Hello. I'm new and have questions.

[Becka]

Hello everyone,
My name is Becka. I am a newbie to this board and a newbie to hiking. My friends and I are seasoned campers but we have never taken long hikes. I have been reading and researching as much as I can and this board has the best info I have found so far. I moved to the country in North Jefferson county from Bham. 8 years ago. Since then I have enjoied learning about primitive camping here on my own property as it is a valley with water and a moutian with old trails my Great Grandparents made many years ago.  In other words, haha, I don't know much about real hiking.
I'm planning a one night trip to Sipsey Wilderness for this coming Fall for all of us. So far I have picked the loop of trails 202 to 209 to 201. I've research alot but really need to get hints from experenced hikers. I plan on having a map for everyone and quite frankly can't find the map I want and I've heard the rangers maps are not really all that great. I don't mind paying for one, but don't know which to buy. I've read many discriptions of this trail but still want to be sure about as much as I can before taking my friends somewhere I have never been myself.
Is there anyone here that would be kind enough to give me advice from this point? Anything from what to take to where not to venture. Thanks ya'll. Becka.

[highlife]

this dude has some good sipsey maps

http://www.briartech.com/msmap.htm

[Becka]

Thanks. 
I'm going to check it out now.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I *strongly* recommend looking at the Briartech maps, and buying a copy of the Cart-o-Craft map if you can find one. A Google search *should* provide you with a vendor.

If you don't own a GPS, study that map regularly for a few days before the trip. Actually, I recommend that even if you do own a GPS. Bring a compass, because things are often poorly marked in Bankhead, and knowing which direction you are facing can be essential. Most importantly, have fun!

[Uncle Wayne]

Alabama Outdoors in B'ham had some of the original Sipsey Wilderness / Bankhead Forest Carto-Craft maps a few months ago. But here's a link to a website that has them listed.

http://kfmaps.com/detail.aspx?ID=29

[JustADude]

Well Becka, I am hesitant to start since I could say so much. First off let me say that I am mostly a day hiker, but have hiked many (one third?) of the official trails in the Sipsey. If I named my favorite 10 places in Bankhhead/Sipsey, I don't think you will see any of them hiking the route you describe.

I like Caney Creek falls, Falls Creek Falls, Turkey Foot Creek (inckuding the falls by that name), Eye of the Needle, Ship Rock, Riddle Creek, unofficial trail from White Oak Hollow over to Bee Branch, Parker Falls, Trail 210, the Big Tree and Soagahogdee Falls.

If you take the route you describe you are going to be walking beside a stream for much of the time and walking through trees much of the remainder of the time. But let me add that I have not hiked ALL of the route you describe, but enough of it to cause me to think I know what the rest looks like.

I don't claim to know for 100% sure, but it looks like you are picking a boring route. All JustMyOpinion of course.

[Pully]

Becka, welcome to AlaTrails. If you do the 202/209/201 route, there are sites to see on the way. First, on the way along 202 to Sipsey, you'll pass Johnson Cemetery. It's a quick stop to check it out. Next you'll make the descend to Sipsey. The first drainage on the left is Feather Hawk Falls and on the right is the FT 202 Falls. The latter will probably be flowing a little and Feather Hawk should be flowing pretty good. Then you'll cross Sipsey and head upstream on 209 passing by Buck Rough, Bee Branch drainage, Salt Peter Furnace, and Ship Rock/Eye of the Needle. I can't say where exactly you get on 201. There isn't much to see once you get on 201 except a side trip to Rippley Cabin but you have to know where you're going.

I also agree with JustADude. 201 and 202 are my least favorite trails. But if you're looking for an easy and nice backpacking route, you've picked the right one.

[Becka]

Thank you all for the advice. I'm re-thinking my trail choices now. I'm glad I ask about this. I need a easy to moderate hike for the group. I would love suggestion of where we can have the best time. We are planning to camp overnight.

[Pathfinder]

Becka, if your group is mostly first time back packers you'd be wise to try simple and easy.  I would recommend parking at the Recreation Area and taking 200 to Borden Creek and fording the creek there onto 209 and taking the easy trail upstream to the Falls on Fall Creek.  It is fairly easy to get up above the falls where there are plenty of nice areas for camping. 

Another very easy trip would be to park at the Thompson Trailhead and take 206 south to where the trail forks and then go left up White Oak Hollow.  There are plenty of nice campsites up that way. 

My view is that it is important to not challenge your group too much the first time out.  If things go well you can go for a longer more difficult trip later.  Both of these short trips would be enough to allow for a good time in the woods without being discouraging to a backpacking tenderfoot. 

I wish you all the best.  Let us know how things turn out.

