Sipsey quickie

“I have some friends in Ms. that have never heard of the sipsey Wilderness. I have been promising them pics of the "tree" so I made the journey to the most trampled and abuse area of the wilderness. It has been over five years since i have been in East Bee Branch canyon and it still looks trampled. Any tree under arm size in diameter has been cut or "butchered" down. Fire rings have been built under bluffs and the trail now is a spider web around every rock and knee high blowdown in the canyon. Campsites are, well I guess you just camp anywere you damn well please in East Bee Branch. For an area to be so remote, it looks like something that is accessible by an interstate highway. I will now get off my #&%!$ box and offer some new pictures...Of the good things, sipsey 2004”

“Nice pictures. I haven't see the "zit tree" before.

It does look trampled. I never camp there. If I want to camp in that area I'll go off trail over at West Bee to reduce the impact.

I need to get back over to West Bee. It's been a year since I was there and 2 years since I bushwhacked the whole canyon. Great place.”

“The tree w/strange growth on it was about half way up east bb. Only reason I noticed it was I had to stop and adjust my piece of sheit Gregory pack straps. Any suggestions for a new pack? I'm short and have trouble finding on that fits properly.”

“What size pack did you get, wired?”

“And I mean that in the "Small, Medium, Large" sense, not the C.I. or liters sense...”

“Gregory Siren (ladies) small. The back frame fits my back perfectly, but can't find the right combination of hip belts and straps. I cant find a hip belt anywere that is small enough. I guess I need to drink more beer and gain weight!”

“Have you contacted Gregory for assistance?”

“Hi all,

Has there been any vandalism reported at the trailheads at Sipsey? I wanted to plan a backpacking trip there, but would like my car in one piece when I get back.

Thanks,
Moonlight”

“which trail head???”

“I have not heard of any ...and I have never had any trouble....I don't leave anything in my car of value.....”

“I've never heard of any problems or experienced any. I would think the Thompson trailhead would be safer since you don't have the random type of traffic. OTOH, someone could go there and it would be very unlikely they'd get caught. When and where are you parking? j/k”

“Moonlight I'm a local to that area. I have been parking at the trailheads for about 25 years. I havn't had a problem yet.

BAMA”

“Thanks for the info!..I'm just in the beginning stages of planning this trip, and I've never been to the area to check out where the trailheads are etc. I hope to go this Spring. I've heard some trailheads in other states have problems, especially for out of state tags, so I just wanted to check. I live in Pensacola, FL.

I'm enjoying all of the info here about the local trails etc.

~Moonlight~”

“There's a huge Sipsey trip in March. Check out the trips page.

Ahhh, Pensacola. I like going to McGuire's and also Aegean Breeze. I have family in P'cola.”

“One of my nephews took a weekend backpack trip to the Sipsey Wilderness from his college a couple of weeks ago.

He reported many many blowdowns. I'm not sure just what trail he was on.
I think Thompson Creek toward the big tree.”

“I'm planning on taking my son to Sipsey this weekend. If rain is likely or the expected lows are below about 28 then I'll bail. If not, we're there.

Sat: Arrive at Thompson TH by about 12. Hike to intersection of East and West Bee by way of White Oak Hollow. This is about 1.5 miles and will probably take us close to 2 hours. My son is 5, hence the long travel time. We'll setup camp, have lunch, and then dayhike the 0.5 mile to the Big Tree. The rest of the day will be goofing off.

Sun: Reece has to be at Christmas play practice by 3 so we'll break camp by 10 and leave the TH by 12. If we leave early I might take a side trip to Turkey Foot falls but that's doubtful.

Any and all are welcome to join us.”

“I wish I could come on this one, but my wife is working again this weekend, so there's no way.

I'm probably housebound on the weekends until after Christmas.”

“Did you and MDS get to do your Foster Falls trip or did the weather get you?”

“Nope, it was too rainy. There were thunderstorms Saturday night, and here in Huntsville, we got a little hail on Sunday.

It wouldn't have been very fun.”

“I figured yall had to bail. I would/will too for this one if it's bad. 5 year olds and bad weather don't mix.”

“My daughter was a little disappointed until I explained what happens on rainy backpacking trips.

1. Get wet hiking to the site.
2. Get wetter setting up the tent.
3. Get in tent, change to dry clothes.
4. Stay in tent until morning. Hopefully eat.
5. Get up, change back into wet clothes.
6. Hike back out to trailhead in the rain.”

“Hey dayhiker, I'll email my cell number to you tonight. Please call if y'all can't make it.
I plan on driving up Friday, and if you bail I'll probably go somewhere else.”

“Sure thing. I expect to have a much better idea of things by Wed. Once the weather report firms up I'll have a decision. If we didn't have supper club Friday night I'd go ahead and head over when Reece got out of school.

Are you hiking in Sat morning and goofing off til folks trickle in? West Bee is pretty. You might consider that if you've never buckwhacked it.”

“I'll be hiking in Friday late afternoon and then goofing off, LOL.
May only go as far as White Oak and set up camp and move on Sat morning when you other slowpokes come by.
May go up the White Oak/Bee Branch trail a bit and camp. There are a couple of nice quiet places along that trail.
May go all the way.
May not go at all if y'all cancel, LOL.
Either way, I plan on camping with y'all Sat night.”

