Waterfalls

[squidbilly]

Did anyone get out to see the waterfalls after the rain this past weekend? Here are a few pics of Parker Branch.

[squidbilly]

Parker pics:

[DavidR]

Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing bro. I was underground during the rain.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Awesome! I stayed in this past weekend, now I'm regretting it. Maybe I'll drive down and hit Caney Creek or something next weekend, weather permitting.

[Uncle Wayne]

Very nice, you caught Parker just right. Thanks for sharing your photos.

[WolfVanZandt]

If the forecasts hold, it looks like this weekend might be prime time for waterfalls - we have these flash flood warnings for tomorrow and then it's supposed to clear up. It's supposed to be cool, but not bitterly cold. I just hope there's going to be room at Brushy Lake when I get there.

[bramblypines]

Holmes Chapel Falls Sunday

[Eliteoomph]

planning on a visit to these falls pretty soon.  I and pretty sure I know where they are but I was wondering... is there a map that shows the location of all the waterfalls in the sipsey?  I found a list of coordinates somewhere before and put them in my GPS so I think I am good but I was just wondering if there was anything else...

[weathermansam]

planning on a visit to these falls pretty soon.  I and pretty sure I know where they are but I was wondering... is there a map that shows the location of all the waterfalls in the sipsey?  I found a list of coordinates somewhere before and put them in my GPS so I think I am good but I was just wondering if there was anything else...

I camped in Sipsey this past weekend, and flow is low.  Both falls at East Bee were completely dry, though White Creek where I camped did have some water coming off of it.  There really isn't a comprehensive map of Sipsey Waterfalls, as many of them crop up after a good rain or a long winter/spring's worth of precip and they die out in the summer/fall.  Between this message board, the carto-craft map, and the briartech map you should be good for seeing the big ones.  Note that Holmes Chapel Falls isn't in the Sipsey Wilderness, however. 

[Eliteoomph]

That stinks...  I was planning on taking my bro in law up there this weekend to show him east bee branch... but would hate to make that trek if it is dry...  I have been up there since the 1st tornado and there is a lot of trees to climb over...

How did the Sipsey River look?  I was also planning on visiting parker falls quillan, riddle, school house and Auburn falls...  Any idea which ones would be my best bet for seeing water or would they all be dry?

[Eliteoomph]

o and what is the carto craft map and the briartech map?

[weathermansam]

That stinks...  I was planning on taking my bro in law up there this weekend to show him east bee branch... but would hate to make that trek if it is dry...  I have been up there since the 1st tornado and there is a lot of trees to climb over...

How did the Sipsey River look?  I was also planning on visiting parker falls quillan, riddle, school house and Auburn falls...  Any idea which ones would be my best bet for seeing water or would they all be dry?

The second tornado was more in line with Bee Branch than the first, looking at the track data, so it's possibly worse than when you've seen it.  I'll post photos tonight, or here's the big gallery itself http://www.weathermansam..../061111camping/index.html  .  There are photos of the Sipsey on page 3, and page 4 starts our trek up through bee branch.  Briartech map:  http://www.briartech.com/sipseyonepagea.pdf 
The Carto-Craft map can be found at the warrior trading post or online.  I prefer the older laminated edition to the new water resistant one that really wasn't very water resistant.  The older one is larger and easier to see the contours and features as well. 

[bramblypines]

The briartech map really needs to be printed at least 11X17 it is worth it
to go to somewhere like kinkos to have it printed. Or print the 16 page version.
Good for planning but you need a better detailed topo for hiking.
I believe there are places on line to get the USCGS topo maps for free.
Check topoquest.com for the Bee Branch Al map

[Eliteoomph]

Here is a video of me hiking bee branch.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-z0_9wpul2k&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-z0_9wpul2k&rel=0</a>

And a pic of the big tree

Waterfalls

Also could u send me the link of the tornadoes paths?

Ah ok I use backcountry navigator in conjunction with my Verizon Thunderbolt.  Works Great!  And then I have a sipsey wilderness topo print off as a backup...

Also, still curious as to your opinion on the waterflow of waterfalls at parker or Quillan...  Would hate to hike all that way and it be completely dry...  Are these creeks not fed by springs?

[weathermansam]

Also could u send me the link of the tornadoes paths?

Ah ok I use backcountry navigator in conjunction with my Verizon Thunderbolt.  Works Great!  And then I have a sipsey wilderness topo print off as a backup...

Also, still curious as to your opinion on the waterflow of waterfalls at parker or Quillan...  Would hate to hike all that way and it be completely dry...  Are these creeks not fed by springs?

I'll have to search for the 1st tornado event, but the tornado tracks kmz file for Google Earth is here http://www.norman.noaa.go...ak-storm-rotation-tracks/ ,  link toward the bottom of the article. 

Parker should be fine, you do know the shortcut into there off of Kinlock Rd, right?  That saves a lot of time.  Quillan will probably be low, but if white creek had water there should definitely be water there.  As far as I know FS road 208 is still closed, which is how I've always approached it. 

[Eliteoomph]

Randolph Trailhead and go left into the drainage...  Or head west up the road a few 100 yards and head down that rd route r the 2 ways I have been told

[weathermansam]

Randolph Trailhead and go left into the drainage...  Or head west up the road a few 100 yards and head down that rd route r the 2 ways I have been told

Right before Kinlock road loses pavement there's a a pull off on the right.  Follow the footpath through the pine jungle and it's about a 30 minute or so hike to the falls that way.  Much faster than the other. 

[Eliteoomph]

I'll have to remember that for the next time I do a day hike.  I am planning on a weekend trip and visiting the falls in that area but then heading toward 209 and the big tree area and then ending up back over and the randolph TH.  How long if the hike to parker if I just head straight up the drainage from the Randolph TH?

[weathermansam]

I'll have to remember that for the next time I do a day hike.  I am planning on a weekend trip and visiting the falls in that area but then heading toward 209 and the big tree area and then ending up back over and the randolph TH.  How long if the hike to parker if I just head straight up the drainage from the Randolph TH?

I've never gone that exact route.  I used to take randolph to rippey, trail, turn left down the drainage when you reach the fire ring on the left.  You pass a shelter with a rock cairn in it and it puts you out at the shelter above the falls.  Probably twice as long, longer with the brush up now.  Ticks are definitely out in force.  It didn't matter how much repellent I put on.  The shortcut you don't have to put up with the underbrush much. 

[Eliteoomph]

I know what u mean about the ticks...

I wish I could take the shortcut but it would be to much of a pain on the way back...