Trying to help an 80 year old man get to the Big Tree.

[montysano]

Hi all,

My father-in-law, a wonderful man, really wants to make one more trip to the Big Tree.  He's 80 years old, has back problems, but otherwise is in good health.  But no way is he going to make the 12 mile round trip, or the shorter White Oak option.

I'm thinking horses.  Does anyone know of anyone who offers trail rides for a fee?  Any other ideas?

I've told him "I'll take you to places that are prettier than the Big Tree, and easier to get to", but it does no good.  It has to be the Big Tree   

[wirerat123]

I'm not even sure you are allowed to take horses on any of those trails.  What I will suggest is that someone simply push him in a wheel chair, I know it doesn't sound easy to do or anything, but he can walk when he wants, he can sit and be pushed along as he needs.

2 people should have few issues getting him back there with some determination, patience, and work, you should be able to get him back there safely.

There are some dead falls along the way that will be an issue with the wheel chair, a team of two should be able to manage getting the chair and him over, under, or around them.

That's all I got.  I'd try it.

[weathermansam]

Maybe take the horse down bunyan hill rd to where buck rough runs into it?  It's a steep climb down, but that pretty much kills the distance problem.  You'd have to leave the horses at that intersection technically.  Or I guess you could cheat and follow the draw down east bee to where you're reasonably close to the falls and hitch the horses somewhere near there.  that'd eliminate part of the steep climb down at least. 

[Mountain Dog]

I've had back problems off and on.  I would not want to try riding a horse when the back is acting up.  Bunyan Hill to the side trail off Buck Rough is about the easiest walking you can do.  But, he might need help with the climb down the side trail to overlook the tree although it isn't really bad.  The decent into the canyon could be undoable for him but he would at least see the tree.   If he could walk up Bee Branch to the tree then I think he could decend into the canyon. 

[wirerat123]

I hear rumor/legend of a young man who managed to fashion a chair to the frame of an external frame backpack, added a harness to keep her planted firmly in and packed his grandmother in to the Walls of Jericho one last time before she passed.

Where there is a will there is a way.  And if that is a dying wish of his well then I think it can be managed.  Plenty of water and food, a wheel chair, a walker, some climbing gear in case needed and a couple of determined individuals.

With the right support you can get him down there.  Hell, I would volunteer my support to grant that wish for him, but I'd need help getting doen there right now myself.  Complete degeneration of the disc between my lowest vertebrea and my pelvis has left me unable to walk without extreme pain.  Hell it hurts bad enough to sit.

If I can get fixed up before you attempt this trip, I will by all means help however I can.

[weathermansam]

The blow downs in east bee make trying to take a wheelchair up it near close to impossible with the slope and what not.  Although, if you can get to the intersection of east and west, cross the stream and hug the ridge line on the northern side of east bee it's much easier and more level.  I'd be willing to help to so long as it's a weekend. 

[kimism72]

In all seriousness, what about a rickshaw? If you really want to make it happen, you could easily build one...

[weathermansam]

Maybe it's a long shot, but you inquire with these folks:

K C Ranch & Stables,Trail Ride and Horse Camp
Double Springs, AL
(205) 489-5474 Bankhead Nat Forest
Offers camping with full hook ups, shower house, covered stalls, with 1500 acres of wooded trails, with creek crossings,and rolling hills.

[montysano]

Thanks for all the replies, folks.  This is my good faith effort to find a way to pull this off, but honestly, I don't see it happening.  Because of his bad back, I doubt that he could sit on a horse for very long, and I think that horseback is our only real option.

[weathermansam]

how about.....canoe [or float] down to the junction of bee branch and the sipsey river?  you could take out at the picnic grounds....have someone else man a paddle so he could sit in the center. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Sam has a decent idea, assuming you can get a good flow day, and he is still spry enough to get out of a canoe if a log is in the way. I suppose you could scout the route the day before to help avoid obstacles. It may be the gentlest option, again, assuming the water levels are appropriate. The walk in from the river isn't all that bad, so if you can get him that far sitting down, you might be able to pull it off.

A takeout at the picnic area, again might want to scout for obstacles, would allow a minimum of hiking on his part.

Horses will only get you so far due to the access restrictions, and he'll still have to make the descent if he wants to get up close. Attacking from below seems a better option.

[montysano]

how about.....canoe [or float] down to the junction of bee branch and the sipsey river?  you could take out at the picnic grounds....have someone else man a paddle so he could sit in the center. 

Sam, this is a great idea.  I hadn't even thought of going by water.  Yes, we'd have to ensure that there was a decent water level.  But my father-in-law is in decent shape; he's not decrepit, just old. 

Maybe, September-ish, if we have some rain, we might give it a shot.

[weathermansam]

Sam, this is a great idea.  I hadn't even thought of going by water.  Yes, we'd have to ensure that there was a decent water level.  But my father-in-law is in decent shape; he's not decrepit, just old.  

Maybe, September-ish, if we have some rain, we might give it a shot.

    Awesome!    There's quite a nice sandbank next to the junction of bee branch and Sipsey to dock at as well!  

I think the rapids area at eye of the needle is probably the only thing that'd end up giving you fits, but it's fairly easy enough to take out there, either on the island in the center or toward the right away from that narrow chute area.  Memory is failing me a bit about the bank's terrain on the left side of the river there up to the rapids. 

