Sipsey 06 - Parker Canyon

“hummm - sounds like the last time we were at Quillen - it will probably change before then anyways”

“Bring rain gear.

I'll be there.”

“I always bring rain gear - the question is how many tarps to bring - I'm thinking that the hike in is relatively short so I'll probably bring my 10x10 and 8x8 tarps in addition to what I would ordinarily bring”

“I can pack a couple of tarps (8x8s I think) as well if needed.”

“Sounds like we should bring a deck of cards and alot of food!”

“I got the food part covered, If worse comes to worse we should be able to hold out till sometime in August.”

“Anyone ever had any problems with raccoons in the Sipsey?
I just realized I've never seen any sign of raccoons in the Sipsey.”

“Everbody bring TARPS!...

We cover everywhere but the area above the fire...How big an area can we cover?...I'll take the photos and we post them here in the trip report....

I figure we could do 2000 square feet if we try real hard.....TARP CITY!”

“RAIN??? Crap. Oh well, I am sure we will still have fun. Whoever gets there first, be sure to find some high ground. I've got a small 8 x 10 silnylon tarp I will bring. Should we bring tent poles for the tarps?”

“weather.com Double Springs, AL

Fri 30% Few Showers High 74 Low 51
Sat 20% Cloudy High 74 Low 52
Sun 60% Showers High 68 Low 47

Seeing as this is a week off, anything can happen.”

“I've got a tyvek tarp, but now I have to start figuring out how much rain gear the kids have.”

“So much for trying out my new 20* bag.


I have a field issue brewing. I might get called into meetings late next week. If so, I might be a Friday night arrivee. At this point I don't see it spilling over into the weekend. I don't know anything for sure yet, just trying to prepare the masses. I should know more Monday afternoon.”

“Oops, I should clarify that my comment about "so much for trying out my 20* bag" was directed at the temperature and not the next paragraph I wrote.”

“Forecast is looking a little better. Its still a ways out. It will change several time between now and then.

Fri
Mar 10 Few Showers
75°/55° 30%
75°F

Sat
Mar 11 Cloudy
74°/55° 20%
74°F

Sun
Mar 12 Showers
69°/50° 60%
69°F”

“You're right BAMA. Now the forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. The nights will be nice and cool for sleeping.”

“Starting to pack for this trip.
Hurry up end of week!”

“Me too! Wooohoooo! Got all my gear all over the place. The whole place of hiker funk. Let's see...how much crap do I want to carry to base camp?”

“Dadgummit! I went to set up my tent and put some seem sealer on it and snapped a pole.I'll have to call the company tommorrow.”

“I might not be able to go 'cause I got "brokebacked" last sunday by a kid without insurance, somewheres about 35 miles an hour just off the fl pike. I got outta the car o.k., but started to feel hot / sharp pain in my hip and left groin and leg by the days end, and had to use crutches. . . went to the e.r.. . . no broken hip. . . now I can walk on it, but it still feels tight and like there's not enough blood flow. . . plus it's blue-bruised. . . I'll have ta se how it feels come friday. . .

I really miss and want to see yoose guys :(
I had so much fun last year. . . but, we'll see thursday-friday.”

“Dadgummit, Spam!
That ain't a good enough reason to bail! LOL
Lot's of us have spare tents.
I for one have one you may use for the weekend if you need to.”

“My son called last night to say he had a school function this weekend, so now I have to re plan on this. If he isn't there to carry the girls gear, I am screwed.”

“chili, here's a radical thought, make the girl's carry some weight.”

“I can't even make CS carry her own #&%!$.”

“Well then, divorce her butt. ;-)”

“Wow, sorry to hear about that. Hope you are well enough to join us.”

“Rain forecast looking better:
20% chance Fri
20% chance Sat
30% chance Sun”

“GPS cord.


