Sipsey/Bankhead Tornado Status (All Sipsey Trails and FS 208 closed as of 4/29)

[weathermansam]

How about the big tree and the trails going to it. I have been going to that tree now on fifty years and would hate for anything to happen to it.

That's 204A, so it's technically closed.  209, the Sipsey River Trail is open, though.  Unless they've some someone camping out there to tell you to go away I doubt they'd know the difference, though.  You'd either have to approach it from the Randolph trailhead or the Picnic Area...a pretty long day hike. 

[squidbilly]

Have not seen it myself, but I have heard the Big Tree is O.K.

[squidbilly]

I was with Wildsouth yesterday, helping with the trail assessment of 209/204. We hiked 209 from the picnic area to 201. Another crew hiked 204. We encountered at least 15 trail blockages ranging from stepovers to massive tangles of downed trees. The worst damage was in the Buck Rough area.

[Charlie]

Thanks for the update

[Mudslide]

I was with Wildsouth yesterday, helping with the trail assessment of 209/204. We hiked 209 from the picnic area to 201. Another crew hiked 204. We encountered at least 15 trail blockages ranging from stepovers to massive tangles of downed trees. The worst damage was in the Buck Rough area.

Wow now it really earns its name...Buck Rough. I bet its tick galore out there right now. I need to volunteer for some clean up myself.

[Eliteoomph]

My last hike in the sipsey was the week in between the 2 tornadoes.  At this time the downed trees along 209 from 202 and 204a up to the big tree were already very bad.  I am planning a trip there in the next few weeks...  I hear that 202 and 201 is cleaned up.... I am hoping by then they will at least have 209 cleaned up and 204a will be all that I really have to worry about...

[squidbilly]

My last hike in the sipsey was the week in between the 2 tornadoes.  At this time the downed trees along 209 from 202 and 204a up to the big tree were already very bad.  I am planning a trip there in the next few weeks...  I hear that 202 and 201 is cleaned up.... I am hoping by then they will at least have 209 cleaned up and 204a will be all that I really have to worry about...

Wildsouth Volunteer Trailday: June 18   

[Joshua Szulecki]

While the NFS link at the top of the thread still lists some closures, overall most trails in Sipsey are apparently reopened, so I'm de-stickifying the thread. I didn't see too much lingering damage when I was there this weekend, but hiking was limited due to the rain.