Sipsey 07 - Parker and Quillen

“This one where I look like I've just been to the dentist: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2836278150039041315vdSNYF”

“I checked out your pictures. Looks like yall had a good time! I added a picture to my albumn from Big Tree. See if there is anyone from the group in it. There was alotta people there when we got there! We are planning on doing some Pinhotti hiking this weekend. Cool weather may be closing soon! Last minute scrambles are great! Peace.

Benji”

“Webshots will not let me delete it.....
hold on....”

“is this place the same place you always go to where you camp above the falls?”

“no, you might be thinking of the White Oak 'shortcut'.”

“deleted the pic”

“OPIE...

Thanks for grabbing the trekking pole. Just hang on to it. It's a backup pole and I have another set. No problem...”

“I totally spazzed when you mentioned you had a set like mine..should have realized when i picked it up that it was set for someone taller”

“Nice pics Stovestomper!

so i guess nobody happened to see my ring at the trailhead? i had an awesome weekend until i lost it sunday :(”

“Pics: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/558013358BEQajH

I left for Sipsey much later than intended because I was making sure my old little dog, who had hurt its shoulder the night before, was okay. I reached the TH parking lot just before 4:00p knowing I had just enough time to reach camp before dark. There are a few unmarked trails snaking away from the parking lot and I recalled that the eastern-most one was correct. Unfortunately I went a little too far east. I set out on what was an old road following the crest of a ridge. It wasn't long before I realized I was on the wrong trail because I was on the ridge far too long (the correct trail drops into gully after ~.25 mile). It was too late to start over, so I could either backtrack and camp near my car or keep going (I assumed that the old road, choked with downfall but marked with pink ribbon, would lead somewhere). I pressed on and before long I was face to snout with a HUGE wild boar (it wasn't Hogzilla, but it was still a big sucker). It was making a beeline for me on this old road when, about 20 yards away, it made a loud huff/snort/grunt and darted off to my right giving me a wide berth before disappearing into the foliage. I found some deer antlers sticking out of some weeds about 5 minutes later. As the ridge came to an end so did the road, but I picked up a well-traveled game trail (with fresh hog tracks) leading down into the gulch below. The game trail ended at what seemed to be a very popular hog waller but at this point I could hear the river and it was only a few more paces before I spotted a couple of people and a large green tent across the river.

It was a father and son and their friend camped across the river and we got out maps and attempted to shout whereabouts/directions to little avail. Losing daylight and planning to camp once it got dark no matter where I was, I asked if it was okay to camp with them and they kindly obliged. Unfortunately this necessitated a knee-deep crossing of the COLD Sipsey River. All that time I spent Wednesday evening cleaning my boots and applying Nikwax for naught. Oh well.

I knew I was heading SE on that ridge but I was surprised to learn that I had gone as far east as Eye of the Needle. We got a good fire going and I set my socks and boots near it to dry. I zipped off my pants legs and they were kind enough to use a hiking pole they had to hold them near the fire. I fixed bratwurst for supper and chased it down with a Murphy's Stout (my bp'ing beer of choice) and shared the rest of the 4 pack of beers with the other adults in camp.

After breakfast Saturday morning, the others took off for a dayhike to Big Tree and I packed up to hike out Thompson Ck. back to the TH and try again to make it to Quillan. It was then that I spoke with Greytroll and his friend and pointed out Eye of the Needle to them. Passing several day hikers I made it out to the Thompson Ck. TH and followed the road up to the TT / Quillan TH where I ran into SuperTroll and Butane getting ready to head down to Quillan. We set out together but I soon left them in my dust :-D, following Riddle Creek down to Quillan where, at long last I found Opie and Mrs. Opie kicking back in camp. Stovestomper and Dayhiker soon showed up after their daytrip over to Parker canyon, then SuperTroll and Butane, and finally MDSHiker coming in from Quillan and carrying a 12 pack of beer. MDSHiker and Opie set up a small sawmill operation just north of camp while the rest of us set up our camps or chatted around the fire. On one of his many trips hauling firewood to our fire-ring, I asked MDSHiker if he could fetch us all some beers from the creek before he went back to saw more wood but either he didn't hear me or he was just too lazy to do it. We each had to get up from our comfy spots around the fire and fetch our own beer. ;-P

It was a little early for dinner, but the smell of Dayhiker's fajitas was killing me so he offered and I gladly accepted a fajita and cooked my own supper soon afterward. We had a great fire going and it was definitely needed with temps hitting the low 20's and at times feeling like we were in a wind tunnel. It was a cold night and I was surprised that Butane (in hammock) and SuperTroll (under tarp) didn't freeze overnight. After breakfast and some stout boiled coffee for myself in the morning (I think Opie had a beer but he might've been pretending) we headed back out through Riddle Creek. Bama and Ala were waiting for us at the TH. Dayhiker lead me over to Kinlock to see the bluffs / Indian council area. I had a great time and as always it was good to see old friends and meet new ones. I was happy to finally live up to my trail name.”