[JustADude]

Or how about this. Come down in a canoe from  the Thompson Creek trailhead and go back the same way. I think going all the way down to the picnic area would be qiute a bit of trouble. However, even though I have canoed a lot, I have not canoed that section of the creek/river, so some folks here know a lot more about it than I do. Just a suggestion.

[rhc124]

I think a trip in a canoe is doable as long as the water is high enough. You will need some rain right before the trip. You would have to take out at the picnic area. No way of making it back up river in a canoe.

As to going to see the Big Tree from the sipsey, like Sam said, the trail from the sipsey (mostly east Bee Branch if I remember right) is littered with fallen trees, many of which are very large. Made the trip last June 09 and I have to say that I never have seen a sipsey trail in worse shape.  Unless things have been cleaned up since then or the trail has been rerouted, I think it would be a very difficult trip for an 80 year old man to make.

(Corrected west to east Bee Branch)

[weathermansam]

March was the last time I was at the big tree, and it thankfully wasn't muddy for a change.  I still think you should try ridge hugging the north side of east bee instead of the established trail. 

[Uncle Wayne]

Sam, this is a great idea.  I hadn't even thought of going by water.  Yes, we'd have to ensure that there was a decent water level.  But my father-in-law is in decent shape; he's not decrepit, just old. 

Maybe, September-ish, if we have some rain, we might give it a shot.

This is a great idea and the most scenic way to see the Sipsey.  But, I've never seen the water level high enough in September to float from Thompson to the picnic grounds.   You more than likely have a few opportunities in the spring after a 3 or 4 inch rain but not after a long dry summer.  The water level runs off very quickly.

But just in case, here's what I use to gauge the water level for floating the Sipsey in a canoe.  It would be different for kayaks.  It's much more accurate than the flow discharge rate found on the USFS website.  At the Sipsey River Recreation area, on the eastern Cranal road concrete bridge support there are 4 aluminum numbers attached near stream bed level.  You can see them from the bridge to the lower parking area. 

If the water level is 1 or lower, you can make it to the HWY 33 takeout but will have to drag the canoe sometimes.

If the water level is between 1 and 2, a trip to the HWY 33 takeout is an enjoyable float trip. If the water is closer to 2 than 1, a put in at Borden Creek, the curved bridge, is an enjoyable float with minimal dragging.

If the water level is between 2 and 3, the trip from the curved bridge is very good with no dragging.

If the water level is between 3 and 4, a float trip from Thompson or Hubbard is doable but with several low areas.  It is still an enjoyable float however with minimal dragging if closer to 4 than 3.  Be prepared for lots of  dragging if closer to 3.

Anything over 4 is when I put in at Thompson and enjoy the float with very minimal problems with water levels.  About the only problem will be log jams, of which there will be several.  This condition rarely happens after April.  Usually March through April will be your best bet for a float trip from Thompson.  That being said, I have done the trip on the 4th of July but didn't float very much at all.

If you can catch the water level above 4, you can make a two day float out of it.  I've put in at Thompson, camped at Fall Creek falls and floated the next day to HWY 33 without any problems other than logjams.

The disadvantage to most of you with this system of checking water levels is you have to be close enough to check it before planning a trip.  Fortunately, I am.  If I can assist in any way, I'll be glad to do so. 

[weathermansam]

This is a great idea and the most scenic way to see the Sipsey.  But, I've never seen the water level high enough in September to float from Thompson to the picnic grounds.   You more than likely have a few opportunities in the spring after a 3 or 4 inch rain but not after a long dry summer.  The water level runs off very quickly.

But just in case, here's what I use to gauge the water level for floating the Sipsey in a canoe.  It would be different for kayaks.  It's much more accurate than the flow discharge rate found on the USFS website.  At the Sipsey River Recreation area, on the eastern Cranal road concrete bridge support there are 4 aluminum numbers attached near stream bed level.  You can see them from the bridge to the lower parking area. 

When I went to Fall Creek Falls on June 26th, the USGS site had a reading right around 4ft with a discharge around 150cu f/s, which translated to about waist deep water up to the intersection of borden creek[which was barely knee deep when I crossed], but the water was about chest deep in the river around fall creek falls, several people swimming in it.  Granted it's probably skewed from the recent rain, but it wasn't too terrible.  I do think they need to check that gauge, though, I think it's being affected by sediment buildup a bit. 

[Mountain Dog]

 ---But my father-in-law is in decent shape; he's not decrepit, just old--

What does your father-in-law say?  If he is not decrepit then why not make it in two days.  My dad was mowing his and my brother's yard when he was 86.  I drink coffee with several 80+ guys that I would not say are in shape but each could probably do it all in one long day if they did not have to carry much.  I've met more than one 80 year old man on the AT, and a few women out on day hikes.  If he is cripple then that is one thing, but do not treat him as a cripple just because he is old. 

[SmokeDiver]

You may consider bringing a stair chair along. With two people the chair is a stable platform designed for moving people comfortably over obstacles and they fold up enough to make them carryable. Here's an example of one Stair Chair
Rather than buy one you may be able to hit up a local EMS agency, rescue squad or medical supply to borrow or rent one.