Hello All,
My buddy Richard and I spent Saturday looking for the Bee Branch Salt Peter Cave. We parked at the Randolph Trailhead and headed down Trail 201 to the Sipsey River. I was able to locate the marker tree with the "50" metal plate and have GPS of that if anyone is interested in the shortcut to valentine pond (thanks Uncle Wayne). Not much to report about 201 except for a couple new large pine trees that have blown down across the trail. Took the 209 trail down to the Sipsey river, which was flowing very well. The 209 on the south side of the Sipsey is a steep little trail down from the bluff top! Part of the trail is also part of the stream and one needs to be careful at points cause it is very slippery with the water running. Plus as that was the first time I had been on that section of the 209, there are some really nice camping spots on that side of the river. Deep canyon, right in front of a large set of rapids, NICE!
Crossing the Sipsey involved a knee deep water walk, not too bad. And then we proceeded to the canyon where the Salt Peter cave is. We made our way back to the end of the canyon, and it was not an easy task. Very steep, lots of leaf clutter and slopes are slippery! Once back we found a large shelter below the ground level, but could not locate the entrances to the Salt Peter Cave. Spent about an hour looking but could not locate. They say that the harder it is too find, the better the discovery, well I am looking forward to that time! Came out of the canyon alittle depressed that we could not find the cave, but made our way up the next canyon upstream and found a very nice water fall at the back of it.
Recrossed the Sipsey and started our wayback up the 209 to the 201 trailhead. Decided to go up the side to the Rippey cabin and rested there for a while. All that bushwhacking and steep bluff climbing takes alot out of 2 old men! Signed the register in the cabin and left mention of alatrails on the sheet. Hopefully it will send some More traffic onto the site!
Pictures are located here if interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elbowman1/We will return the weekend of the 25th to try again, plus continue our exploration of Borden Creek Cave.
Good Hiking,
Eric