“SS - there is a good campsite on top of a falls right before the trail drops into West Bee. Let me know if you want info on it. It's about 100 yards off trail and maybe 1 mile from Thompson.”

“Yes, email details please.

I'm not going lightweight this trip so y'all look for my Kelty Gunnison 2 Tent Sat morning if I'm still sleeping, LOL.”

“I'll send my office and cell # too.”

“SS/Dayhiker,I would like to meet y'all this week-end.I can go either Friday morning or wait until Saturday.SS if you are going to be there Friday ,let me know where you plan on camping or I can meet you at the TH.I dont know the trail up White Oak Hollow over to Bee Branch.I have read the instructions several times but still not sure where to turn off of 205.Some one posted that there was a tree with a metal band that indicated the trail down to West Bee Branch.Just not sure of the trail and would like to meet up with one of you that knows the trail.”

“walkabout - we should be at the TH around 10am Sat. I'll email you my cell #. I should be in cell coverage until about 9am Sat morning. The 205 thing isn't bad. You hit 205 from WOH, turn left, go about 30 steps and then the trail leaves 205 to the right.

If it gets Thur or Fri and the weather looks bad I'll email you that info as well.”

“Crap
weather.com for Double Springs is now saying clear and a low of 26 for Sat night.
Maybe showers Sun.”

“abc3340.com is what you need to checkout.”

“Ouch, low on Sat of 22, Sun of 28. I hope that means Sat night the low is 28. Inversion layer at the bottom of 80' bluffs should add some fun.

I'm getting nervous about getting my son out in this.”

“I know, dayhiker. That is why I said Crap!”

“I did 27 at Jericho in that tent with only my down quilt. I'm putting him in his sleeping bag and my down quilt. I'm getting in my 20* campmor that's really only good for about 30*. I'd put him in that one instead but don't think he can heat that volume. I could put him in that one and his and me in the quilt with an extra bag I have just in case. 4 sleeping bags? Hmmm, glad I bought the 5000 ci pack for these father son trips.”

“Use a strap or belt and cinch the end of the bag closer to his feet.”

“Ahh, that'll work. Bama just emailing saying to come get whatever I need. I may take him up on that.

I'm not too worried about Sat evening. I figure we can have a decent fire. The hike out might be a bit cool, but that's such a short period of time it probably won't matter.”

“A piece of string would be way lighter...”

“Hey walkabout1! Missed your post till now.
I have no clue other than Friday afternoon with me getting to the trailhead. I'm driving up from the MS Coast via Mobile/Mont/B'ham/Cullman if this baby doesn't get canceled.”

“SS - did you get my phone numbers? I didn't see an email from you.”

“I was so tired and cold from yesterday, I just went to bed early and didn't answer your email, sorry.
I will tonight.”

“No problem, just wanted to make sure you got it and that yours didn't accidently wind up in the spam pile.”

“Saturday - 12/10
Mostly sunny. A cold morning.
Low: 20 High: 50

Wind: NE 5-10 mph Sun Percentage: 90% Hours Of Rain: 0
Rain Potential: 0.00" Severe Weather Threat: None

Sunday - 12/11
Partly sunny.
Low: 25 High: 52

Wind: E 5-10 mph Sun Percentage: 65% Hours Of Rain: 0
Rain Potential: 0.00" Severe Weather Threat: None”

“Looks like it's going to be nice during the day Sat. Have to keep him from playing in the water.

Might be a little COLD for Reese Sunday morning.”

“Make sure he eats plenty before he goes to bed, too. He'll need the calories to make heat.”

“I'm afraid 25 will be too much for us. I suspect you can take 2-3 degrees off that B'ham forecast since we'll be at the bottom of bluff line.

I'm make my decision tomorrow, but it doesn't look promising.

I keep telling myself that I can put him in his bag, my down quilt, and now my fleece liner. The biggest problem is that it's not like you can hop in the car if you get too cold. Oh yeah, they call that backpacking don't they.

I suspect that in the end, if I think it's doable and the low is 25*, I might get vetoed.”

“From your abc station:
Sunday - 12/11
Partly sunny and colder.
Low: 25 High: 46


Well poop! LOL

Completely understandable dayhiker.
I don't want the little guy to get sick!
Weather.com seemed to think the temps were going to be a low of 32 Sunday morning for Double Springs.
Be sure and post here if you decide to go tomorrow morning.
I'm assumeing a no go as of now.”

“Dayhiker, email me Friday and let me know what you're gonna do. I'm still planning on going. Becky is a maybe...she got a better offer and I'm trying to talk her out of it. If Becky doesn't go, then Reece can use her NF Tigger.”

“I'm going if y'all go.
Just don't want to put any pressure on dayhiker.
Decide what's best for Reese.”

“weather.com 25
accuweather.com 27
James Spann of abc3340 - 28

Most folks around here say James is the only weatherman. That 28 is for B'ham. I think it'll be 2-3 cooler where we're camping that the Double Springs forecast. Last night we pretty much decided against it. My wife and I will talk about it again at lunch.

Reece and I put a cup of water outside last night so that he could see what happens when it gets cold at night. The boy wants to go camping. It didn't get below about 35 here last night. I should've checked the weather last night.”