Sipsey Spring '09 - Big Tree, Big Water

“It was NOT by choice...I was a C-Section baby :)”

“:)”

“..is everyone ready?????”

“gettin there!”

“It's only a month away. Better hurry.”

“March 17”

“DATE CHANGE.....”

“I may be out for this trip, turkey season starts on that Saturday. (And no its not because I don't want to be shot either, LOL) I am going down there on Mar. 2nd,Mon. afternoon to White Oak and camp above the falls near the bathtub where we camped a few years ago. Then on to the big tree on Tue. and out on Wed. My former neighbor and I will be down there if anyone wants to join us. I know its the middle of the week, but I am laid off and don't have anything else to do.”

“...well...seems to me if you are laid off with nothing to do you CAN make the trip....lol....”

“Yea, turkey.”

“Look who's talking....”

“Thanks Div.
I am laid off for two weeks, our plant is still making Traverses for Chevy. We are no longer Saturn except for a few of the engines.”

“I got back home from Sipsey on Wednesday, March 4, 09. My old friend and former neighbor and I went down there after the snow storm and hiked to the big tree. The trail up White Oak Hollow was easy with only one hill to climb up to old 205. My old GPS coor. were still good and we had no problem finding the beginning of West Bee drainage. The trail has been well used but has many blowdowns to go under, over, and around. Got to the campsite before dark and set up camp and had a fire going in no time. Still some snow on the ground but I found a spot to tent near where the deer stepped on me on the last trip. The hemlocks had grown some since I was last there but the campsite is still very well hidden and only slightly used. We scrambled down West Bee on Tuesday with only daypacks and made it to the big tree in 2 hours stopping to take pics along the way. The canyon is beautiful in winter with all the falls flowing full and icicles everywhere. We had to actually dodge a few falling icicles! Made it back in time to rest before supper and hiked back out on Wed. I will try to post pics in a couple of days, gotta go scout some turkeys, but not ya'll tter's, lol.”

“That's one of my favorite campsites.”

“You've got mail”

“Karo...glad you had a great hike...looking forward to pics!!!”

“Looks like lots of rain headed this way over the next week so the waterfalls should be running great next weekend. This past weekend felt like early summer with the temps and high humidity so hopefully things will cool back down again a bit by then as well. Oh, and the ticks are on the prowl.

After looking at the agenda again, I've probably got a little too much packed in there and may make some changes. Anything in particular on the list that ya'll are really looking forward to specifically so that I can try to keep it in there?
last edited: 3/10/09 7:13:40 AM”

“Quillan Creek, Eagle/Little Ugly Creeks and Collier Canyon are my favorite areas.”

“Upper and Lower White Creek Falls are really nice also but...”

“I'm definitely keeping the Big Tree trek on there else I'd have to change the name of the trip ;)

Pully - Anything still on your list that maybe we could include? Have you been much downstream of Shangri La Falls in Collier Creek?”

“Have you been to the waterfalls on the Sipsey feeder creek below Hurricane Creek?

I've been all the way to Brushy and all I remember is one decent waterfall/cascade but this was about 4 or 5 years ago.”

“How are they about dogs in the campgrounds? I will pass if I can expect frequent visits from the leash Nazi. I get more than enough of that from GA state parks.

Holy moley! Date change. Glad I went back a month...

Trip page still lies, it does...
last edited: 3/10/09 2:25:27 PM”

“wtf are the dates?3-26-29?????”

“Trips page is accurate. It's 3/26-29. Got a week ahead of myself with the weather forecast post above...sorry for the confusion :)”

“lol one sentence causes chaos..”

“Pully - I have been to what I think is Walker Falls just off the Sipsey River (reached it by canoe primarily) and the 2 falls just upstream of the Hwy 33 takeout. Tried to figure out my way to get to Hurricane Falls one day by foot but time ran out on me and I had to turn back before finding it. Have you been to Hurricane Falls? Which falls were you referring to?”

“What's the best route to get to the campground from the south?”

“This is what I believe was Walker Falls:



There was another multi drop (and probably seasonal) falls to the right in this same cove but which was much taller and almost impossible to get a decent picture of.”