“"MRS" Opie, I'll go back and look for your diamond, A word of warning I ain't anygood at finding them, my wife lost one in our front yard several years ago - its still there. I have looked for many things in that forest this will be the first looking for a diamond.

I have personally spoken to Pardner. He ask that I thank each of you for your concern. This was the easiest operation I have been on. Actually it didn't get as far as me carrying in a team. I had planned on going in with dogs monday but he was found before it got that far. The differance in this one and the other operations I have been involved with was he knew what to do. He signaled the chopper and they spotted him rather quickly. He was in the same area as longlosthiker( the first day ) just a differant time. There is a indian secret hidden in that cove that very few folks know about. I just wander if either of them saw it. "wow" I just felt a strong southeastern wind from OPIE and Dayhikers ears perking up.

I'll give my trip report for that weekend even though it was to a differant spot. I had planned on going in with the scoutgroup to the bigtree by way of whiteoak hollow and then join Ya'll sat night. We picked the kids up at 4:30 in Mt Hope. We left Thompson trailhead at about five. I wanted them to find a way there using their compasses. I gave them cord's and away we went up white oak hollow. Two of the boys are fairly keen on finding their way so I held them to silence. The other 3 boys did the navigating. By dark we were well up whiteoak hollow, I told them we was gonna make the ridge before camping. At the top of the ridge the trail gets a little faint and they missed the turn. ALA looked at me but I held him to silence. We were off trail by more than a 1/4 mile but I just let them go. They havn't done much navigating in the dark before they had relied on me in the past. I think they were more concerned about what was in the dark than the trail. Coyotes were howling all around us. Anyway after reaching the ridgetop, all be it a ways from where we should have been, we set up camp. Next morning they saw the errors of their ways and knew they were off by a ways. I allowed them to pick which way they wanted to go, of course they chose the shortest most direct route. ALA looked at me again and grinned. For those of you that know the area know what we were up against. If you miss the bolderfield gap to the south you can't get down without ropes. We got to the bluff line and they said "we went the wrong way again didn't we" I said yelp and pulled a rope out of my pack. 3 boys repelled down without a hitch but the other two were a little apprehensive. After reaching the base of the bluff we saw a dead deer. One of the boys ask what happened to it, ALA answered "sudden stop" evendently the deer didn't use a rope. They were able to find the tree and we ran into "Uncle Wayne" he had carried in a church group. We spoke for a little while then both groups left in differant directions. The boys were able to find the bolderfield gap coming back out but by the time I got back to the car it was late. I thought about joining Ya'll but I also thought about my shower, bed, and other comforts of home just a few miles away. I decided I would meet up with Ya'll Sunday when you came out. I hate it I missed some of Ya'll, but I have always tried to instill in my scouts about a mans word. I had already promised them this trip.

BAMA”

“The facts are simple though embarrassing. I broke the primary directive for traveling in unknown territory. I left the group.

Given my mental capacity and my health condition it was a very stupid thing to do.

Wherever I was I fell off a ten to fifteen foot ledge and landed on my backpack. I'm not sure is I passed out or not but when I got up I was dazed and confused. I apparently resumed on the wrong heading finally ending well south on a ridge covered with blown down trees.

Uncomfortable with the turn of events I determined to head North through the mess only to be hopelessly trapped in the dark and unfriendly forest.

I couldn't cook meals because the whole place was a forest fire waiting to happen. When I finally signaled the State of Alabama Highway Patrol helicopter it was on its last pass Sunday evening. I was down to 1/4 of a Power Bar and 6 ounces of water.

This morning at the break of day the helicopter returned and told me to stay put a Search and Rescue Squad made up of the local Sheriff and 6-8 others found a way to get to me within a couple of hours.

The saw briars cut the lead man's hands and face numerous times.

Had you not alerted someone, without water, or food that didn't require cooking I would no doubt have starved to death without anyone knowing exactly where to look for me.

From the center of all and who I am I thank you and the others for telling someone I should have already been out.

