Big Tree Dayhike - April 12th, 2008 9AM [Completed]

[Suz]

Great Pictures.  Looks like it was a great day!  Glad you had fun! 

[Magic City Matt]

It was a great time. I think we neeed to do another soon.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Matthew,

I'm looking at a few more hikes I'd like to do before I leave, the longer of the three being the full Borden Creek Trail between the trailheads, or Borden Creek in the opposite direction of the trail, or maybe Parker Branch. I've got to look at my exam schedule, first.

Jay,

Nice pictures!

[Rob]

Great Pic's Jaybird, thanks for sharing, but you guy's are killing me! Everytime I see these pic's posted and read the accounts of your adventures it makes me want to go!

I fear this one may be out of my current hiking abilities. How long is this hike on average? Difficulty level? Is it worth the trip to just go in part of the way to get some photos? Would really like to see the falls. Thanks in advance for the info. Happy Trails!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Rob,

The big question is what is the longest you have hiked on flat terrain recently? If you can do a several miles on mostly flat terrain, the road we took out might be a possible option, but I think round trip it might run ~8mi that way. I wouldn't recommend the way we went in if you have any doubts about your abilities, because while it wasn't anywhere near as strenuous as many other Alabama hikes, the descent side of the Whiteoak shortcut was a little hairy in two spots.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Rob, your lamentations made me think of something... I'm planning some REALLY easy stuff for May between my finals and when I move. I know for sure that I'm looking at dedicating May 9th and 10th to the Cahaba Lilies this year (A Friday and a Saturday), assuming they are in bloom. My pictures from last year were taken around May 10th, and I saw lilies in bloom as early as my scouting trip on May 1st, so I think they will probably be at least in moderate bloom. I've also got to hit Upper Caney when the mountain laurel bloom.*

I'll post more information closer to the trips, but it is so easy to get to, and nice and wet! I might even consider making one day a canoe outing, but I still haven't decided on that. Obviously anybody from Alatrails who is interested will be welcome.

* If you see mountain laurel near Caney Creek, or anywhere else in Bankhead, TELL ME. I want a shot of Upper Caney with the moutain laurel in bloom.

[Skippy]

Jay, Thanks for posting that poem. It's my favorite of all!!  Glad that everyone had fun. wish that I could have made it but these thunderstorms just will not cooperate with me.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Skippy,

I think I'm partially to blame for your misfortune. I spent the last three years wishing for rain.

[Rob]

Jaybird and  Joshua,

Thanks for the feedback. Very informative. The trail distance is not as much concern (within reason ) as is the terrain. steep inclines, ascents/descents are the biggest problems. Full range of motion in the ankle is the problem, still can't flex those tendons in an upward position which causes me to walk with my foot turned outward causesing pain and inability to walk long distances on slopes. Sounds doable for me so I'm going to try to add it to my list for next month.    Happy Trails!

Put me down for easy stuff in may! Will do as schedule permits.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Rob,

I get what you are talking about now, and I can see how frustrating it must be.

I've walked with my feet like this \ / since I was a kid, and I also drag my feet, and don't lift my legs high enough when I run. I'm told has to do with some motor skill issues due to some complications surrounding my premature birth. As a result of this problem, and probably also the shape of my feet and now the excess weight I carry around the midsection, I have a really bad problem with my ankles. They are already facing wrong for rough terrain, and due to the way I walk, I wear the sides of my shoes down in a strange fashion, and it makes it worse. It all conspires to make me turn an ankle at the drop of a hat, and get nasty cramps when walking on almost any uneven surfaces. During Friday's hiking, I probably tilted my ankle almost to the ground about 10 times, but I'm so used to it that I've learned to shift my weight to the other foot to correct it, and usually these days I don't get hurt. Made roller blading and ice skating tricky, but hocky-style skates let me at least get some time on blades.

After (just) sprained my ankle last time in 2006, it took two months to stop walking like you describe, and nearly six months before I felt safe hiking again. Flimsy things, aren't they! I'm still waiting to get hurt again, because I'm hiking in sneakers due to issues with my boots that I still haven't resolved. Boots help, but only to prevent injury, I still twist and turn them constantly.

I'll try to keep an eye out for easier things to do when I'm planning my leaving Alabama hiking/photography time, so that if you want to join in, you won't have to risk injury.