First Hike - any important need-to-know?

[LillianH]

Hello.  My family and I are driving from Atlanta and staying at Dismals Canyon soon and planning a morning hike on trail 201 and along 209 to East Bee Branch.  I guess thats about an 8 mile round trip.  I'm mostly a light dayhiker (meaning 3-5 miles at a time), but I've been wanting to see the Sipsey Wilderness for several years and hate to miss this chance.  A 12 and 14 year old might also be walking with my brother and I. 

So my question is, is there anything important I should know?  Do I need to sign in with a ranger station before we start?  Am I getting in way over my head? Is tornado damage going to cause a lot of problems? I'd appreciate any thoughts that anyone feels motivated to share.

[weathermansam]

You don't have to sign in anywhere that I know of, I never have.  201's an old road bed, so you'll blow through it fast enough.  The bank on the opposite side of the ford at 209 across the Sipsey Fork is steep, but doable.  So long as it doesn't rain between now and when you go, the water level shouldn't be more than knee deep at that crossing.  Both 201 and 209 I think are now clear of trees for the most part...204, which goes up Bee Branch, isn't.  Also, you have to cross bee branch before going up it, which makes for either a muddy event, or you'll have to use one of the two tree bridges there.  The uphill grind coming back out via 201 or 202 I guess is akin to Kennesaw Mtn, steeper in spots, more rugged. 

[Roscoe]

Trail 201 has been cleared of storm damage. Trail 209 is "open" but still has many downed trees. Trail 204 is still on the forrest service closed list.
Trail 200 from the picnic area is a nice out and back hike. it has lots of bluffs and really gives a taste of the Sipsey.

[squidbilly]

I would agree with Roscoe on his suggestion of trail 200. From your description of yourself as a light dayhiker, I think you would enjoy this one better.  201 is clear, 209 is not. Although the worst damage on 209 is east of Bee Branch, don't underestimate the difficulty. If you're used to 3-5 mile hikes, I wouldn't recommend an 8 mile hike under current conditions. ( heat & humidity, storm damage, steep climb out)
  This site has good trail descriptions and maps.

[camel]

With obstacles - it will feel like 12 miles and the current heat makes for suffering - Thompson Creek Trailhead to the Sipsey - past eye of neddle - 4 to 5 miles RT - swim - nice rapids - feel for the Sipsey !

camel

[LillianH]

Thank you everyone!!!!   A Kennesaw Mountain type trail on the way back out when I'm already tired does sound daunting.  I will look into trail 200.

[WolfVanZandt]

Hey, Lillian.



200 is our introductory hike for new campers at the SEHowl. That's the one so many people kept mentioning Lord of the Rings on. I hope you can catch the area after a good rain so that all the waterfalls will be flowing well. Regardless, the river itself and the bluffs are pretty breath-taking.

[LillianH]

Thanks Wolf.

[Mudslide]

I can't really think of much at all at Sipsey as steep. But the trees down do make it tougher. Do you guys know if Parker Falls and the Quillian area were hit by the storms?

[squidbilly]

I haven't been to Parker Branch since the storms, but from the damage to 201 and 209, I would think there is considerable damage  on Parker.

[LillianH]

It's been awhile because I hit the ground running after I got home from my vacation, but I thought I should update yall on my first hike:  First the place is totally beautiful.  I did do (some of) trail 200, which was a great suggestion, but why I thought I could walk the whole thing in my time span and still give 2 young teenagers time to enjoy it, I do not know. In addition, daughter had a blister from the day before; and, when I asked my neice why she was breathing so hard, she said "I might have a little asthma."    We made it about 1/2 way, stopped for a snack and a wade in the creek and then headed back.  I'll allow more time and a cooler season for my next trip.  (Although I will say that the temperature on the trail was quite tolerable even at noon.)

In route from back to our cabin in Dismal Canyon we saw some of the Phil Campbel tornado damage,which was pretty appalling.

That afternoon and the next morning we meandered about Dismal Canyon, which has a much smaller scale than Sipsey but is still a spectacular place.   We even got my elderly mom down in the canyon to see the glow worms that night.

[WolfVanZandt]

I'm glad you got to see the glowworms.

If you make it to the SEHowl next year, I can almost guarantee that it'll be cooler.