Winter 2009-2010 Sipsey/Bankhead Hike Facilitation Thread

[weathermansam]

Anybody up for some Sipsey/Bankhead on Saturday, January 16th?

Maybe.  What section would you like to hit up?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Depends on the weather. If it looks like it might be cloudy or otherwise suitable, I'd love to do some hiking around Caney Creek (mostly in the area of the two falls), exclusively for photography, nice and early. If it looks like bright, sunny weather, no clue yet.

[weathermansam]

Depends on the weather. If it looks like it might be cloudy or otherwise suitable, I'd love to do some hiking around Caney Creek (mostly in the area of the two falls), exclusively for photography, nice and early. If it looks like bright, sunny weather, no clue yet.

I've actually never been to the lower falls on Caney.  I might be up for that.

[luke724]

I work every Saturday, but I may be able to get off since it is so slow at the shop. I am interested in seeing the Sipsey and meeting some of you guys on the site.  I have noticed that most group hikes are on Saturday and I will be missing most of those. Are there any more people that have Sun and Mon off?

[jaybird]

I'd love to come, but the 3rd Saturday of every month (the 16th in this case) is the Pinhoti Challenge hike.

[WolfVanZandt]

How's that?

[weathermansam]

I work every Saturday, but I may be able to get off since it is so slow at the shop. I am interested in seeing the Sipsey and meeting some of you guys on the site.  I have noticed that most group hikes are on Saturday and I will be missing most of those. Are there any more people that have Sun and Mon off?

I'm game for Sundays, I work Mondays

[jaybird]

How's that?

The first Saturday was the 2nd, the 2nd Saturday is the 9th, and the 3rd Saturday is the 16th.

5 Saturdays in Jauary this time.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Okay... Who could do Sunday, January 17th?

My plan is to hit Upper Caney Falls REALLY early, unless it is cloudy, and then after some quality photography time, head downstream to the lower falls, and maybe a tad further, depending on the conditions and mood. It looks like cloudy weather now...but who knows.

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AFTER THAT... My plan is to re-do White Creek on the next cloudy weekend, excluding the third weekends of the month, because I know Jay wants in on that. However, I think I want to take the trail in, hit the lower falls, then hike up to the upper falls and Valentine pond, because I don't want to go downhill at the falls with the possibility of ice. However, since this is a cloudy weekend hike, an exact date is going to be impossible. I do these solo all the time, and I *usually* know by Thursday if it is going to work out.

[weathermansam]

Okay... Who could do Sunday, January 17th?

My plan is to hit Upper Caney Falls REALLY early, unless it is cloudy, and then after some quality photography time, head downstream to the lower falls, and maybe a tad further, depending on the conditions and mood. It looks like cloudy weather now...but who knows.

------------

AFTER THAT... My plan is to re-do White Creek on the next cloudy weekend, excluding the third weekends of the month, because I know Jay wants in on that. However, I think I want to take the trail in, hit the lower falls, then hike up to the upper falls and Valentine pond, because I don't want to go downhill at the falls with the possibility of ice. However, since this is a cloudy weekend hike, an exact date is going to be impossible. I do these solo all the time, and I *usually* know by Thursday if it is going to work out.

What I do this weekend depends on whether the wife goes down to visit her mom.  If she does, I'll be hiking with Jay.  If not, I'll be here and might be up for Caney.  We didn't make it to the lower falls.  We hopped creek once because of the terrain and eventually needed to hop back over again, but it was not doable without getting wet.  It was getting late, too [about 3pm], and Luke wanted to make a go at hitting up the big tree via White Oak Hollow based on the map he photographed in that Alabama Canyons book I had in the car.  I didn't have the cart o craft map with me unfortunately.  I'm hoping they made it out before dark or changed their minds.  The map in that book shows to drop down about half way up west bee and then over to east bee?  I would have thought the canyons walls too steep there or something. 

[weathermansam]

totally off topic, but check this out http://www.amazon.com/gp/...sr=8-1&condition=used


.....you can buy this for 20 bucks at the warrior trading post in Wren. 

[jaybird]

Hey, if anybody's off on MLK holiday (1/18), I'm taking a group of friends to the Big Tree via Whiteoak Hollow.  What a great weekend that would be, the 16th -- a 10 mile Pinhoti Challenge Hike over Indian and Flagpole Mountains, the 17th -- a Sipsey waterfalls adventure, and the 18th -- the Big Tree!  Life is a blast. 

[weathermansam]

Hey, if anybody's off on MLK holiday (1/18), I'm taking a group of friends to the Big Tree via Whiteoak Hollow.  What a great weekend that would be, the 16th -- a 10 mile Pinhoti Challenge Hike over Indian and Flagpole Mountains, the 17th -- a Sipsey waterfalls adventure, and the 18th -- the Big Tree!  Life is a blast. 

I might hike the 18th with you just to see white oak hollow...

[Joshua Szulecki]

I can't join you for the big tree. I'd need to do that as an overnight from Nashville, otherwise the ride back would be too dangerous.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Who's interested in Caney Creek on Sunday? I figure on a later start than originally planned due to the likely cloud cover. It is going to rain Saturday, and Sunday morning, so the falls should be awesome.

[weathermansam]

Who's interested in Caney Creek on Sunday? I figure on a later start than originally planned due to the likely cloud cover. It is going to rain Saturday, and Sunday morning, so the falls should be awesome.

I'm actually considering hitting up White Creek/Schoolhouse Falls and camping near the Thompson Trailhead and meeting up with Jay on Monday for that White Oak Hollow Adventure. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hmm... I might be interested in hitting White Creek, since it is going to be cloudy. I can't camp out tomorrow, but I could join you as far as the lower falls on White Creek. What time were you thinking of going, and by what route?

[weathermansam]

Hmm... I might be interested in hitting White Creek, since it is going to be cloudy. I can't camp out tomorrow, but I could join you as far as the lower falls on White Creek. What time were you thinking of going, and by what route?

Going in from the Randolph trailhead.  I hadn't set a time, but I'm flexible.  I'd initially thought about going in around noon, but I can go earlier.  The rain is a big issue for me at the moment.  The tent I have is definitely not waterproof, but camping saves me having to drive back to huntsville, get up Monday and drive back again.

[Joshua Szulecki]

The rain is my big issue too. I think I'm going to sit this weekend out and do something closer to home on Monday. Camera gear and rain don't mix well. Plus, White Creek at high water is something I'm not interested in dealing with, because it destroys the effect of Valentine Pond.

They are saying 60% chance now, mostly before noon, and only 48 degrees. My threshold is either below 50% chance of rain, or above 50, for wet-weather hiking. If I had more confidence it was stop raining by, say, 10AM, I'd be more inclined.

[weathermansam]

The rain is my big issue too. I think I'm going to sit this weekend out and do something closer to home on Monday. Camera gear and rain don't mix well. Plus, White Creek at high water is something I'm not interested in dealing with, because it destroys the effect of Valentine Pond.

They are saying 60% chance now, mostly before noon, and only 48 degrees. My threshold is either below 50% chance of rain, or above 50, for wet-weather hiking. If I had more confidence it was stop raining by, say, 10AM, I'd be more inclined.

I think the significant rain will be out of that area by 8 or 9am, roughly.