“oooooooo pretty...I could skinny dip in that!!”

“stovie - From 278 W in Addison, turn right onto Hwy 41 and follow it approximately 2 miles to FS 266 where you'll want to turn left. There is a historical marker on the left just before the turn. This road starts out paved but soon turns to gravel and then crosses over Capsey Creek. A little further past the Capsey Creek bridge you'll come to a 3 way intersection where you'll take another left. You'll need to make a couple of other turns before you get to Brushy Lake however from this point you can follow the signs...piece of cake.

gojo - Dogs are ok as far as I know but not sure about any leash requirements. I stay there quite a bit and rarely see any rangers.”

“toph - I don't recognize that falls as Walker Falls but that is the one I'm referring to. The falls to the right of that falls is the 100'+ waterfall. Upstream of the picture you have, there are 2 nice cascades and an Indian shelter. There is an Indian Marker tree before you go into the cove. http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/570124551JZZJRZ
This area is easy to get to, requiring a short hike of maybe half to 3/4 of a mile.

I haven't been to Hurricane Creek yet.
last edited: 3/11/09 8:13:15 AM”

“I could skinny dip in that!!”
~spirit coyote

I have - nanny-nanny-boo-boo :)”

“OH MY GOODYS! You sayed a fib!
I am who swimd nekkid ther. You and pakpak baybe was SKEERDY CHIKKENS! BOL!”

“lol...the water in Sipsey is ALWAYS sooo cold!!!!”

“sorry, cant make this one. Have fun.
Take pictures of Div skinny dippin!”

“Trip page has been updated.

Approximately when is everyone planning to arrive?”

“10 p.m. quiet time" - LOL!

By the time we get Stovie into the Light of Shame, there won't be a sleeping eye for two miles in any direction!


I say we mingle with the neighbors - they're prolly more like us than not. If we make friends with everybody else in the campground, we could block party like it's 1999!”

“Could happen.”

“I just hope I'm able to make this time - $$$!
last edited: 3/18/09 9:52:32 AM”

“I'm planning to be there Thursday afternoon by around 5 or so.”

“probably late Thursday evening
if I follow the GPS however, plan on coming to look for me... again

Oh and don't forget my B'day Oatmeal Cream Pie!”

“http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/recreation/brushy-lake.shtml

Zoomable map”

“No no, I am familiar...

There was this one time, at band camp... no wait, wrong story...

Toph had told me once that you couldn't get to Brushy by following the automated gps routing; I had more confidence in my GPS than that and attempted to prove him wrong; ...I lost”

“I just talked to the Double Springs Sipsey office and they said the bathhouse IS open and has hot water. There is no ranger stationed at the campground. A pay box is at the front drivein. The 'rules' say up to 6 people per site but that may not be for 6 TENTS (I didn't ask, didn't want to freak them out). I'm sure we could get away with two or three small backpacking tents per site.
No trailer hookups, no elect. Water is available.”

“No ranger stationed @ campground, BUT he does visit....I have seen him pass out tickets there before....some guy had 4 wheelers...not allowed....and have seen him make folks dump out beer...
...there are only 13 sites....we could get them all...loll...
...a reminder...there are racoons who can open coolers....no #&%!$...I saw it....so be prepared...
...I don't think they have a problem about how many tents...just how many people on the site....

...I have to work Friday...NO WAY I can get off....so it will be evening Friday or Saturday am when I arrive...and it also depends on Lee's dad...”

“I'll be there Thursday afternoon...maybe 3:00

What sites are we getting?”

“Raccoons that "open coolers"? Pfffffft!
On Cumby Island, the coons have their own coolers - top of the liners that they've selected and collected over the years.

What's all this Thursday crap? Who has that kinda time on their hands? Get a life, people!”

“People with Friday off, and retired people, gojo. ;-)”

“Pully - Whatever available site you want when you get there.

We'll definitely want one designated as the "community site" but I'll be getting another one for sleeping :)”

“I'll be there mid-day Friday. I'll have Belle track you dayhikers. Gizmeaux will be packing fresh beers for the weary...”