Hemlocks in Bankhead/Sipsey - Seeking Large Population to Photograph

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hey all,

After a somewhat depressing ride on the Cherohala Skyway looking at all the dead hemlocks this weekend, I've decide I want to do a little photo project. While Alabama still has fully healthy populations, I'd like to get out and get some good photos of hemlocks.

My question to you is, does any anybody know of a really good, dense stand of hemlocks in Sipsey/Bankhead that is reasonably accessible? I've got a few ideas, but none of them are really spectacular except for a few that would require several hours off-trail, and my favorite TN site isn't suitable because I'd like to use my 4x5 camera, so I'll be humping in heavy gear.

[Firedog]

Hemlocks are my favorite. Not really sure why except they are a beautiful tree. The parking area at Cranal Road (Co RD 60) parking area. Walk downstram river right along the Sipsey. Below the bluffs are some old growth hemlocks that are fabulous. As far as large stands some of the Sipsey regulars can help with that one. On the accessable land they were all clear cut and not replanted because of their slow growth rate. The inaccessible trees are all that were spared from the saw & weather. There are some really nice ancient trees still standing along the river banks. I have a pic somewhere I made lying on the ground looking straight up into a huge straight hemlock. It was a cool shot. I'll look for it.  That's all the help I can be.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Firedog, they're my favorites too, and thanks for reminding me about that stand, I had forgotten them since I usually avoid the picnic area like the plague.

I should clarify a bit... I know we don't have many LARGE stands in Bankhead, thanks to logging activity. Basically, I'm just looking for a stand large enough (maybe 5-10 individuals) where I can get a good, solid photo with nothing but hemlock in it, plus where there is enough of a range of plants to get some diverse photos.

I know there are several patches of widely-spaced trees at Upper Caney Creek Falls, and that is my fallback. The best location I know is in the Capsey Creek drainage, but that site is a real huff. There are a few dense patches of juveniles on several old logging roads, like the ones on the way to Clifty Creek and Soagahoagdee Falls, but those are juvies. Most other sites I can think of are too scattered for a full frame of hemlocks.

[Pully]

Above Hemlock Falls on Eagle Creek, if I remember correctly was almost nothing but hemlocks. There is also a small cascade above that falls. On the middle section of North Caney has a lot of large hemlocks. You can drive to within maybe less than half a mile of North Caney on the FS road just north of Rabbitown.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Thanks Pully! I think I'll hit one of those. Gotta think about it a bit.

[vapor]

Also keep an eye out for woolly adelgid damage as they seem to be destroying whats left of the hemlocks. Not sure if they have made it to Alabama yet but they have made it as far south as Tennessee. Since the loggers clear cut most of what we had perhaps these small patches will survive?

[bramblypines]

Both Coal Mine Branch and Holmes Chapel have nice stands near their falls.
Since both are very short hikes and are in the same general area it would be
easy to do both.

[Pathfinder]

There's a good many along Basin Creek near where it runs into Hubbard within the Historic District.  It's easily accessed by short hike on 208-A from the Kinlock Springs parking area beside Kinlock Rd.

Good to see Pully dropping in and posting on the forum.  I admire and respect his encyclopedic knowledge of the Bankhead area.  We need to get together for hiking or caving again!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Also keep an eye out for woolly adelgid damage as they seem to be destroying whats left of the hemlocks. Not sure if they have made it to Alabama yet but they have made it as far south as Tennessee. Since the loggers clear cut most of what we had perhaps these small patches will survive?

Over the years I have been already. I've seen nothing in Alabama, and we still have many healthy stands in Tennessee on the plateau, so hopefully geographical isolation will save them. So far, I haven't heard of any sightings in Alabama. However, if they do move into Alabama, I suspect we'll see them around Fort Payne and points northeast first, since the stands in Bankhead are mostly isolated from any other populations, thanks to the Tennessee River and distance.

[Uncle Wayne]

does any anybody know of a really good, dense stand of hemlocks in Sipsey/Bankhead that is reasonably accessible?

Doesn't meet the qualifier (dense) you requested but the easiest stand of Hemlocks to see will be around Mize Falls and Turkey Foot creek. 

Also several nice hemlocks just after Fat Man Squeeze on Borden / Trail 200.

[Pully]

Good to see Pully dropping in and posting on the forum.  I admire and respect his encyclopedic knowledge of the Bankhead area.  We need to get together for hiking or caving again!

I'm ready when you are. Definitely ready to start caving again.

Payne Creek also has some nice hemlocks.

[bramblypines]

I was in the Rush Creek area yesterday, there is a stand of small hemlocks where the
Hurricane Branch meets Rush. It looks like a hemlock nursery and there are many
hemlocks all the way there.

[Pathfinder]

What's the status of your photo shoot, Josh? 

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm just waiting for an opportunity to get down into Bankhead.

[vapor]

Found a nice area of Hemlocks in Cohutta Wilderness yesterday & found that the Wooly Adelgid has already found these in Northern Georgia bringing it much too close to home:(. Trees were gorgeous.

[Joshua Szulecki]

My hope is still that the isolated nature of Bankhead's population will save them, or at least buy time, but the  certainly are getting too close for comfort. Thanks for the update!

[weathermansam]

scrub yer gear, people.  it's like taking ticks home to share with the wife, quite unappreciated. 

[WolfVanZandt]

I'm not sure the density you're looking for but the last time I was at Brushy Lake (March of last year) there were plenty of hemlocks up along the bluff. You might swing through there and see if that's what you want.

[JustADude]

I recall admiring a good stand of Hemlocks just below the dam on Brushy Creek Lake.