Sipsey 203

[globetruck]

Hello all, I just returned from a quick overnight in Sipsey and I hiked trail 203 for the first time.  I've read other reports that all claim that 203 has been cleared.  However, I had no luck.  So can someone please help me figure out where I went wrong?

I started at Borden trailhead and hiked north.  The attached image has a gps file of the 203 trail - I don't remember where I downloaded this file, but perhaps it's incorrect and I was trying to follow the wrong thing.  Things were great for the first 2 miles.  However, I lost the trail (near the "01?" waypoint on the attached image).  The trail seemed to merge with an old roadbed, but it was quite overgrown.  I ended up back on Bunyan Hill Road and I decided to walk back down the road, hop in my car, and try from the northern trailhead.

The 203 northern trailhead seems like it got hit the hardest from April's storms.  Lots and lots of blowdowns all over the place.  While driving on Northwest Road, I saw a small wooden "203" sign.  However, I kept going towards the "temporary 203 trailhead" as indicated on the attached image.  There was even a new sign warning about blowdowns and storm damage, so I assumed that I was at the correct trailhead.  The first .25 miles were easy, but once again, the trail turned into an unmarked and overgrown roadbed - with a lot of blowdowns.  I bushwhacked my way to Borden Creek but didn't see any obvious easy way across.  It was getting dark, so I returned to my truck. 

I'm 0/2 on trail 203. 

Does anyone have any advice?  Anyone have an accurate GPS file with 203 on it?

Thanks!
Justin

[bramblypines]

I'm surprised I did not run into you.
Friday 11/18 we cleared all the major blocks between the Borden Trailhead
and where 203 crosses Borden Creek.
I know what you mean about losing the trail, especially now with the thick
cover of leaves.
I think I know where you mean about losing the trail where it meets a old roadbed
as you come to the roadbed you will notice some small logs laid across the road, just
a little farther down the roadbed where the trail leaves it there is also some small
logs across the roadbed.

I had a problem at that spot coming back from surveying the trail a week ago.
I did not see the hanging flag and missed the turn.

Since the new VWRs are suppose to start pulling the tape flags I think it may be time to
build some cairns to mark the trails.

I have not been past the creeek to the trailhead at 208 so I do not know the condition of
the trail, since they were logging in the area I did not go there.

[Archer]

I know 203 and 210 has several ways to follow and then comes the dreaded "now where did the trail go?"
Please don't pull the flagging on a numbered trail. It's there so people can follow the trail and not become lost.
210 was flagged and people started using it more becuse it was less confusing. Some do-gooder pulled some of it and I ran into two sets of cofused hikers in  one day. For quite a while 203 was flagged and was getting more traffic, and  Wild South did a fine job repairing the trail and making it usable again.
I park at the old range and walk in and catch 203. Seems like a better place to park rather than on the road edge.
I think the Sipsey  Wilderness hiking club is doing 203/207 in Feb if want to hook up with them. Some usually overnight on that hike, well they had a few overnight lst year when they did it.

[weathermansam]

I know 203 and 210 has several ways to follow and then comes the dreaded "now where did the trail go?"
Please don't pull the flagging on a numbered trail. It's there so people can follow the trail and not become lost.
210 was flagged and people started using it more becuse it was less confusing. Some do-gooder pulled some of it and I ran into two sets of cofused hikers in  one day. For quite a while 203 was flagged and was getting more traffic, and  Wild South did a fine job repairing the trail and making it usable again.
I park at the old range and walk in and catch 203. Seems like a better place to park rather than on the road edge.
I think the Sipsey  Wilderness hiking club is doing 203/207 in Feb if want to hook up with them. Some usually overnight on that hike, well they had a few overnight lst year when they did it.

Regardless if it's a numbered trail or not, if it's in a wilderness area, it's illegal.  I'm not a fan of the pink ribbon fairy, or her cousin, orange ribbon fairy.  I'm also a notorious "puller".  I emailed Wild South asking if this particular section is within the Wilderness area since the boundary on that side is a little weird in places.  If it is , please don't encourage what amounts to litter in our wilderness areas.   It eventually makes it's way to the ground, and it's about as harmless as sticking your hand between two alpha male cats locked in a 10 gallon aquarium with a can of food between them.  I've also seen it tied so tight that it's begun to stunt the saplings it was tied around.  I'm glad you managed to route those folks to where they needed to go, though. 

[Archer]

The pros and cons of doing things in a wilderness area is a struggle between common sense and legal issues. The Forrest Service own printed material says to use an existing fire pit and don't make new ones. But there is a policy to detroy fire pits by some organizations. Years ago the GSMNP decided it's better to use common areas to overnight in rather than anywhere and everywhere. I tend to agree with this.
Some think public safety and well being is more important than a little ribbon on the ground. For what it's worth,  I have picked up old flagging off the ground and a ton of litter in my 30 years in Bankhead. But I'm not going to be responsible for someone getting lost because I think policy is first, before safety of those who aren't as adapt in the woods as they should be.
Trails 210 and 203 aren't as easy to follow as the very worn 201, 202, 206, 209  and the road bed trails.
Being a wilderness area is a two edge sword. There is no one policy that will make everyone happy, or protect the Sipsey.

[weathermansam]

The approach I'm aware of that's being used in Sipsey now is to leave the more prominent fire ring, and destroy lesser ones.  If you destroy them all someone will build another in another spot.  I'm more for building cairns or laying deadfall lengthwise along paths to direct people.  Being prepared is LNT principle #1.  If one can't discern a trail, one should use common sense, and turn around.  There is some work planned for 203.  I don't think it's a two edged sword.  People owe it to themselves to do away with the "it'll never happen to me mentality".  It irked me that some of the responses to the situation here a few weeks back with the missing hiker were that the trails weren't marked and there were no bridges over the creeks and how awful it was".  I can direct them to a great waterfall in my hometown of Gadsden where they can drive their car, park within 100ft of the falls, take the nice wooden bridge across and lean over the wrought iron fence to see the view.  Wilderness areas are designated for a specific purpose.  The information to inform oneself of what to expect in a wilderness area is out there. It falls on the user to educate him/herself about the dangers/risks.  Over time, problems some trails face can be eliminated by further maintenance with cairns and deadfall, and increased use.  Flagging is not the answer. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Flagging is not the answer. 

Exactly.