Fall '07 Sipsey Bushwhack

“Did toph ever decide where the trip was going to be in the Sipsey?”

“I thought he said Caney Creek Falls????”

“Destination possibility
“Anyone have any experience with the north and/or south fork of Caney Creek (upstream of the falls)?”
toph
5:28:03 PM
5/17/07”

“Just a possibility at this point. Was hoping someone more knowledgeble (like oh I don't know...BAMA :) might chime in with some guidance in regards to an off trail but relatively easy-to-get-to basecamp in that area that can support a group of this size.

I'll still go up sometime beforehand and scout the area first.
last edited: 7/19/07 1:26:59 PM”

“Other suggestions are welcome of course...”

“Parker doesn't have the parking.

Borden is asking for trouble since we'd be too close to the road.

Is there parking or access to Wolfpen or Little Ugly?

Secret campsite above West Bee and then explore West Bee one day and Buck Rough another?

Screw it, Bama can just take us all to Devil's Well.”

“relatively easy-to-get-to - toph

Do Not Plan Around Me!

I refuse to be a hinderance to anyone's hike!”

“Where did we go in Feb 2005???”

“We went there in Feb 06 and Feb 07 too.”

“That wasn't a bad hike in....”

“Toph, you think we'll do day hikes like we did last hike?

I kind of hope for some big water somewhere.

Times get closer now :]”

“Yes, this will probably be a basecamp and day hike trip just like the others.

Big water = big waterfalls?”

“What's the big falls on the West side of the Wilderness -- starts with a "K" if I remember right. That's a lot of water. But yeah, big falls and powerful cascades.”

“http://eworley.smugmug.com/gallery/1240379/4/61199003#58136537

...this one...???

...Kenlock Falls???”

“I think so . . .”

“Stovie has some pics of it....
alot of "unbackpacking" people there usually on weekends :(”

“Ya, Kinlock is just a few steps off the road and is a popular stop:

Kinlock Falls


This fall is in the area I am going to try to set up our basecamp and explore:

Upper Caney Creek Falls

last edited: 8/04/07 6:26:11 PM”

“FYI -> Trip page has been updated (although not much there that hasn't been posted here).

Nice group signed up...finally starting to cool off a bit and really looking forward to this. Now we just need to pray for lots of rain to get the water levels up!”

“may I be the first to ape like LT hiker

Unga bunga unga bunga Unga bunga unga bunga
Unga bunga unga bunga Unga bunga unga bunga

let's have some rain.”

“Hey Ya'll I finally crawled out from under my rock. Well actually with a little prodding. I would like to make this trip, but I have a elk hunt in Co. the first couple of weeks in Oct. I may be able to swing coming in after dark late friday night finding Ya'll. Chances are I'll probally be working that weekend after returning from my elk hunting trip. It would be nice to fix Ya'll some elk tenderloin and biscuits during your hike. (those that have hiked with me know this ain't out of the question, anybody remember the bear gumbo.)Maybe I'll make I'll just have to play it as it comes.
I've been really busy lately. I've worked a lot of weekends and have recently moved the Daughter away to college at Auburn. This is tough for a Alabama fan. She did buy me a Auburn cap but I ain't worn it yet.
The area Ya'll are going into is one of the most secluded areas if you get off of the trails. The trails aint much either. I am not very familiar with this area. But i'll try to pass on a little info.
The best way in is to park off of Hwy 2. From hwy 33 its about 3.5 miles to a well established parking area. This is on private land but you can still park about 4-5 cars there. You will know you are on the right road just past the gate is another old bent up gate sticking up in the air. Walk down this road until it deadends. Just when your thinking where do I go from here you will see a path leading downhill. Follow this to the upper falls. Its steep but easy, the lower falls are about 30 minutes downstream. You will have to cross back and forth across Caney creek 4 to 5 times. Just before the lower falls is a steep part that is doable but is better with a 30 foot rope. There is another waterfall in the area that is not on any topos. Its called little natural bridge falls.They are about 30 feet and are up in Hemlock cove about a mile up the South Fork from the junction with North Fork. There is rock about 200 yards near the bed of the second creek upstream from the fork that has a fern leaf print on it. Most all of the flat spots are on the ridgetops. Most camping near the falls will be spread out along the creek or up on the ridgetops. There is a cove between the junctions of southand north fork and the unnamed creek down streem. North out this cove and to the west is a old road taking you back to cranal road. Anybody wanting a adventure can walk out the end of the north feeder stream at the head of North caney fork and you will be on a old indian trail leading to Kinlock shelter. There is a birch tree with 3 turkey tracks on it just like in Kinlock. There are several bluff shelters in the area but the one on the bluff near Robbins cemetery is supposed to have had a stash of grain that the Rebels stole from the yanks back during the war of northern agression. The ridgetops have a few copperheads laying around and will still be a few out that time of year. Someone let me know if you see the 20' duck.You will know it when you see it, even though you may see it and not know it.

BAMA”

“Thanks for the info BAMA...hope you can make it.”

“3 turkey tracks on it just like in Kinlock



Do tell, I wasn't aware of either of them!”

“Sounds like dayhiker's "tentative" status may have just changed ;)”

“DH. the ones in kinlock are on a rock. I was with you when you were looking right at them. I think I even had them chalked in. On the other hand I may not have, and was just checking to see if you would see the forest for the trees. Slow your butt down and start walking like a old fat man and you'll notice these things.”

