Sipsey trip in Sept.

“LOL - of course there is always WD/PR approach - hike in at night, take a wrong turn, hike back out and sleep in the truck; or the HOI approach - hike in at night, take the same wrong turn, find two appropriate trees and hang hammock”

“If you're coming in from B'ham then Haleyville will be a little out of your way. I'd recommend Moulton.”

“or...you can use the OP/RM approach...both set up at the EYE...but on opposite sides...wait and wait for the other to show up..and finally decide to try the FS Radios..argue about who is REALLY at the eye..and then find out everyone is braindead...then when moving to the other site and your gf isn't looking load all your gear in her pack!!”

“StoveStomper,
If you are going to drive that far, why not just go on to the trailhead and hike in a ways and set up camp?”

“How about meeting at 12:00 noon at the Sipsey park in the parking area. ( the one before you cross the river )I'll post directions later. Here's a list as best as I can figure. For those arriving later I'll also post the location of our campsite for Friday night.

BAMA - anytime Friday
ALA - anytime Friday
Tango - anytime Friday
Miss Opie – sometime Friday
Opie _ anytime Friday
Rabbitman – anytime Friday
Hogon Ice – sometime Friday evening
Walkingdude - late Friday night
Packrat – late Friday night
Ewker – late Friday night
Bitpusher – anytime Friday
StoveStomper – anytime Friday
Chili – the jury is still out

BAMA”

“That suits me.”

“coolness”

“Sound's good to me.”

“Noon is good for me.
I'll just drive to B'ham Thur. night and Sipsey Fri. morning and avoid those NoTell Motels.”

“Afraid you won't be able to sleep for all the noise?”

“To many temptations in those big cities of Hayleyville, Moulton, and Cullman.
I need to stay in a nice little conservative hamlet like Birmingham.”

“Yah you do have to watch out for those little towns. Decatur is where they broke up the big swinger's party at a hotel.”

“Did you hear about the murder at the Shelby Inn in Huntsville, bitpusher?”

“bitpusher...shhhh..you let it leak that we are throwing those again and your gonna bring the fuzz down on us even harder!!!”

“Long time reader,first time post.Would like to join your group and share the week-end trip in the Sipsey.I am from the Bham area and have hiked the Sipsey many times.Now retired and looking for a hiking group/partners.Can be there on Friday of the week-end planned.”

“NEW KIDNEYS!!!!!!!!!!!.....welcome aboard walkabout!!...what's your blood type...healthy?..smoker?..drink?...lmao...just goofing...watch for details..or drop one of us a line and we'll make sure your in the right place...but with us...no place is ever RIGHT”

“So what took ya so long to post?

It'll be good to have ya join the trip. Great bunch of people to hike with at this site. Gotta watch Tango though. She's a bit cocky at times but a total blast at the same time.
hehehe”

“Thanks for the speedy reply,will continue to follow the message board.It is my understanding the trail head used will be the parking lot at the Sipsey.Looking forward to more info and any other updates”

“Walkabout1, We look forward to having you join us on this trip. The trip I had planned was to leave the park around noonish go up turkey foot creek to a couple of waterfalls and a bluff shelter with a mortar grinder. Then go cross country back to falls creek falls. This cross country trek is one that has gotten many people lost. You have to go uphill to reach the river. Water in streams runs away from the river. It can put peoples map reading skills to a test. We will then cross Sipsey river and camp up falls creek friday night. From there we can hike to Big tree or wherever anyone wants to go.

BAMA”

“Welcome to the club Walkabout. Lookin forward to meetin ya. Sipsey is a great place to hike and this is a awsome group to spend the weekend with. See everybody in 3 weeks.”

“Glad to see new people coming along. Glad to see my old friends coming along too.

I can hardly wait for Sept. 27.”

“I'm not real sure I will be able to make it - I took a fall on a solo bp a week ago and my knee and ankle are still giving me a lot of pain unless over medicated with ibprofen. I really want to go on this one but I am not sure my leg be in good enough shape to do it.”

“walkabout1,
What part of B`ham are you from? I live in the area also. We are all looking forward to meeting you at Sipsey.”

