Fresh Air Family hike in Sipsey March 20

Location: Sipsey Wilderness picnic area trail (unnamed) and FS209 to Sipsey-Borden Creek confluence

Date: March 20, 2008, 10:30 am meet-up at Warrior Mtn Trading Co. Wren, AL

Guide: Janice Barrett, Wild South Conservation Group

Gear: Tough Traveler Kid Carrier, Camelbak Daypack (discontinued, can't remember name), Hiking poles,

We arrive at around 10:20 at the WMTC and meet-up w/ Allison Bessant and Janice Barrett to go over directions and sign liability waivers. We then caravan-ed to the Sipsey Wilderness Recreation Area w/ 3 other vehicles w/ families.

Janice led our group of about 17 adults and kids on the southbound trail through the picnic area where we saw 2 beautiful waterfalls and several cliff overhangs. Occasionally Janice would stop and point out different species of wildflowers such as Trout Lillies and Trillium's. We continued on this trail for about 1/2 mile then turned around and hiked back to the CCC pavilion for a picnic lunch there. After lunch we were joined by a reporter and photographer from the Decatur Daily that followed and asked questions as we went north on the FS209 trail up the Sipsey toward Borden Cr. This area was in the wilderness and the hiking was more challenging w/ us having to climb some steep banks where streams crossed the trail. The prior day's rain made nearly every small depression in the canyon wall into a waterfall. All the kids had fun and all were well behaved, w/ the small exception of a short cry by my 3yo because she wasn't allowed to scramble on some rocks w/ her big sister. It was definitely a plus to have Janice as a guide and we plan on trying to make future hikes w/ the Fresh Air Family group.

FreshAirFamily.o rg (not .orgy, like the spellcheck likes to call it)