Sipsey trip in Sept.

“I'm going to try to get off early. I know Packrat is getting off at noon. I'm shooting for noon or 1:30. I'll know more later in the week. I'll be sending you directions to my house soon.”

“Hey guys I was thinking it might be a good idea for somebody to keep a FRS radio on until everybody gets to camp Friday night. Lets say use channel 1 so we can communicate with those arriving late. Just a thought.”

“I want to wish everyone a great trip to Sipsey!

I live about 90 minutes from there but can't make the trip. It's the weekend before a week long family vacation and if I go hiking then the locks might be changed when I get home.

Tex, enjoy the map I sent ya and put it to good use. I want to meet several of youse guys that I haven't met before ... I might drive over Sunday and shake everyone's hands before you leave.

Enjoy the hike!”

“oh oh oh! can't have that MDS!”

“Is anybody planning on being there Thursday nite?”

“I am going to be in the area, depending when I leave the homestead. I was going to hotel it and meet up Fri. But if there is another plan...”

“miss opie and me are thinking about going thursday also”

“Opie,
If you go thur nite where are you planning on setting up camp?
If I come up it will be after dark.”

“hmm good idea..i'll have to look over the map”

“looking like a real good chance I will be there late Thursday also - the trip to Lancaster SC is going to be over with at 12 noon on Thursday - this means I could be hitting the Sipsey about 9 or 10 PM Thursday night.”

“If ya'll aint been down the borden creek trail, it would be a good little side trip for ya'll. ya'll could camp down the trail from the borden creek bridge a little ways and then hike out to meet the rest of us friday. We could carry ya'll back to pick up vehicles. Another nice place that is overlooked is down river. Near the rapids.

Just a thought.

BAMA”

“i'll be in the sipsey this weekend also..probably over in west bee branch”

“It probally ain't there, but its a good place to look.

Sorry Ya'll, this will only make sense to OPIE.

BAMA”

“BAMA there is a lot of stuff like that; that only makes sense to OPIE!! HeeHeeHee”

“the Borden Creek trail head area on Thursday night sounds good - is the turn off for that parking area a right turn about .7 miles after turning onto Cranal (6 / 60) from 33 ?”

“wasn't really going to look..but i might glance around..the thing i search for...is it something HARD to get too (ie..rocks, cliffs, falls, major bushwacking)...or if you do happen upon it...it's just there”

“one word OPIE - "YES"

BAMA”

“Looks like it might be wet this weekend! At least it won't be cold too!”

“Rain is always fun!!”

“WD has a different definition of fun than I do. But I bet we will have a good time regardless. Gonna bring extra dry clothes though, I think...and my tarp...”

“OK, rain yuck! but for you guys...yeah I'll still show up!

It's down to the nitty gritty:
So what's the plan where, who, and when?”

“It could still change. That's a long range forecast and those often change a lot.”

“This may be a tarp kinda trip for me. Packrat is going to bring his Hennesey Hammock.”

“Bringing my tent and my tarp...just in case it rains like hell.

tango, I think the plan is to meet at the picnic area parking lot on 6/60 at noon on Friday. From there, follow BAMA, but we'll end up not to far from the trailhead so people who are coming late can make it no problem.”

“Bit Thanks I'll look at my map.”

“"I should be up for this one. One warning about the waterfalls though. It will be fairly dry in Alabama at this time and most waterfalls will be at a very low flow."
dayhiker
08:13:15 PM
04/10/02

Thankfully, another failed long-range forecast. I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new folks next weekend.”

“Hmmmmm, that ain't right, let me re-phrase; I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of folks for the first time.”

“Tango - my plan is to camp at the Borden Creek trailhead late Thursday night, hike 2.7 down Borden Creek to Sipsey Rec Area and meet up with BAMA and whoever else is there on Friday by noon then to follow the group up above Fall Creek for Friday night then whatever for the rest of the time and hopefully get going early enough on Sunday to avoid driving after midnight to get home.”

