Sipsey-Bankhead Bushwhack - Fall '08

“Shhh...it was an accident :)
last edited: 8/07/08 9:44:48 AM”

“I have to work that Saturday the 8th. But don't change it just because of me. I can run down there on Sat. afternoon and still spend the night and join the party.”

“Alright folks, the dates have changed to 11/7-9...hope this doesn't adversely affect your plans to join us.”

“I'm in!”

“me too!!!”

“Anyone want to carpool? I'll be heading south on I-65 through Nashvegas.”

“I'm in and have 3 others who will most likely come as well...”

“Are we ready????”

“carpool...is there bus parking???

i know we have a 10% show up of those signed up...but 10% of 243 is still alot...lol”

“I'm ready...sort of. Still trying to come up with somewhere new for us to go but it doesn't look I'm going to have many (if any) opportunities to go scout a location so we may end up in Quillan or Eagle Creek again.

Any suggestions are welcome...”

“The trip we did up Braziel a few years back had plenty of room for a big group, but the scenery was uninspiring.

I can't think of any large campsites that would give you good access to West Bee. A loop of West and East Bee with bushwhacking to tie the two together is a fun trip.”

“I have been thinking about Collier Creek (Shangri La and Collier Falls) and camping in the field about a quarter mile off the road but not sure if that is FS land or not. Lots to see in that area I'm sure.”

“Is that hidden campsite near West Bee and the bathtub big enough? Or have I let out our secret spot??? Maybe I won't get stepped on by a deer this time, LOL.”

“you move it...I will be there no problem!”

“Karo - Thought about that but prolly not enough flat room unless most bring hammocks. I'm thinking no more than 5-6 tents if we used that spot. Definitely a great spot though.

Fridge - Move it...you mean the date? By the way, Down Booties says hello!
last edited: 9/18/08 8:10:26 PM”

“Is that hidden campsite near West Bee and the bathtub big enough? Or have I let out our secret spot??? Maybe I won't get stepped on by a deer this time, LOL.”
karo
4:31:39 PM
9/18/08

...a bathtub???...and here I was using wipes & coulda taken a bath!!!!!”

“My recollection of that campsite is more like 3-4 tents. The first time I used it I scouted upstream and there's maybe another 2-3 spots there. You can also hike up a holler towards 205 and find more open space, but I don't recall the distance.”

“There's the spot right across the creek that could fit a couple as well.

I'd rather see some new territory but I'm sure there are many planning to come who haven't seen the Bee Branch area so that may work. Stay tuned...”

“I still say that area around where we dayhiked last time will me nice enough.

Remember coming down the embankment about 30 feet and there was a flat spot where you (toph) dropped pack to shoot? It's right alongside the water. I'd be willing to camp up on the embankment too -- some up there and some close to the water ought to get us all in.”

“Precision - Not sure exactly where you are referring to...Caney Creek again?”

“Hello everyone. My wife (No Direction) and I are new to your group, but we would like to join your Sipsey trip. We live in the area and have wanted to go on previous trips but were unable. Looks like a go for this one. Will be nice to meet everyone.”

“Hey welcome!
I go there every year, and the camping / hiking a grand ol' time. toph's trips are relaxed, so again, welcome.

toph, it's kind of difficult for me to say where it was that you stopped at. The only thing I can say is that I remember you going up to the head of the canyon to take pictures and that I don't recall it being very deep, and I THINK you might've said something to suggest that the spot might be a good one. The spot was along the way of our dayhike, last year.”

“Stormin - Welcome aboard! Are you and your wife accustomed to off trail travel in the area?

precision - I'll look back through the pictures to see if I can recall but I think you may be referring to the flat spot just below Lower Caney Falls where we slid down the rock. That would be a great place but could be a tough hike in/out with full packs.

I am leaning towards camping at the spot in Quillan with exploration of Hubbard Creek all the way up to Kinlock Falls being the main event on Saturday. Not final yet but that would 1) be a new adventure and 2) eliminate the need for a scouting trip as I'm not sure I'm going to have a lot of time to do so between now and then.”

“Thanks precision and toph for the welcome. To answer the question by toph, my wife and I have been frequent visitors to Sipsey, but mostly camping right off the main trails. We have a site up in a canyon that's maybe 100 yards off the trail, but really other than that, we have not ventured off the trails. So, I would have to say that we were not accustomed to off trail travel in sipsey, but the experience would be great I'm sure.”

“Just curious Stormin...glad to have you along.”

“Lookin forward to the trip. Buncha people I haven't met. Yee Hah! We be hikin!”

“i looked` at airlines and cant find a`darn thing into decatur”

“Birmingham International Airport
BHM

Huntsville International Airport
HSV”

“Sooooo who lives near huntsville? And willin to shuttle me %pm fri and get me to airport by 4pm sun?”

“NO CAN DO! yo bear! (I dont think) 270 for the bird 55 for the car)???? DONATIONS LOL”

“I am an IFFY yo bear! damm, And I am talking to myself.”

“Details posted...sorry it took so long :)”

“good plan toph, I'll pull the maps out tomorrow and give it a look.


anyone got odds on how many actually show up?


what about how many are left when we get back to the cars?

lol

Bringing the pup again, but we will probably separate from the group and come in from a different area”

“...thinkin.....I can take you BACK to airport Sunday...but I plan on being @ the trailhead Friday am.....if you come in early fri am or thursday pm, I might can swing that too...but it's only about a 9-10 hour drive from Ohio!!!”

“Which way would you come in?”

“Looking forward to the trip. I have never seen that part of the forest before.”

“repel in from the top of the falls, or helicopter.

I guess i meant we may camp away a bit due to the large group and our pup...i still haven't pulled the map out.”

“I hear ya ST...believe it when I see it.”

“Cool.

SS. If you'd like someone to hike in with ya, then lemme know.”

“I AM IN! booked flight and arrive in huntsville, fri 5pm.
Div-- I am gonna rent a car but thanks anyway.
TOPH-- hows about a phone number at jerbear@netzero.com I could also use a map. Any help apreciated. Also hows about fuel?
Yo bear we be hikin! My return flight departs at 4pm so i will need to gets out ovar in tyme. LOL”

“Okie Dokie....
...trying to get a friend of mine to go...she has been wanting to go for awhile now....a newbie!!...”

“ovar- that naked ape talk, for over there. RR”

“Last time I went to Sipsey, I was a newbie..and my "guide" broke his leg!!! Looking forward to making this trip without incident!!”

“You've got mail.

As for fuel, what do you need?”

“Pint of denarured alcohol or a msr cannister for a pocket rocket thanks”

“We'll have you covered.”

“jerbear, we'll use cornsqueezings if we have too!”

“Dang this is turning into a trip. I gotta find out if our Cub Scout troop is definitely doing the encampment at Talladega that weekend. 15000 scouts expected. My bus. partner is the one planning the encampment so I really want to go....but this dang trip is shaping up nice.”

“dang trip is shaping up nice.”
dayhiker
7:07:38 AM
10/07/08

...as Sipsey trips always do!!!...Sipsey is addicting...( even tho we aren't actually going to Sipsey....close enough....)”

“wow, what a freakin lineup for this trip!
thinkin of changing my yearly fall trek in Pisgah to this trip and get to walk in the woods with so many of my dear ole hikin buds, and meet new ones too! is there a quota on the size? if no...me and the chocklit man are in.
om shanti~~~”