Sipsey Wilderness and Bankhead National Forest areas of "ignorance"

Okay, in order to show how little is really publicly known about Sipsey/Bankhead, I'm going to put up a list of areas I think we could stand to know a little more about. I'm going to do the same thing for Talladega NF. As most of you know, I'm not a fan of secrets on public property, and I only support them in a handful of sitations, like culturally significant artifacts, dangerous locations, or where I'm specifically asked to keep a secret. I know the Wild South project may be clearing up some of this, but not knowing if, how, or when they might release that data, I'm just making note of areas that I think are areas we could use to know more about. It may be years before I visit some of them, but it may give you ideas for hikes. All of the areas I've selected are areas I suspect might hold interesting features like waterfalls, wildflowers, etc... There are other areas that are lesser known that aren't including because they don't get my spidey-sense tingling.

Okay, in order to show how little is really publicly known about Sipsey/Bankhead, I'm going to put up a list of areas I think we could stand to know a little more about. I'm going to do the same thing for Talladega NF. As most of you know, I'm not a fan of secrets on public property, and I only support them in a handful of sitations, like culturally significant artifacts, dangerous locations, or where I'm specifically asked to keep a secret. I know the Wild South project may be clearing up some of this, but not knowing if, how, or when they might release that data, I'm just making note of areas that I think are areas we could use to know more about. It may be years before I visit some of them, but it may give you ideas for hikes. All of the areas I've selected are areas I suspect might hold interesting features like waterfalls, wildflowers, etc... There are other areas that are lesser known that aren't including because they don't get my spidey-sense tingling.

I intend this thread to serve as a conversation piece about where interesting new hikes could be led to, but also to prompt some of you who have been to these areas to share. ;)

What my designations mean:
- Virtually Unexplored: I've barely or never heard anybody take a trip out there. Nothing published or on website other than maybe chatter. Doesn't mean nobody goes there, or that nobody has ever gone there, but it is an area of extreme unknown.
- Unknown: I've heard of people going about it, but th area is almost never talked about or published or on a website other than chatter,  and nothing particularly useful is out there beyond pictues.
- Undercovered: People go there regularly, but not enough information makes it to the public.

Capsey Creek Canyon and Kemp Branch
Cart-o-craft map grids: Y3/59, Z3/59, Y3/58, Z3/58, A4/58, B4/58, A4/57, B4/57, B4/56, etc...
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.265303,-87.214108&spn=0.070508,0.153809&t=p&z=13&iwloc=addr
Rating: Unknown
Discussion: A few "expeditions" pass through the area annually, but the area is almost totally unknown, and really deserves more exploration and documentation. There are STEEP canyons in the area, and I expect there to be waterfalls there beyond the few I already know about in that area. Existing sources: http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=200883, http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/jsiq6euf.php, http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/562891085hoodNi, and there's also some chatter on the forums here, and at our now sister forum. Also some talk about something called "Tar Springs Hollow" in the headwater of the canyon here: http://blank005.tripod.com/camping/campsite/bankhead.html

Collier Creek Canyon
Cart-o-craft map grids: V3/58, V3/57, U3/57
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.266296,-87.258911&spn=0.070507,0.153809&t=p&z=13&iwloc=addr
Rating: Unknown
Discussion: A few kayakers go down Collier Creek Canyon annually, and one waterfall is published in Alabama's Canyons (Shangri-La Falls) without directions. The area is home to multiple permanent and wet-weather waterfalls, and is really scenic, so deserves coverage. Access is hindered by the nearby private property at stream access in Grayson, half-of-year closure of FS-253, and steep terrain. Existing sources: http://almtnman.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=hiking&action=display&thread=467, coverage at: http://www.alabamawhitewater.com/, and Toph's got some pics up: http://www.christopherburladams.com/Coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=62

Brushy Creek and tributaries like Coal Mine Branch
Cart-o-craft map grids: alot. ;)
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.259628,-87.259855&spn=0.035256,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: SERIOUSLY? Hundreds of people paddle down this stream yearly, and we have so little information about it, and the tributaries, particularly Coal Mine Branch, which has a lovely waterfall on it. And has anybody explored the headwaters of the stream, up in u3/50 on the cart-o-craft? Covered in Alabama's Canyons and on http://www.alabamawhitewater.com/

Rush and Hurricane Creeks
Cart-o-craft map grids: Y3/58, Z3/58, Y3/57, Z3/57
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.287219,-87.225008&spn=0.035245,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercoverd
Discussion: SERIOUSLY? I see cars parked near here on a regular basis...Why ain't I seeing anything? I smell waterfalls in this area. ;) There's a small waterfall on a tributary to Rush Creek: http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/Alabama-s-Mountain-Treasures.pdf

The Northern Perimeter of the Eastern Section of Sipsey, excluding Indian Tombs Hollow and Gillespie Creek
Cart-o-craft map grids: X3/50, W3/50, V3/50, V3/49, U3/50, U3/49, T3/50, T3/49
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.365544,-87.200203&spn=0.140848,0.307617&t=p&z=12&iwloc=addr
Rating: Virtually Unexplored
Discussion: I hear static on this region. Nothing. Looks like interesting terrain, and if Indian Tombs Hollow is any indication, it might be botanically interesting.