“For those of you that are carrying a GPS. We will be going to the south side of the river and under the bridge. Turkey creek comes in less than 100 yards from the bridge. It don't look like much here. The sand asorbs all the water. We will follow this creek south for about 1/4 mile to a waterfall. Then turn east anout 1/8 to another waterfall. From this waterfall we will go cross country to fall creek falls. n 34deg 17.843min. x w 87deg 24.407min. We will camp above the falls off the trail here. We can leave sat morn and go up falls creek to Big Tree. n 34deg 19.625min x w 87deg 26.676 min, camping near here that night. we can come back out sunday morning back to the parking lot. Sipsey Park is n 34deg 17.115 x 87 deg 23.915min.
I will have a radio on channel one for those coming in from Borden creek the previous night and for those coming in late friday night.
I hope to find Silene Rotundafolia up falls creek and Little Peters Fern and an unnamed moss at big tree for HOI.

BAMA”

“HOI, when you get to Borden Creek bridge look at the southwest corner and you will find a Yellow Magnolia tree growing. It is the tree nearest the bridge and creek.Along this trail you will find trout lily, tooth worts, shooting stars, and hepatica. Here also on the ledge near the tunnel is the largest patch of shining moss in the wilderness.

P.S. go through the tunnel or in the creek. Over the top is rough.

BAMA”

“Well, from CNN ...

The projected path of Isidore puts the eye of the storm in the Sipsey area on Friday morning at 7am.

Wahoo!!

Got your wadin' pants ready?”

“Yah. Looks like we're gonna get wet...”

“No worries. It's always calm in the eye of the storm...right???”

“Yah, that's it! That's the ticket!

The long-range forecast calls for bucketsfull on Friday, clearing on Saturday. So I guess we'll be able to dry our stuff Saturday, right?”

“Nah, bit, the secret is to keep it dry Friday...poncho, anyone?”

“lol...I got some rain gear and I'll be using my packcover it looks like...but if we do any fording, I'll probably take my boots off and wear my watershoes...”

“5 bucks at Wally World; can't beat 'em!”

“Well, from CNN ...

The projected path of Isidore puts the eye of the storm in the Sipsey area on Friday morning at 7am.

Wahoo!!

Got your wadin' pants ready?"
MDSHiker
12:07:10 PM
09/24/02


I am riding with walkindude & packrat and depending on what time we leave Friday afternoon we may miss part or all of it. Looking forward to meeting guys this weekend.”

“Hey MDS, are you coming on this one?

Glad to have you along Ewker...”

“hey bit, I am glad you mentioned the watershoes. I had forgotten about the pair I have, now if I can find them.”

“I think mine are going to see some use this trip...”

“Whoever is coming in Thurs. night is really going to catch it. Of course all of this could change, after all this hurricane has a woman's name and ....nevermind”

“HEY!!!!!!!”

“wooHOO! Hurricane Tango!!!”

“I am now waiting to be placed on duty this weekend if Lily is coming through Central Florida. I will know more Wednesday. Both the Utility Co. and the Sheriff's Office are on alert and watching the track of this storm.

And I just got done sealing my rain fly again. (Just to be safe)

This sucks!!”

“Yah....sure.....you just don't want to get wet with us this weekend...”

“Oh, yeah, and I already repacked my food! Cross your fingers for me everyone!”

“I've been looking forward to this for MONTHS. Hey talk to Mother Nature!”

“I've been away from my computer for the past six days.
Not going to be physically able to make this trip.
Been having a bad kidney stone problem. I go in for surgery tomorrow.
Still plan on the "old farts" trip.
I was looking forward to seeing some faces.”

“Ow StoveStomper! That sucks, I was looking forward to meeting you on this trip...

So you couldn't get a lithotripsy? Or is that what you're talking about?


I certainly hope you can make the October trip! Get well soon!”