Condition of trail 209 between 204 and 202

[jbassplayer]

I'm planning on camping somewhere around big tree in a couple weeks. I was gonna come out down 209 and out 202. Does anyone have any trail condition reports as of sept or even oct?

[jnunniv]

I was out there a couple of days ago.  209 Around 204 is UGLY.  Like crawling over/through down trees ugly.  I didn't venture up 204 and by the looks of it, I don't want to any time soon.  It will take a long time to clear that mess.

However, east of 204, 209 was pretty clear.  I would guess a 30 minute walk from the damage area to 202 was not bad.  I haven't been east of 202 on 209 since the storm.

[jbassplayer]

Well foot. I'm planning on doing an overnighter in a couple weeks. Can u make a recommendation??

[weathermansam]

Keep in mind Bee Branch is not an official trail, and they won't be clearing it at all.  The contractors have untli February 2012 is my understanding to clear the rest of the trails out there.  Given the condition Thompson Creek was still in a month ago, I'm betting they're waiting until we get a few frosts here so the weeds are killed some, they're chest deep in spots near the eye.  And the chiggers right now are beating out the ticks. 

[jbassplayer]

I guess I'll do a cheaha loop. It's just right down the road

[hydrogeo99]

Wow, I'm so glad I came upon this thread.  I have been planning on taking my son out for an overnight trip this weekend...up 202 to 209 to 206 and camping in Whiteoak Hollow, then 208 to 224 and 204 back to 209.  Sounds like 209 is a no go...that blows the whole loop.    Sad thing is we had originally planned the trip for March but something came up and had to postpone to the Fall.

[jbassplayer]

According to the Forrest service, there aren't any loops open in the sipsey as of now.

[Ewker]

what trails are open in Sipsey now?

[A.Quigley]

Let ya know tomorrow night how 202 is because I'm heading out for a day hike first thing in the morning. Plan is hike to the river and back. Getting ready for a over nighter later this month and need to streck my legs some first.

[Ewker]

please do let me know how 202 is.

We were planning a trip to Sipsey in Nov. Our route was 201 to 202 to 209 and hopefully up 204 to the Big Tree, back track to 209 to 205 over to 201 and back out.

with the cooler weather coming in maybe it will kill off the weeds, ticks and chigger. Unfortunately the blow downs are still a problem

[jbassplayer]

204 and 209 are closed. I'm not sure what the penalty is for using them. the lady from the Forrest service told me that you have to stay 50ft off of the closed trail

[Ewker]

not what I was wanting to hear but thanks for the info

[weathermansam]

The FS is a world of contradictions.  206 [thompson creek] is closed as well,  but there's a "day hike only" sign posted at the trailhead.  They need to make up their mind.  It's either closed or it isn't.  They're fine with people bushwhacking 50ft off to the side creating new trails while we wait for whoever they hired to come out and clean the mess up by next February?  That's idiotic.  I've ignored them and will probably continue to do so.  I took the white oak hollow route to the big tree last weekend and out the same way.  As far staying 50ft off the trails, well that ain't an issue!  I haven't even bothered going up buck rough [204], and the small section of 209 that's so obliterated with trees like 206 is, well you either climb over the mess and bust your ass, or you circumvent them.  I plowed through that section of 209 earlier in the summer, and did the whole of 206 about a month ago.  It's not easy.  It's not fun.  The unofficial route up bee branch is still confusing with multiple new "trails", some of which dead end.  Save yourself the headache and time there and just hike along the one of the bluffs on either side of the creek. 

[A.Quigley]

Well 202 was a nice hike. Only had 7 small blow downs and they really aren't worth mentioning as ya just step right over. There are 3 headaches, meaning right at head height, so don't run and you'll be fine. 
 When I got to the end of 202 I crossed the river and went about 300 yrds in either direction and only saw one tree blown over and it was towards the north. Tracks all over the place says lots of folks had been there in the past few days. There wasn't a sign on the 209 post saying anything about the trail being closed.
 Not sure what I'll do in a couple of weeks as I was planning a loop hike around 201, 209, 202 with a detour to the Needles Eye. Hmmmm?

[weathermansam]

204 and 209 are closed. I'm not sure what the penalty is for using them. the lady from the Forrest service told me that you have to stay 50ft off of the closed trail

I posted a trail closure update in another thread, but I did want to touch on the 50ft rule.  I brought this up today in front of three rangers and the group there, and this is absolutely not true.  Someone gave you bad information.  They're pushing now for people not to go off trail at all.  Essentially, Thompson trailhead is only open to provide access to 223. 

[jbassplayer]

The bad information came the lady who answers the phone when you call the bankhead ranger station.

[weathermansam]

The bad information came the lady who answers the phone when you call the bankhead ranger station.

I'll pass that along and maybe they'll put a stop to it then.