03/12/10-03/14/10 Sipsey Camping Trip

[weathermansam]

Took a group of friends, most of whom have never seen Sipsey before for a quick camp at Mize Mill Falls this past Friday night.  We visited Kinlock Falls and the shelter Saturday morning before heading to the Thompson Creek trailhead to embark on the White Oak Hollow to Big Tree and out by TR 209/Eye of the Needle loop.  With the rains the waterfalls were going great, including the very tall waterfall in west bee after the rope descent which I hadn't had the pleasure of visiting yet.  Only thing we missed during the trip was a side venture to Saltpeter Falls/Cave, but the group was tired and so we skipped it.  

Here's the photos from our trek, and there's a lot:  http://www.weathermansam..../031210camping/index.html


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/wfPFAywFEO0&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/wfPFAywFEO0&rel=0</a>


I wasn't happy to see this.  At far right is the mortar stone at Ship Rock. 

[luke724]

Good pics Sam, looks like you guys had fun. I need to get out to the Sipsey again and do a couple days of exploring.

[Uncle Wayne]

Very good photos, thanks.  Bummer about the fire ring at the mortar.  Wonder is they even noticed?

The very first time I went to Kinlock Shelter was in the late 1950's, just before the UA and the Smithsonian removed the artifacts.  In the photo numbered 100_0669 (http://www.weathermansam..../031210camping/_0669.html) to the bottom right of the formation was a sunburst, one of the best I've ever seen.  Vandals destroyed it by the next time I was out there in the 1970's.

In the late 1980's I carried my scout troop out there and one of the UA Natural History professors who took part in the 1950 Smithsonian excavation had a class out there on a field trip.  He was telling them about the excavation and the items they found.  He mentioned a couple of things that stand out in my mind to this day.  The cross (http://www.weathermansam....camping/petroglyphs3.html) that is carved in the boulder is thought to have been done by some of DeSoto's men as they returned from their exploration of the South after DeSoto died.  He said similar crosses had been found carved in trees and other shelters where it was a known fact that DeSoto camped.

The other interesting fact was on the face of the huge boulder just outside of the shelter, there is the outline of the Confederate battle flag beat into the face of the boulder.  I have tried to photograph it from all angles and lighting but I can't see it no matter what I've tried.  He said it was plainly visible in the 1950's. 

[jokrswylde]

We must have been a day behind you guys. We did the same loop, thanks for the awesome pictures....one thing I didn't bring was a camera. Looks like yall had a blast.

[weathermansam]

We must have been a day behind you guys. We did the same loop, thanks for the awesome pictures....one thing I didn't bring was a camera. Looks like yall had a blast.

We got off the trail at Thompson Creek trailhead around noon, if I had to guess.  We'd originally planned an extra day out there, but everyone had enough of the weather.  It was definitely a lot of fun.  I haven't had time to write a proper trip report just yet, though. 

[Uncle Wayne]

I wasn't happy to see this.  At far right is the mortar stone at Ship Rock.  

Then this should make you happy.  My daughter and I fixed it today.

[Joshua Szulecki]

You know, the fire rings are really getting ridiculous in Sipsey. I found one feet from a very prime wildflower location the other day. I've also yet to find one not full of garbage.