Needless to say I would appreciate that you not mention this to anyone not involved. I have canceled the Big South Fork trip and all of the others until I discuss my mental and physical abilities with my son.

Thanks also for putting up with me and giving me another chance to experience nature at its best and worst at least one last time. It is now obvious to me that without any short term memory capacity I'M literally an accident waiting to happen.

My warmest regards to all of you. I will send copies addressed to each of you if you post your email addresses if not please pass these thoughts to the others privately for me.

Russ Prince
Pardner

A Post Script:

The reason I asked for privacy had to do with the ages of my parents. My youngest brother Robert Horton drowned a few years back at a holiday celebration at Percy Priest Lake in Nashville. The news nearly killed both of my parents.

Now that I know because their last name is Horton they weren't able to be reached. I think it's a good idea to share and learn from my near brush with disaster.

http://community.webshots.com/user/Pardner1951”

“My WAY LESS DRAMATIC trip log.

Me and my buddy Jeff got to the Thompson Creek Trailhead at 7 on Saturday after a long 2 and a half hour drive through places with Dollar store grocery stores and Beans and Greens resturants! I didn't find out about yalls adventure until Saturday. I am not familiar with the Sispey and my map is crappy so we decided to take trails to Big Tree instead of getting lost hunting for you guys off trail.
We started at the Thompson Trailhead and went on down passed the regular turn cross creek that leads to the needle and all. I wanted him to see the moss rocks and pretty water spills throughout the creek. Then we turned back and crossed creek and made a break for the needle. At the crossing there were poeple camping and a dude was pooping RIGHT off the trail! Right in my face almost! So no need for breakfast from this disturbing site! At the needle we met longlost hiker who seemed like a nice guy by the way who told us we could pass through there. When we passed through the needle we met 2 fella's and their kid who told us about longlosthiker meeting up with them and camping. Then they told us this trail led to Big Tree. Somehow I did not realize the needle led back to the same trail. I thought we had found a new route to Big Tree. Since I was not sure where we was we went back through the needle and started back from the trail we knew. 30 minutes later we caught back up with them and we realized the needle was a shortcut. Now the 2 guys and kid had a dog with them they had found. So instead of going to Big Tree with us they turned back to camp with the dog. We found the people looking for their dog and told them where they were camped at the needle with it. When we got to Big Tree there were tons of people there. Some were repelling by the falls. We ate and went up the back canyon and hiked out a back trail back down to the Sipsey. This trail was FULL of dead trees and wind! It was scarry walking through there hearing the trees crack and squeal! We got back to the needle where we were gonna camp by 2 o'clock. So we decided to go ahead and hike out and camp next trip. We carried alotta gear for nothing but it was a really nice dayhike and the Sipsey is beautiful! Sorry I didn't get to meet many of you guys! Hope you find your ring and glad all are ok.

PS: To Longlosthiker....I saw 6 wild hogs last weekend but they seemed to ignore me I guess since they were in groups. I also met 3 people hunting them. There are some really big pigs in there!

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

“I like happy endings.”

“chili - had a massage lately?”

“I'm glad you're safe and sound Pardner. It was a scary thing reading about this.

Mrs. Opie, go thee to a Wally world and get a metal detector. I lost a gold earring in my parents' front yard. After I got a metal detector I had the earring back in less than 2 minutes.”

“dayhiker - Are you offering?”

“Uhhh, that would be a no.”

“Ohhh good idea...I have a metal detector !”

“Mrs Opie, sorry you lost your wedding band.
If y'all can't find it, have your own private ceremony for just you two to bless the new band.”

“Hey SuperTroll - where is the best place to put a hot water bottle to keep warm? - I generally try to keep it near the femoral artery (aka between my legs up high)”

“Wouldn't a pair of those stickon body warmers work?”

“StoveStomper - I've never felt the need to used those stickon body warmers - the hot water bottle works reasonably well plus I usually am carrying enough clothes to be OK even somewhat below expected temps”

“SS - Reece proudly wore the hat last night. I told him we would take a picture to send you. Emma said, "I want to send a picture of me to Mr. Kevin too." I'll try to rememeber to take the pics tonight.”

“:-)”

“I got an email from that bitpusher dude that never posts anymore. I had emailed him several weeks ago and told him to get off his a$$ and come hiking with us.

He said on Monday that he spotted the trip pictures and only then did he realize the trip was this past weekend. He had planned to go, LOL.
He also said he lurks here at times, and he has been sick a lot with his sinus problems.
He's still enjoying his job.”