The Horse & Multi-Use Trails and the areas around them
Cart-o-craft map grids: a lot ;)
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: There is a lot of land in there that we hear very little about, but that is often visited. I imagine there has to be something botanically interesting in there, particularly in Wiggins Hollow, Mill Branch and Owl Creek, etc...

Quillen Creek
Cart-o-craft map grids: K3/54, J3/54, J3/53, J3/52
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.332663,-87.484903&spn=0.035226,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: Lots of people visit it, including people on Alatrails, but information is spotty, and pictures are scarce. Cool place that deserves more attention. Lots of pictures up at: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/558004730EYQWSd, chatter at: http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/46449,,5.php, http://www.alatrails.com/hikingAL/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46, http://www.fattriplets.com/?p=270, and there is good advice and information in Alabama's Canyons.

Braziel Creek Upstream of Clifty Creek
Cart-o-craft map grids: a lot ;)
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.341806,-87.410059&spn=0.035222,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: I've seen some hikes head in there, but either they didn't find anything, or they aren't big on writing. I expect the area to be botanically interesting, because Braziel Creek is botanically interesting downstream of Clifty. I think these pictures are from that area: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/104013469yawUXw

Caney Creek Drainage Area (N. and S. Caney Creeks)
Cart-of-craft map grids: a lot ;) Particularly in the 58's and 59's
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.248703,-87.402763&spn=0.070522,0.153809&t=p&z=13&iwloc=addr
Rating: Unknown
Discussion: I hear good things from this area from those whose been in there, all encouraging for those who wish to preserve this area. There are waterfalls other than Upper and Lower S. Caney Creek Falls, cultural artifacts, and very interesting terrain. The 2007 TT trip (w/Toph) had lots of interesting chatter: http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/47600,-1,1.php?id_trip=2de5d16682c3c35007e4e92982f1a2ba, and I'm particularly interested in Little Rock Bridge Falls.

Davis Creek
Cart-o-craft map grids: R3/57, R3/56, S3/56, S3/55
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.28885,-87.355556&spn=0.035244,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: I know people go here, but I've heard very little about it until I found the Schuffert thing today. This Schuffert thing makes it look GREAT: http://schuffertstudios.com/catalog/Newsletters/DavisCrkNewsletter.pdf, and if you haven't seen the newsletters, I wish he did a while lot more newsletters: http://schuffertstudios.com/catalog/Newsletters/newsletters.html

Sipsey Tributary in R3/57 and S3/57
Cart-o-craft map grids: R3/57, S3/57
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.276723,-87.354698&spn=0.017625,0.038452&t=p&z=15&iwloc=addr
Rating: Virtually Enexplored
Discussion: Waterfall.

Creeks Flanking Bunyan Hill Road
Cart-o-craft map grids: 55 and 54 horizontals from P3 to R3
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.309413,-87.373409&spn=0.035236,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: I see people in here, and trails transit them... I suspect seasonal waterfalls at a minimum, and based on example of Borden and Braziel Creeks, I expect wildflowers.

Borden and Montgomery Creeks N. Canyons
Cart-o-craft map grids: S3 and T3 verticals above 51
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.391329,-87.343884&spn=0.035201,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Unknown
Discussion: This area has wide flat streambeds flanked by steep terrain, might be botanically interesting.

The Tedford/Thompson Blob
Cart-o-craft map grids: K3/50, L3/50, J3/51-L3/51, J3/52-L3/52
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.370503,-87.455635&spn=0.07042,0.153809&t=p&z=13&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: I know people go here, but I hear very little. I suspect the area is interesting, and I'm curious as to why it wasn't included in the last Sipsey Expansion. Blob shaped.

Mattox Creek
Cart-o-craft map grids: M3/50, N3/50, N3/49
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=double+springs,+al&ie=UTF8&ll=34.384529,-87.432804&spn=0.035204,0.076904&t=p&z=14&iwloc=addr
Rating: Undercovered
Discussion: I know Wildsouth does an occasional hike in this area, and people do go there, and I've heard good things, but not much hits the web. Link to Wildsouth announcement: http://www.alatrails.com/forum/index.php/topic,327.0.html

Wow... That took a while. I'm getting longwinded these days, and a lot of this is me looking at the Cart-o-craft and lamenting how little I hear or see about these areas, and wish I was able to hike them right now. But... I hope this helps somebody. If I missed anything, including an area you think we need more information, or a source on one of the areas, post it.