Trip report and a question

[Jackalope]

My girlfriend and I got in a spur of the moment overnighter in the Sipsey this past Saturday. We had planned on working around the house but with the weather like it was, (sunny - highs low 80s/lows mid 50s) we blew off the work, threw our packs together and hit the road.

We parked at the Randolph trailhead and headed down 201 to the river where we were going to camp somewhere around the rapids. Not more than 5 minutes into the hike, just before 201 and 202 fork off, a good sized deer ran across the trail not more than 20 feet in front of us. It really surprised me because I haven't seen a deer in the Sipsey in well over a year. I also saw a set of deer tracks heading down 201 for several hundred yards which is something else I haven't seen in recent months.

Once at the river, we went upstream to the rapids and wouldn't you know it. Only two other cars at the trailhead and one of them was in the campsite we were shooting for. We wanted to camp by the rapids so with a little help from some folks who were coming down the river in canoes and happened to make the rapids at the same time we did, we crossed the river and set up camp on the sandbar on the other side where we met the fellow in the picture below. He guarded our campsite while we rock hopped through the boulder garden, poked around Thompson Creek and came back through the Needle's Eye and then hung out with us until after dark. I'm not sure when he left, but he was gone when morning came.

We built a nice little fire, star gazed through the canopy, cooked our favorite trail supper (Stovetop and foil pouch chicken - it's at least as good as the Ramada's Thanksgiving lunch special - at least on the trail it is), had a brief but meaningful visit with our old friend Johnny Walker and turned in around 10:30.

Next morning we lazed around camp the until about 10:00 when we packed up and headed out, back to the work we left behind Saturday. On the way out, we saw the flower below.

Does anyone know what it is? Uncle Wayne? Joshua? Weathermansam? Anyone?

Also, I have to say I didn't see near as many fresh hog signs this trip as I have recently. I was wondering if that along with seeing the deer and deer tracks means the hogs are leaving and the deer are returning. As I understand it, they don't care much for each others company. It can be hoped at least.

[WolfVanZandt]

hmmm....that looks like a sweet pea.

[Cuffs]

the flower is the common butterfly pea.

[Cuffs]

I use this reference for locating Alabama wildflowers...

http://diglib.auburn.edu/collections/wildflower/

[elbowman]

Great trip report!

I wanted to add that your brown water snake was actually a cooperhead.

And from the looks of him, he has been eating good!

Last summer, we crossed the Sipsey across from the trail 201. We walked west until we found the first large campsite next to the river. Sat on a large down tree trunk and a large cooperhead crawled out to see what was going on. He was not aggressive to us, but did not move when we tried to encourage him to head into the bushes.

I wonder if this was the same guy.

Eric

[Jackalope]

I use this reference for locating Alabama wildflowers...

http://diglib.auburn.edu/collections/wildflower/

Butterfly Pea it is!!!!!

I've bookmarked that page for future reference. Thanks cuffs!

[Jackalope]

Thanks Elbow

Great trip report!

I wanted to add that your brown water snake was actually a cooperhead.

It sounds like we were in about the same place but this guy wasn't a copperhead - he lacked that classic "pit viper" triangle wedge shaped head. This snake had a small head that his body just sorta tapered into. I've seen a couple other of these this year, one on trail 206 in a big mud puddle and another hanging out at Parker falls and they do look just like copperheads to me, except for their heads.

I forgot to mention though on the way out Sunday we did see a copperhead just after crossing  the river at the "official 209 crossing". He was beside the trail and started leaving quickly but ran up against a big rock and turned, coiled and started acting real aggressive. We were in pretty tight quarters with him so I didn't stop to take a picture. I was anxious to leave him to his business and  get back to mine.

[jaybird]

Actually, the flower could be one of two -- it's hard to tell from your picture.  The common butterfly pea (Clitoria mariana) has no spur on the back of the petals and features a vine that grows 1-4 feet long, while the spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum) has spurs on the back of the petals and a vine that grows 3-4 feet long.  Both are common throughout Alabama.

Do you recall spurs?

[Jackalope]

Actually, the flower could be one of two -- it's hard to tell from your picture.  The common butterfly pea (Clitoria mariana) has no spur on the back of the petals and features a vine that grows 1-4 feet long, while the spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum) has spurs on the back of the petals and a vine that grows 3-4 feet long.  Both are common throughout Alabama.

Do you recall spurs?

I don't recall spurs. I gave it a good look over and think I would have noted spurs if present but I can't be sure.

[Uncle Wayne]

this guy wasn't a copperhead - he lacked that classic "pit viper" triangle wedge shaped head. This snake had a small head that his body just sorta tapered into.

The snake is a Northern Water snake I believe.  They are a common snake in the Bankhead and often mistaken for a copperhead. They have a very similar color pattern as a copperhead but, as you noted, lack the pit viper head feature.  The Northern water snake will flatten it's head when angry or threatened.  Another identifying trait of a copperhead would be a blunt tail.  While I've never bothered to check it out for myself, my old scoutmaster always said all nonpoisonous snakes have a sharp tail, our poisonous snakes have a blunt tail.  The copperheads I've seen in Bankhead have a blunt tail and a somewhat triangle shaped head.

http://www.herpsofnc.org/...nakes/Nersip/Ner_sip.html

I agree with Cuffs on the flower.  Butterfly pea.  I enjoyed your report and am glad you got to enjoy Sipsey in July.  That's not always possible.

[Jackalope]

The snake is a Northern Water snake . . . .      Another identifying trait of a copperhead would be a blunt tail.  While I've never bothered to check it out for myself . . . .     am glad you got to enjoy Sipsey in July.  That's not always possible.

Thanks Uncle Wayne - never knew what those snakes were actually were called.

I've never bothered to check out their tails either as I can't seem to get past the other end. I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake last year. I planted my foot about one stride away (the next step would have been right on top of him) and he started moving and rattling. I jumped about three feet the other direction. I stood there and studied him for a little bit but I swear I don't remember even noticing his tail.

It was very pleasant and there were very few other folks out there to enjoy it. I do remember a day hike in July two years ago that was just miserable. It was on 201/209/202 and I ran out of water before I crossed the river the second time. By the time I got back to the trail head, the thermometer in my car had it at 97 and that was around 6:30. I almost became an avid mall hiker after that trip.