“I talked to my brother this weekend, and he's also interested in coming down for this trip. He'll be coming in late, after his last class that day. How far up Falls Creek do you expect we'll be camping, BAMA?”

“Sorry but I looked at the calander wrong,family will still be camping in Guntersville the last week-end in Sept.Will not be able to make it this time but if any of you need a partner latter let me know.Only other week-ends I have occupied are the second and third week_end of Oct.I live in Hueytownand have had some friend here to hike with but now too busy or lost interest.”

“Small world walkabout1, both of my sisters live in Hueytown. Do you have any Oct. trips planned for Sipsey?”

“No plans of yet,Will camp with family during the fall break from school.Oct.11/20.Am available most week-end or any time during the week with ample notice.”

“We can camp about a 1/4 - 1/2 mile up falls creek. That will make it easier for people coming in later. The best way up is to backtrack about a 100 yrds.

leave the parking area on the north side of the bridge. Go under the highway bridge and down the trail. At about .6 miles Borden creek will run into sipsey. Cross Borden creek at this location. It should only be ankle deep. ( rain can make a big differance ) the trail will pick up again along Sipsey river. Follow the river trail about 1/2 mile until you come to a waterfall. This waterfall is falls creek. You can't get to the creek from here. Turn around and backtrack for about 100 yards and on your left will be a gametrail going up the hill. There is a switckback at the top. follow this until you come to a clearing above the falls. you will see a couple of old firerings here. If your doing this after dark be careful there is a drop off to your left. the trail will go kinda up the draw, but you need to work your way back to falls creek. There is an old roadbed that is still passable but it is easier to follow falls creek. go up falls creek and we will be camped up a ways. I will get out there and get GPS cord. for a campsite before we go.

BAMA”

“I still don't have a job. I didn't get either of the jobs that were looking real good for me. It looks like I'll be able to make it anytime on Friday too.

The job search right now totally sucks.”

“I'm interested, bit, but I can't say for sure I'll be there. It's the last weekend of the month, right?”

“Yah, it's the last weekend of this month. We can carpool if you go.

BAMA, that sounds good. I'll give the info to my brother.”

“WD- Soon to be WFD!! You're cruisin'!!

HOI- Hope you get better soon. If you can't make it you will be very much missed!

Miss Opie- Sorry about the two jobs but stay positive. Something even better will come along!”

“HogonIce, hey this won't be no deathmarch. If your able come on down, we would love to have you. Its really an easy trip. The cross country part ain't bad either. The worst part will be going up the game trail at falls creek, and depending on how we go to the big tree. None of it will be bad, some of it can be steep for a short distance. Depending on where we drop down to cross Sipsey it can be steep but I know of a way down that won't be bad on your knee.
If you can't make it we all understand. Better to heal for the next time than to hurt for a long time.

BAMA”

“HOI I hope you get well soon and hope to see you there. If not I'm sure we will put together other Sipsey trips. I put in a request to get off work a half a day early on the 27th. Also I have a couple of friends that might be coming down with us. I'm going to REI next week to pick up a few things and hope to get a new Hennessee Hammock. Lookin forward to seeing everybody.”

“there may be a shortage of hammockable trees on this trip...be 5 hammocks tied off with one tree in the center!!..lmao”

“recovery seems to be going OK - I've been reducing the ibprofen intake every day and it seems to be tolerable with none so for the hike I'll be OK. Ankle is still a little stiff and the calf a little sore and knee a bit sore but for the most part I am healing up reasonably well and should be able to make it to Sipsey.”

“Great! It'll be good to see you on the trail again HOI.”

“Great news HOI, we'll all be looking forward to seeing you. \

BAMA”

“That's great!!”

“COOL!
It'll be great to see ya again HOI.
Hope the ankle is gonna be fine.”

“Glad you're gonna make it HOI. Leave the big saw at home. LMAO.”

“Be sure to pack that hatchet head though. I may need it if Tango starts any crap again!








hehehehehe (just kiddin Tang) O”

“Hi Ya'll. I'm ALA, BAMA's son. I tought I would introduce myself before we go on the Sipsey hike.