“Wow sounds like an exciting/great trip !!!!!I thought of y'all all weekend...
...STILL having to go to the library to get online...looked at new computers this weekend....I sure miss y'all....maybe I'll see ya this summer!!!”

“Hee Hee Hee....

I thought of you in the Sipsey, div.

I thought as we were going over the 100th fallen tree trunk "If divinity was here we would add about five more hours to this 1 and half hour trip". ;-)”

“div's legs are so short..

How short are they?


.....”

“LOL...yes...I am short legged....were there alot of trees down?????”

“Is the Pope Catholic?”

“Does he wear a funny hat?”

“GREAT pics!!!!!


I got my backpack out to clean out this weekend!!!!

and I'm gonna set up and air out tents this week.....

and I have 4 weeks off in May and 3 in Aug....wooo hoooooo”

“It was my engagement ring- not the band. i wouldn't be stressing so much over the band! i'm not so sure that i lost it at the trailhead. i put it in my wallet while we were hiking so that i wouldn't lose it. we then stopped at the chevron on our way out and i had my wallet then. i forgot i had put my ring in there until we got to arab (1 1/2 hours away) and it was then that i noticed it was missing. we went back to the store and the trailhead and couldn't find it either place. i've searched and searched the truck and it's not in there either. :(”

“not the band...the big ring..the 1.5 ct rock

and i thought about getting my dad's detector..but we have insurance.”

“Oh no!”

“Glad you guys had fun. I would have loved to have been there with you guys. The boys and I went out with the LA Hiking Club this weekend. Not quite as much fun but it was 4 hours total of driving versus 16. I hope to see you guys soon.”

“Hey divinity, I will be down on the AL coast later this month. Let's have lunch at Wentzels.”

“Yep, Bateaux, we missed you and the boys.”

“I am sorry I missed this trip, but then again it could have been me they were searching for. I even wore my Sipsey shirt to work today!”

“I missed your chatting around the fire, buddy! Glad the tests didn't find any bad problems.”

“What a crazy weekend in the Sipsey.

The "other guy in the white car" that Bama referred to, who was parked next to Pardner, is my main backpacking buddy. We went to upper Quillan back in December.

I had considered going with him on this trip, but opted to go to Selma for the weekend (which was a great choice).

My friend got turned around in Quillan. As it got dark Sat. night, he was (he thinks) just downstream of the Quillan Cascades in that really steep, bluffy area. He was on an exposed, soggy area of bluff when most of what he was standing on collapsed and fell into Quillan, about 50 feet down. He spent the next 1-1/2 hours standing on a tiny ledge, soaking wet, in the dark. He finally entrusted his life to a couple of small hemlocks, which held his weight, and he got out. Wandered around for a couple more hours and finally found camp.

He's been known in the past for pushing the envelope, but says this one "scared him straight".

As I'm sure most of you know, the Sipsey is a serious place, not to be taken lightly. The payoff is worth it, but you really have to be careful.
last edited: 3/10/07 3:37:02 PM”

“He came into our camp from the opposite side of the creek from our camp/road side. We talked for a while and he told us how familar he was with the area. He then asks, "Do you know exactly where we are on the topo map?" I showed him and told him how to get back to his car. He left camp and went back the way he came which was 180 from where we had pointed for him to go. We were worried about him. Glad he is ok.”

“his bumper sticker said treehugger....don't hug em in the sipsey...they bite!”

“Have any of you hiked Mount Elbert. My buddy is planning a trip and I was just looking for some general info about the pace.”

“There's a trip planned there next month. Lot's of discussion on it. Just find the thread and ask away.”

“FWIW, the northern route to Sipsey isn't bad at all. Here tis:

I-65 to Decatur
exit 340A on US-72 ALT W / AL-20 W
US-72 ALT W / AL-20 W becomes 6TH AVE NE / US-31 S / AL-3 S.
Turn RIGHT onto MOULTON ST E.
MOULTON ST E becomes AL-24 W / GORDON TERRY PKWY.
Turn LEFT onto AL-101.
Turn RIGHT onto OLD AL-24.
Turn LEFT onto CR-23.
Turn RIGHT onto 303.
Turn LEFT at sign for Thompson Ck. TH 4 miles.


If you want to use Mapquest get directions to Mount Hope, AL. This will get you all the way to CR-23 and it's pretty easy to figure out after that.
last edited: 3/14/07 5:04:42 PM”

“Enjoy:

Toph's Trips”

“Nice photos. Where's Coal Mine branch?”

“Nice!”