Bill

[Uncle Wayne]

Thank you all for the advice. I'm re-thinking my trail choices now. I'm glad I ask about this. I need a easy to moderate hike for the group. I would love suggestion of where we can have the best time. We are planning to camp overnight.

I don't think you can pick a "bad" trail in Sipsey, it just depends on what you want to see and how many people you want to see while doing it.  The original loop you described I thought was an excellent choice for a beginner.  As Pully noted, along trail 202 you'll past through the middle of one of the oldest cemeteries in the state of Alabama.  Some of my ancestors were buried there before there was a state of Alabama!  The first postmaster of the Kinlock Post Office is buried there.  Look for the grave marker of John Wilson Henry Hood.  You can see one of his old home places just a little further down the trail past the cemetery.  This is one of two home-places he lost because he wouldn't pay his taxes. 

Just before you drop off to Sipsey is another old home place with the rusty cab of an old truck I believe.  You can't miss this one, there's a giant white oak right in the way.   During wetter times there will be a nice waterfall to your right as you descend into the Sipsey flood plain.  I don't usually cross Sipsey to hit Trail 209 but it is easier walking to do so.  I usually stay on the left side of the river going upstream.  Besides the falls Pully mentioned, one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Bankhead during wetter times is only a couple 100 yards or so to the left.  It's named after some more of my ancestors, White Creek falls and it is truly a beautiful yet rugged canyon.  Worth the hike to explore however.  Follow the first major drainage flowing into Sipsey I believe.

As you continue upstream notice how the vegetation changes.  You walk through Poplar, Oak and and Beech with a few hemlocks mixed in but soon the Hemlocks take over and the "trail" such as it is, improves greatly under the cover of the hemlocks.  Trail 209 will cross Sipsey and turn up the mountain after a half mile or so and follow a drainage which has a nice cascading falls on it during wet weather.  Be careful as it is usually slick and the footing is not secure.  You'll hit Trail 201 on top of the mountain.

The more scenic way back to the trail head is to continue upstream.  If you do so, take time to sit and enjoy the rapids on Sipsey.  Climb out on the rocks just upstream from the rapids and find the square hole cut into one of the boulders.  It is facing up and the boulder is slanted slightly upstream. There once was a grist mill straddling this rapid and this is where one of the support beams sat.  Along the bank of the other side,  submerged under water in the sand,  is a huge timber with notches  cut into the side facing up.  This supported more of the grist mill foundation.  Wish we had a picture of it but none exist as far as anyone knows.  It's worth checking out especially since water level will be low now.

Continuing upstream the trail becomes much more pronounced past the rapids.  This is a beautiful section of blue/green water in Sipsey.  This was once a prized fishing spot.  When I was a little boy, bass, bluegill, ells and a catfish sometime were pulled from the river here.  We usually cooked them at camp just across Sipsey near the huge rock boulder established campsite.

Before the wild hogs invaded the area, the flood plain along the  intersection of the Thompson and Hubbard creeks supported one of the largest stands of Jack in the pulpit in the state of Alabama.  Dr. Joab Thomas and a older lady from Mobile, forgot her name, co-authored a Wildflower book and a picture of the hundreds of Jack in the pulpits was included from this spot.  But alas, the hogs have destroyed this colony.

Continuing along the trail you'll slowly turn uphill.  Just as you do look to your left and you'll see a small bluff shelter just large enough to shelter you from a rainstorm and allow enough room to cook a meal in the dry.  It overlooks the King Cove area of Sipsey.   An interesting bluff formation extends to the left of the shelter but the trail back to the trail head will be on the right.  You'll start to gain some of the elevation back here and during May this is one of the prettiest trails in the forest.  The Mountain Laurel is dominant along this steep section of the trail and we make it a point to hike it during the middle of May just to enjoy the beauty.

After you reach the top, the intersection with trail 209 and 201 appears. The Rippley cabin, which is not a cabin but a cement block building,  Pully mentioned is not far from here but you have to know where to look to find it.  Listen for the old weathervane to creak if the wind is blowing.  There are several home places along trail 201 back to the trail head if you watch closely.  One identifying feature of an old home place is buttercups and bear grass.  You'll see 3 maybe 4 old homesites between here and Cranal road.   The trail follows an old road bed that connected Cranal road to Sipsey River.  Loggers used in the early 30's to clear cut the bottoms along Sipsey and King's Cove all the way back to Kinlock Falls.

So is it the prettiest section is Sipsey?  No it's not.  Is it worth the trouble for what you get in return? Depends on what you're going hiking / camping for.  This loop won't be overrun like may of the others mentioned.  Trail 201 will probably be the only one you'll encounter other hikers and you'll be on your way out then.  It has several isolated camping places and affords the solitude I try to find in Sipsey.  It's not the most popular loop but it has lots to offer if you know what to look for.