The directions are as follows.
From the south take I65 to the 157 exit, go west to moulton and turn west on State Highway 24. From the north or east take I65 to the decatur exit at decatur take hwy 20 to hwy 67 and then to hwy 24 west to Moulton. From the west take hwy 157 out of Florence to moulton then turn west on hwy 24.

At the 157 and 24 redlight in moulton take 24 west to near the 53 mile marker. Turn south onto hwy 33 at the redlight ( wilderness parkway ) set odeometer here. Continue through Moulton through 1 caution and 3 red lights. At 3.9 miles is the Warrior Trading Post at the caution light. You can get supplies and maps here. Continue back on 33 south to 13.9 miles on your odeometer and turn west onto hwy 6. continue on 6 to winston county and it will become hwy 60. continue till mile 17.7 and turn into the Sipsey Rec. area and park in the first parking lot. Before crossing the bridge.

For those that can't make it by noon and want to meet us in camp later. Walk over to the board and a little trail will go under the bridge. Take this trail to Borden Creek. The trail will split one goes by the river and the other goes by the bluffs, but they both go to Borden Creek. Borden creek is .5 miles from the bridge. Borden creek will come in from the right into the river near a firering that is in the middle of the trail. Cross borden creek here and work your way back to the river trail and continue on to Fall Creek Falls at another .5 miles. There is a log across the trail near the falls. From this log count 80 steps back towards the bridge and a game trail will come down from the left. go up this game trail and all the way to the top and turn left. Walk about 50 yards and the camp will be on your right. If your comeing in after dark be careful on your left is a dropoff.

Looking forward to meeting all of YA'll. BAMA will post coordinates later.

ALA”

“Hi Ya'll. I'm ALA, BAMA's son. I tought I would introduce myself before we go on the Sipsey hike.

The directions are as follows.
From the south take I65 to the 157 exit, go west to moulton and turn west on State Highway 24. From the north or east take I65 to the decatur exit at decatur take hwy 20 to hwy 67 and then to hwy 24 west to Moulton. From the west take hwy 157 out of Florence to moulton then turn west on hwy 24.

At the 157 and 24 redlight in moulton take 24 west to near the 53 mile marker. Turn south onto hwy 33 at the redlight ( wilderness parkway ) set odeometer here. Continue through Moulton through 1 caution and 3 red lights. At 3.9 miles is the Warrior Trading Post at the caution light. You can get supplies and maps here. Continue back on 33 south to 13.9 miles on your odeometer and turn west onto hwy 6. continue on 6 to winston county and it will become hwy 60. continue till mile 17.7 and turn into the Sipsey Rec. area and park in the first parking lot. Before crossing the bridge.

For those that can't make it by noon and want to meet us in camp later. Walk over to the board and a little trail will go under the bridge. Take this trail to Borden Creek. The trail will split one goes by the river and the other goes by the bluffs, but they both go to Borden Creek. Borden creek is .5 miles from the bridge. Borden creek will come in from the right into the river near a firering that is in the middle of the trail. Cross borden creek here and work your way back to the river trail and continue on to Fall Creek Falls at another .5 miles. There is a log across the trail near the falls. From this log count 80 steps back towards the bridge and a game trail will come down from the left. go up this game trail and all the way to the top and turn left. Walk about 50 yards and the camp will be on your right. If your comeing in after dark be careful on your left is a dropoff.

Looking forward to meeting all of YA'll. BAMA will post coordinates later.

ALA”

“Sorry about the double post.

ALA”

“Thanks ALA.
We'll probably be in the bunch that comes in after dark. Can someone hang up one of those glow sticks at the game trail back to camp to make it easier. I know where Fall Creek Falls is so that'll be easy to get there.

What is the water level like at Borden Creek?”

“i'll try to remember glosticks...being a raver i got tons around here somewhere...”

“I've thought about marking the game trail with those little reflective tacks hunters use sometimes. But a glowstick where the game trail turns off is a great idea. My brother will be coming in late as well, if he comes.”

“The glowstick idea will work great. This weekend borden creek was not even an inch deep. The falls were barely a trickle. All of this can change with a little rain. The only problem if OPIE brings it he will make Miss Opie tote it. LOL

BAMA”

“what time will you and you brother be ready to leave that Friday. I am taking that day off so I can be at your place anytime.”