Sipsey Camping & Current Conditions

[elbowman]

Hello All,

Spent last weekend camping at Borden Creek Bridge. Not a whole lot of people camping in the woods. But there were a few.
Weather was nice, temps in 80's but it was pretty humid. That made any hiking during the day a complete sweat event.
Bugs were scarce, no ticks this trip! Mosquito's were manageable during the evening. Only downside of the trip was I got into some poison ivy walking around camp barefoot. All over my ankles and feet. Itches like crazy.

Drove over to Caney Falls, passed a church group coming out, but once down there had both the upper and lower falls all to ourselves.
Water still flowing good, and the 3 creek crossings on the way down to the lower falls was no problem. Did not even get my boots wet.

We did have company, a small dog joined us mid-trail and followed us all the way down to the lower falls and back to the car. Once we got to the car, she kept going down the road to a farm house. I guess during the day she plays with the tourists.

Good trip over all, couple of new blow downs on the lower falls trail since I was last there in early spring.

Eric

Pictures here if interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elbowman1/

[Tacky Hiker]

Hi man..long time.


Where was picture 047 taken? So purdy !! I am starting to plan some trips and get my wife some gear.

[jamfan]

Funny about the small dog.  I camped there nearly 2 years ago (first campsite just upriver from Upper, some kids took the Upper spot) and a small dog pretty much hung out with me from arrival until leaving.  I wonder if its the same dog and just tags along on these hikes.

[Joshua Szulecki]

That little dog is too small to be out alone. Does he have tags, at least?

[elbowman]

No tags on the dog. No collar either. At first we thought someone had dumped her in the woods. But she was healthy, although there were ticks under her neck and around the eye. I tried to pull them off but she would only allow petting on the head, nothing more.

As we were walking down the side trail to the lower falls, my buddy and I were discussing the various scenario's that could explain a small dog out there alone. We joked about her master falling and sending her out to find help.

Well it turned out once we were within 100 yards of the falls, she disappears for a while. We later realize we can hear her barking upstream. Barking like something is wrong, come here and check it out. So we walk back upstream and we can see her high on a ridge over looking the water barking like crazy at something behind a fallen tree.

So we think what if someone is up there injured or sick? We call out hello and do you need help, but to no response.
And yet we could also not coax her down from the side of the steep ridge.

My friend Richard turns to me and says, "If we leave and find out later someone was really up there hurt, I'm going to feel really sh*@ty". So he makes his way up to the spot where she is barking and refusing to leave.

Only to find a hog cornered into that fallen tree by that little dog.

We left, and she eventually followed us out back to the parking lot.

Eric

[elbowman]

Hello 9civichatch3,

Picture 47 is the lower Caney Falls. Great 60 minute hike from a car, also good camping at a shelter 50 yards down stream from the picture. Plus the location makes for a feeling that you are in a remote area.

Eric

[Tacky Hiker]

thanks,  im adding that to the list !

[montysano]

We did have company, a small dog joined us mid-trail and followed us all the way down to the lower falls and back to the car. Once we got to the car, she kept going down the road to a farm house. I guess during the day she plays with the tourists.

Huh!  When my daughter and I went back in spring, we saw what was probably the same dog!  I assumed it was with the Wild Alabama group that was in there, but maybe not.