Parking N34 deg 20.225' W87deg 29.048'
Drainage head N34 deg 19.598' W 87deg 29.048'
Waterfall N34 deg 19.598' W87 deg 28.988'
Quillian/Drainage N34 deg 19.136' W87 deg 29.061'
Camping Area N34 deg 19.305' W87 deg 29.258'



I'm sure somebody will be marking the trail but if you walk out of the parking area (1st cord) at at about 150 - 170 deg you will hit a drainage at less than a quarter mile. (2nd cord). Follow this to a waterfall (3rd cord) and wind around it to the west. then back to the drainage and down the slide on your but dropoff and its smoth walking to junction with Quillian (4th cord) turn upstream at quillian for about 1/4 mile to camp. (5th cord)
This is a moderate route for the mostpart. The waterfall and the place where you have to slide down can be a little tricky at night. For a differant and easier walking route. longer and harder to follow though would be.

Out of the parking lot at 190 deg. for 200 yards. then 180 deg along ridge top through the saddle at about 1/4 mile then 140 deg on to the east ridgetop then 170deg through the next saddle. then 300 yards and 100 deg down the draw into the drainage at drainage downstream to quillian and upsteam to camp.

P.S. if you follow the drainage those big holes you will pass are remants of old moonshine stills.”

“I'll probably be there early so don't be surprised if you see a hammock hanging in the camping area when you arrive.”

“Now now Stovey I said that I broke a pole I never said anything about bailing. I have four tents... I just happened to break the one that I wanted to use this weekend.”

“sure wish i could make it...”

“I can't decide if I want to use my hammock...tarp....or tent.... decisions decisions.”

“I'm packing heavy this 'base camp' trip.”

“how far of a hike in is it?”

“It's less than two miles, but the Sat hike will be pretty rough off trail hiking.”

“cyndeee, its around a mile and a half to base camp....”

“i may not be able to make it. my kid is begging me to stay that weekend. He needs a couple things and dad won't take him.”

“For those going up on Thursday please note the weather forecast on ABC33/40."Based on the forecast strength of the wind fields,that a line of storms will have the potential to produce damaging straight line winds over the northern half of the state." Be safe,looking forward to seeing all of you on Friday.”

“FYI weather forecast

walkabout1

A few pencil sized poles and thin nylon fabric does an execellent job of deflecting 5000 pound trees. See you guys Friday afternoon.”

“BAMA - if you cross the creek about 100 yards before the slide then you can avoid that altogether. The trail will be on the right side of the creek and will hit a bench about thigh high of rock. You can either step up here or swing wide. After this bench the creek has a bare rock bottom and I think you can hear the next falls at this point. It just feels like a falls is coming. If you cross here and get on the left side you won't even see the 2nd falls where the slide is and you'll come out above the 3rd falls. I had planned on marking this extensively with orange tape. That leads to the next part....

I've been home sick Mon and Tues. If I'm well I'm might get to come in Sat morning. At this point it's a big maybe. Between the work issues I mentioned Friday and the flu it ain't looking good. I'll check back in through the day when I can.

I'm sorry to have to likely bail, but it's hard to hike when you can't stay out of the bathroom.”

“I'm going with or without that dang dayhiker.”

“Bring the Yak and we'll do the bottom half of the Sipsey from Houston Rec Area to Moody Bend!”

“Glad to hear it SS. I was hoping you or toph or someone else would take everyone into Parker. I may yet suprise everyone and show up Sat morning but it isn't looking good.”

“Naw ST, I'm in the mood for hiking.”

“You mean to tell me that I am flying all the damn way to Alabama and you might not be there. Pfffftttt. LOL. I really hope you feel better. The flu just sux.”

“Yeah! Lay that guilt trip on the bailer!
LOL”

“And I was going to shave my legs and everything.......”

“LOL
Heal fast, John.
They will be a core group there no matter what.
We all love the Sipsey too much.
It's been over a month since I've been there.”

“And you shaved your legs for this?

I hate bailing.”

“Yup, it was either shave my legs or be mistaken for Sasquatch (sp?).”

“SS - that's exactly what I was hoping for. It's not like this is a trip with some route planned out that others don't know. Everyone there has pretty much been and has maps of the area. Pick a creek and just explore it. Pretty simple. I do hope someone marks the creek crossing to avoid that slide though. Last time about half the folks went that way.”