the area..I definately would go back there again.”

“Next time, take a wheelbarrow for all yer grub, lol.”

“Darn it sounds like it was a heck of a good time!! It sure does suck that I had to stay here for NOTHING!! We got nothing from Isadore and Lily will miss us too.

Congrats Chili12 and Chili36!!! Way to go!!”

“First of all I'd like to say what a great trip we had this past weekend. It was great to see all the friends I had met in the past and to chance to meet all the folks I had not meet before. Thanks for all the great companionship. ALA was so excited he stayed awake for the short drive home. He couldn't wait to tell his Mama and sister about his experiences. He told them those folks were real back-packers. He couldn't get over the fact that everone on the trip was a first rate back-packer. Most of the time when we go out with a group that large, we have a few folks that are green. He was amazed at all the places Ya'll were talking about. When we were way up falls creek off-trail he said it seemed funny nobody was worried about it. A lot of time he and I will just wanderaround with no particular destination in mind and I'll let him find his way back to the truck. He loves this but it tends to freak some people out. Most of the people that get lost in the forest are in the section we were in. He was just amazed at all of the experience you guys had. This trip will be one he remembers for a lifetime. Thanks. He held to his usual pattern of going wide open telling about his trip and then crashed for about 4hrs.
Tango, Chili, and Stovestomper sorry ya'll mised out, maybe ya'll can make the next one. Miss Opie your pics were great I can't wait to see all the rest. Mine will be a few days before I get the up. I hope someone got a pic of the Borden creek crossing. No not the shoes that stranger was wearing, one with folks actually in the water. At least the weather was a little kinder than had been predicted.
In a few years from now all of the locals around here will be refering to that area in Bee branch as HOI pass. It sure made a differance not having to climb through all that blowdown.

BAMA”

“BAMA Thanks again for such a great trip. I'm glad ALA had a good time. I look forward to hiking with you guys in the future”

“after the cooling down in the river some passed out in the tents..or started eating. I think about this time the 2nd waterhead coppermoc showed up. After much hard work packrat appeased his absent firemaster chili and a flame was coaxed from the wet wood...after some tall tales, and talking about fellow tt'ers and long ago trips most everyone headed out...big gulp was real happy to be in a hammock...even thou we all know snakes can work velco but not zippers. The next morning HOI set out first with bama and logan on his heels...the rest of us followed after and decided that the sipsey river trail from 202 until fall creek may be the next sipsey work area
the entire area is beautiful, and am glad to have it and great friends to share it with. I may forget about finding a job, and pull a chip and wander the sipsey or other wild area....it was wonderful to stare in wonder at the falls, the blue skies, the mist rising from the forest floor...water rushing over the rocks....it was like a 3 day long beer commercial!!!

Bama maybe you and logan can make one of the nearby TN trips..those are neat also...and maybe i'll bump into one day along little ugly or feather hawk creek...off trail of course!”

“I'm going to the Smokies for the weekend of the 11-13 of October. All you are welcome to join me. Just email me and let me know if your in. catch ya down the trail...”

“ALA is a STRONG hiker! I've seen kids older than him that didn't have his speed or endurance! He's a real comic too. Look foward to more trips in the Sipsey with yall!

Great job on the report Opie!

Also want to add the we found Rabbitman's FRS radio right by the Borden River ford. We just happened to hear it in the weeds when someone in the group keyed the button on theirs.
Rabbitman gets the Best Luck Award for the trip.

We went into Pizza Hut afterwards and DEVOURED Pizza! Our stink also ran a few people out of the building. LMAO!!!!!!!

I really enjoyed Hiking with old friends and meeting new people.
TTer's RULE!!!!!!!”

“Great trip report Opie and nice job posting the pictures Michelle. Saturday and Sunday were two beautiful cloudless days. A little warmer than I like for hiking but the nights were about perfect. I enjoyed using my new Hennessy Hammock this weekend. It's very comfortable and I slept very soundly in it. This was my 3rd trip to the Sipsey and enjoyed Bama's history talks about the area. I especially enjoyed the Saturday Night campfire with everybody. Most of the wood was a little damp but HOI donated a small bit of stove alcohol to help get the kindling started and soon we had a pretty nice fire. It was a pleasure to meet Ewker,(he rode with us) Ala, Big Gulp, and Father Goose. I'd be glad to hike with any of y'all again. Great hike out on Sunday morning. I got to see what I couldn't see Friday night. The creek crossing Sunday morning was only a little more than ankle deep. A couple of feet shallower than Friday night. After we left the Sipsey we first stopped at the Warrior Mountain Trading Company for Gas, Cold drinks, and a new map of the area. The reward at the end of the trip was the invasion of the Pizza Hut. Walkindude told the waitress to fire up the ovens and the dishwasher cause we're here to eat. I didn't keep up with what what everybody had but I ate 4 plates full of pizza, pasta, and breadsticks, and 3 big glasses of iced tea. After we ate Ewker took a group shot of us in the restaurant. I hope he posts it sometime. This was an awsome trip I won't soon forget. Thanks everybody.
Steve

Oh yeah, I came home 2 lbs lighter.”

“see any trolls?”

“Yeah, I $hit a troll...”

“...that'd be a heck of a cathole...”

“I sent Miss Opie the picture of you guys at the pizza place. She has put it on her Sipsey Trip pics, check it out.
Miss Opies Sipsey Pics”

“Only people missing from the pic is Rabbitman (had to leave early), bblinkly or Big Gulp,(getting more food?) and me Ewker (taking pic)”

“Wait a minute.. how did they pic get on my page Ewker?”

“Sorry Ewker.. just found out the mister did it for me”

“Looks like a buncha Happy Campers!!”

“I bet that did freak you out, wondering where did that pic come from. I had emailed it to Opie earlier today but I thought he was going to send it to you to post. Sorry for the confusion.

Walkindude, when can we expect to see your pics and the story "At the Cathole"....lol”

“SNAKES!!!!! I SEE SNAKES!!!!”

“FG, to bad it wasn't Big Gulp, we would have heard him scream 5 miles away...lol”

“Maybe THAT was the mysterious sound I heard last Christmas at Sawmill...”

“I'll pick up my pictures after work today. I'll also post another "Tales from the Cathole" later today when I got more time.”

“Got my pictures today. I'll scan them and post them in a bit.”

“cool walkindude! i cant wait to see them!

where is everyone else's pictures? ewker did you figure out your software?”

“Miss Opie, I haven't had time to call Kodak yet to see why there software won't work with Windows 2000. I did go ahead and set me up a webshots account so i will be ready.”