Enjoy your trip.  Any advice given on this thread will help you do so.  Let us know how it goes.

[Becka]

Thanks so much for the great discription of the trip.  May I print it? I'll put it into my little notebook.
I'm doing a few things now to try and make the trip nice and comfortable. We are a group of primitve campers. Other than a few ache and pains we are all in decent health and fairly good shape. However, we're not in perfect hiking shape. So I did consider that when picking the trial. It said easy to moderate, so I looked at it first.  We all have most of the gear needed, and I'm researching the rest. I am collecting information, maps, description and whatever else I think may be important. Then I'm going to break it all down into an information book. It will be small and easy to carry in my bag. I just hope I can validate the infomation I use. I'm going to buy a good map. I followed the links above and will probably buy from one of them.

I thank you all, and I'm open to any more advice you may have.

[JustADude]

I can tell you what things are important to me when I go to Bankhead.

First is always water. Second is a compass. After a recent episode of getting slightly lost, I decided that there needs to be at least two compasses in the group in case one is damaged or lost. Since I recently lost my hiking stick I am sure I can lose a compass. Don't trust a GPS to replace a compass.

Third is a good map. I use a Carto map. There is another link in this folder about Carto maps. Fourth is food. Fifth is a first aid kit. A trick that I learned a while back is to put a few wraps of duck tape around a water bottle. A small piece of duck tape is a good cover for an area of skin that is being irratated/rubbed by loose shoes or backpack before it becomes a blister. In case of twisted ankle if you don't have an ace bandage duck tape will do the trick. Aslo remember that if it gets dark, a compass and map will be useless unless you have some kind of light.

Do NOT wear new shoes or boots that you have never worn before. If they are not comfortable or don't fit well, a big hike is the wrong time/place to find out.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Becka]

Thanks JustADude
I have most of what you mentioned. I was making a first aid kit today. I do have a a couple of more questions though. For anyone who knows. I want a really good insulated water bottle or canteen. I plan on taking a few frozen bottles. But need something that keeps water cool for a long time.  I would be happy with 5 hours. Is there one like that or am I dreaming?  Also, what is the favorite and most waterproof tarp for the money?

[Nalgene Ninja]

What size tarp and for what purpose (dining/cooking fly, sleeping on ground, over a hammock)?

Lota of ticks and mosquitos in Sipsey so I wouldn't reccomend just sleeping under a tarp there.
But Campmor sells a few very nice Ultralight tarps. Abit spendy though.
http://www.campmor.com/ou...door/gear/Product___20069

[weathermansam]

How is the Sipsey flowing right now?  Would it even be advisable to try and cross it (or maybe near the rapids at eye of the needle)?  It's been since May since I've been out there, but with all this rain we've had lately...

[weathermansam]

Favorite link for Sipsey water data.... http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=02450250

Not sure how often that website gets tossed around on here.  I find it incredibly useful when planning trips. 

Here's the main page:  http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/

[Becka]

What size tarp and for what purpose?

I need one to attached to tress.  Maybe over a hammock. I haven't decided yet if I'm taking a hammock or a small tent. I'm not a big person but I am strong. However the reality is what it is, and I'm to small to carry what most would be able to. I have a nylon hammock that weighs 9 oz. and compacts into a bag the size of a softball. I felt that carrying that with hammock straps and my sleeping bag would be easier than a tent. Which brings to to a question. I've heard some place have rules about hanging things on trees. If I don't damage the tree is it cool in Sipset to use a hammock?

Someone mentioned the ticks. I read that somewhere about the trail on the river. 209. Which is in the loop I want to hike. But I'm not much for Alabamas end of summer heat anyway. I'm planning to wait until after the first frost in late Fall to go. My son, his wife and I may go before then for a day hike on the first trail of that loop just to get familar with it. I wish they gave tours for my first time.

I've been reading on this site http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/html/shelter.html and its got some great ideas for using tarps. And there is a lot more infor too. Its a cool site and I thought some of you might like it.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Ticks aren't as affected by frost as other insects. I had them on me during a bping trip to Sipsey back in January.

No regulations in Sipsey that are about hammocking that I'm aware of.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've gotten ticks in winter in Sipsey. They slack off a bit if it is really cold out, but unless it is REALLY cold out I would consider them permanent risks in Sipsey. The good news is the disease risk is much lower than in New England.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've gotten ticks in winter in Sipsey. They slack off a bit if it is really cold out, but unless it is REALLY cold out I would consider them permanent risks in Sipsey. The good news is the disease risk is much lower than in New England.

I've never heard of a no-hammocks provision, I've seen them in use at Borden, and I'm guessing the rangers visit there often enough that they would have noticed and said something if there was such a provision.