“I think this is the one Bama is talking about.

[img][img]”

“Ahh, I've seen those. I actually have a photo of that.


toph - still don't know. I'm out of town 10/13 - 10/20, so that's my issue. I may try to bring the kids after they get out of school on Friday though.”

“I see bama's comment now, I thought you were saying turkey feet on trees. That's what got my curiosity up.”

“Reece started Cub Scouts last night. The first campout is the weekend. It's little sister Addie's b'day on Sat and her very belated baptism on Sun. Lots of family in town so no campout for us. The 2nd campout is Nov 10-11. I'm pretty sure this knocks us out of this trip. Very big bummer.”

“That will be 'old hat' to my little backbacking buddy. :-)”

“He probably has more bag nights than the adults.”

“PS. They'll probably wonder why our tent and sleeping pads are so small. We'll get lots of advice on proper gear. hehe”

“Just a possibility at this point. Was hoping someone more knowledgeble (like oh I don't know...BAMA :) might chime in with some guidance in regards to an off trail but relatively easy-to-get-to basecamp in that area that can support a group of this size.

I'll still go up sometime beforehand and scout the area first.
last edited: 7/19/07 1:26:59 PM”
toph
1:25:22 PM
7/19/07

Have you had a chance to scout out an area yet? I'm off work right now and could meet you there most any day. I was just looking at the maps of the area and it looks like there are a couple of forest service roads that we might be able to take to get near the creek. F.S. 230 goes to Robbins cemetary, dk if it is open or not. F.S. 221/ 3026 crosses South Fork Caney Ck. near the falls. And 3023 and 3025/Steele Rd. head towards Caney Ck. Falls also. Drop me a line if you want me to join you there for some recon.”

“Thanks for the offer karo. I don't have any specific date in mind yet for a recon trip and honestly it'll probably be a spur of the moment kind of thing when I can find a few free hours away from work (and football :). I'll definitely let you know if I plan something in advance.

-c”

“toph - I've got a crazy fall but drop me a note on the recon if you would. There is an excellent chance I couldn't go, but you never know.”

“dh - I will. It'll most likely be a Sunday day trip kinda thing but we'll see.”

“Toph, I'm bring my nephew too, so just to let ya know -- count on one more person for my account.”

“No problem...the more the merrier.”

“Things are getting busy at work so I am making me a maybe....bummage!”

“A quick trip up yesterday morning to scout for a potential campsite proved successful in just a matter of minutes. In fact, we could probably double or even triple the number we have signed up and have plenty of room for accomodation.

Directions to the trailhead from Hwy. 33:

Turn west on Hwy 2 and travel approximately 3.5 miles until you get to an old forest road turn off on your right:



Looks like enough parking for 8-10 cars, maybe more if we get creative.

Follow the forest road beyond the gate for approximately 1 mile until you start hearing the sound of Upper Caney Falls and the trail widens and starts to go downhill pretty steeply:



At this point, staying to the right will take you to the falls however you will want to take a hard left crossing over the downed tree in the picture. Continue following an old roadbed for about 100 yards or so and camp is in the bottom. An average pace should allow you to get from car to camp in no more than 30 minutes. In light of such a short hike in, dutch ovens, small coolers and other luxuries are certainly feasible ;)

I plan to be at camp either a little after dark Thursday or bright and early Friday morning.

The upper falls had a decent flow yesterday but hopefully we'll get a good bit of rain between now and the trip:


last edited: 9/24/07 6:02:51 AM”

“Very nice. How far is Hwy 2 before Cranal? I'm assuming this is south of Cranal.”

“Hwy. 2 is about 4.1 miles north out of Double Springs so probably about 8 miles south of Cranal Rd./Hwy. 6...”

“Wow, I didn't realize it was so far south. Just south of 6 maybe 1/2 mile is a place to pull off. I always assumed to get to Caney you parked there or a pulloff from 6. Heck, I've got that Alabama Canyons book, I'm sure it has directions. It's been a while since I've looked through it though.”

“Thanks for scouting us out what looks like an awesome looking campsite. I may have to break out the Dutch oven myself. I would have gone down there with ya, but I've been in the Smokies. I finally got to flyfish Hazel Creek!”

“Yall suck. It turns out my Cubscout campout conflict is really Veterans Day, though there will be one this weekend too. My conflict now is that I'm out of town the two prior weekends. I don't know if I want/need to be gone 3 straight weekends just after moving into a new house. I may try to sneak up there as a dayhike though. I've never been to Caney creek.”

“I am planning on being in PA at Ghosts of Masten that weekend.”

“I, for one, sure hope as many as you maybes can make it! I recall we had plenty on dayiker's Fall Creek Falls weekend.

If you've not been to Sipsey, this is a cool place -- and it's easy goin', pretty much, too.”

“are you refering to FS 230???”

“...and what is the hike in on a scale 1-10????

:)”

“Not sure what FS # the road is but it's pretty easy to find.

As for "the hike", from the car to camp is very easy (a 1) however the dayhikes the remainder of the weekend could be anywhere from 1-10. These trips are exploratory/bushwhacking in nature so it's hard to say what we'll find.”