WOH - Big Tree - 209 loop with Boy Scouts late Feb - am I nuts?

[dayhiker]

Our Boy Scout troop doesn't backpack, but I'm trying to get them to do some hiking.  Late summer I described the WOH, Big Tree, 209 loop to them, told them what they'd see, etc and they were all for it.  Later, I read here about the damage.  I thought I'd check in to see what you all think about the proposed trip in light of the damage and the potential for it being cleaned up in the near future.

My original plan:
Leave Pell City on a Friday afternoon after school, get through Bham before traffic gets awful, grab supper and then head to Sipsey.  I would like to camp about where Arnold Motorway joins the road.  I like that better than camping at Brushy for this group.  It lets them feel like we're out there and maybe lets them take a step towards backpacking though it's still just car camping.  I will have prescouted this ahead of time and have 2 different campsites accounted for in the event that we get there and one is taken....especia lly since we'll have to setup in the dark.

Sat morning:  Get up early and take WOH to the Big Tree.  Assuming they're still feeling good and we're not too slow, I'd like to loop back via 206 so that they can see Ship Rock, Eye of the Needle, and Auburn Falls.  It also lets the younger ones check off the 5 mile loop requirement with map and compass that is a 2nd Class requirement.  Camp back at Arnold again.

Sun morning:  Break camp and then either hit Parker Falls or Kinlock Bluff Shelter on the way out.  There is an Indian Lore merit badge and I thought Kinlock would be a great place to teach it.  We'd hit Kinlock Falls on the way out for sure.

So, based on what the conditions are now, is this plan nuts?  I'm thinking 10 people or so, with mixed hiking experience.  Originally, I was going to decide on loop versus out and back based solely on their fatigue level.  Now there is more to consider.  Anyone?

[weathermansam]

206 should still be a beast, as it's still not cleared.  I suppose if you hiked up hill and hugged the bluff line to get around the damage it'd be easier, at least on the end closest to white oak hollow.  depending on how many people have ventured out there, the trail on the north side of the needle might be well trampled, even if it's not the original trail.  Getting up bee branch to the big tree is not easy.  I've done it multiple times since the tornadoes, and it remains a workout.  Both of the flagged trails end in brush and you just have to hike uphill and find the old trail at those points.  Maybe eventually it'll weather away.  



*edit*  Sorry, I missed where it said you'll be hiking in late February.  206 should be clear by then.  bee branch will be your only hindrance. 

[Uncle Wayne]

Dayhiker,

Glad to hear you're involved with the scouts.  Your love of hiking / backpacking will rub off on the boys (and the other adults) and hopefully get them in the woods more often   There's lots to see in the route you've chosen.  The boys will enjoy it.

Since you're working on the Indian Lore merit badge, there are at least three mortar rocks on the Sipsey side of the Ship along the bluff line.  I think I've got coordinates of where they are and will send them to you.

There's a double mortar rock in West Bee Branch also but I didn't have a GPS when I found it.

[Firedog]

Dayhiker, I too have gotten reaquainted with my old scout troop from Oxford, Troop 10. I figured since my nest was empty It would be a good time to give back what had been afforded me the years I was there as a kid. There are about 8 kids that are regular and they seem like good kids, just needing someone to spend some time teaching them something interesting. The current scoutmaster is past  70 and the assistant is 91. They admit they can't do alot with them so I am taking them hiking next Saturday. Dec. 10. Several of them are just moving up from cubs so we are going to start at the Cheaha trailhead and go north to Blue Mtn shelter then over to Bald Rock and back. That shows about 4.5 miles to get them aclimated to hiking. You and your scouts are welcome to join us if you like. I figure we can lunch at the shelter explore bald rock get acquainted, search for water sources, ID some plants, tell a few old stories and guage their interest. I don't know much but have some experience to pass along.

If anyone is interested in helping grow and assisting this group, just let me know.

[Pathfinder]

Carl, let me say how much I admire you for this.  My fondest memories growing up were adventures I experienced as a boy scout.  I want to encourage you to continue pursuing helping out your old troop.  Sounds like they need help of the variety you can give.

[dayhiker]

206 should still be a beast, as it's still not cleared.  I suppose if you hiked up hill and hugged the bluff line to get around the damage it'd be easier, at least on the end closest to white oak hollow.  depending on how many people have ventured out there, the trail on the north side of the needle might be well trampled, even if it's not the original trail.  Getting up bee branch to the big tree is not easy.  I've done it multiple times since the tornadoes, and it remains a workout.  Both of the flagged trails end in brush and you just have to hike uphill and find the old trail at those points.  Maybe eventually it'll weather away.  



*edit*  Sorry, I missed where it said you'll be hiking in late February.  206 should be clear by then.  bee branch will be your only hindrance. 

By Bee Branch, I assume that means from the time we drop below the bluff line on the WOH route, down stream on West Bee, hit the intersection, back up East Bee and then all the way down to the 209 intersection that it will be nasty going?

[dayhiker]

Dayhiker,

Glad to hear you're involved with the scouts.  Your love of hiking / backpacking will rub off on the boys (and the other adults) and hopefully get them in the woods more often   There's lots to see in the route you've chosen.  The boys will enjoy it.

Since you're working on the Indian Lore merit badge, there are at least three mortar rocks on the Sipsey side of the Ship along the bluff line.  I think I've got coordinates of where they are and will send them to you.

There's a double mortar rock in West Bee Branch also but I didn't have a GPS when I found it.

That would be great if you could send those coords.  I think I've looked for those at Ship Rock before.  My kids get a kick out of seeing the one over close to that wrecked car on the way to Turkey Foot/Mize

[dayhiker]

Dayhiker, I too have gotten reaquainted with my old scout troop from Oxford, Troop 10. I figured since my nest was empty It would be a good time to give back what had been afforded me the years I was there as a kid. There are about 8 kids that are regular and they seem like good kids, just needing someone to spend some time teaching them something interesting. The current scoutmaster is past  70 and the assistant is 91. They admit they can't do alot with them so I am taking them hiking next Saturday. Dec. 10. Several of them are just moving up from cubs so we are going to start at the Cheaha trailhead and go north to Blue Mtn shelter then over to Bald Rock and back. That shows about 4.5 miles to get them aclimated to hiking. You and your scouts are welcome to join us if you like. I figure we can lunch at the shelter explore bald rock get acquainted, search for water sources, ID some plants, tell a few old stories and guage their interest. I don't know much but have some experience to pass along.

If anyone is interested in helping grow and assisting this group, just let me know.

Thanks for the invite.  We already have an event that day.  5th graders that haven't hiked before might revolt on a 4.5 mile hike.

[Firedog]

Thanks Pathfinder, I think I will enjoy it more than them. We'll see how things go this weekend. They were excited when we talked about it tonight. And I like you loved scouting. I was talking to my wife and telling her stories about the 5 years I was active. As I reflect back those were probably the best years I can remember growing up. It taught me to be independant and self reliant. Once when we were at a troop leadership development week at Camp Comer the staff's response to any question was "Use Your Resources" nothing further. It was a tough week but you can't measure what was learned. Good times.
Carl W.