Borden/Braziel Creek Wildflower Hike, FRIDAY April 18th [COMPLETED]

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hey folks,

I know it is really short notice, and I know it is a Friday, so most if not all of you will be busy, but I'm going to hit Borden Creek, then up Braziel Creek possibly as far as the confluence w/Clifty Creek tomorrow with my friend Jeff. If you can make it, we'll be at the Borden Creek trailhead around 10AM. Please RSVP in this thread by 8AM tomorrow if you do wish to come, because otherwise I WILL NOT WAIT.

I'm hoping there will be bluebells. (Sorry Jay, couldn't do this Saturday!)

[Joshua Szulecki]

Awesome!

I was thinking we'd follow the "trail" that Seifried describes along the side of Borden/Braziel, hit the "secret" area he describes, and maybe go as far as the confluence with Clifty Creek before turning around, so I expect we'll be able to squeeze in the Capsey Creek waterfall too, even if it ends up being later in the afternoon.

I wasn't planning on doing this trip quite yet, but I was debating what to do tomorrow this afternoon, and I was reading my copy of Alabama's Canyons (in the bathroom, of all places) and when I saw the mention of bluebells, it all fell into place.

The only problem with a Friday trip is the traffic we'll be fighting to get through Birmingham. Since I've got to cross town to pick up Jeff (280->459->65) and THEN pass through downtown, it should be fun.

See you there!

[cwhiker]

enjoy guys it was really great two weeks ago when I went. I will be going back this weekend myself.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Just... wow.

Photos: http://www.szulecki.com/i...wildflowersandwaterfalls/

Some descriptive words will come when I can come to them, and when I'm not half-asleep.

[cwhiker]

Just... wow.

Photos: http://www.szulecki.com/i...wildflowersandwaterfalls/

Some descriptive words will come when I can come to them, and when I'm not half-asleep.

Great Photos.... I can't wait to get back out there on sunday

[cwhiker]

Here are my pictures from the day.  The Yellow Lady's Slipper was by far the highlight of my day!!!

http://jahudson.wiki.hoover.k12.al.us/Borden+Creek

Great photos I really like the one were you managed to get the spider in the flower

[Joshua Szulecki]

A short hike description...

We met at the Borden Trailhead the closest to the designated time I've been so far. When Jeff and I pulled up, Jay was already there, and a couple who looked as though they had recently been scolded was packing up their vehicle which had two ATVs and two Kayaks in two. Hopefully, those ATVs stayed on that trailer. We set out along Borden Creek, quickly passing the campsites and making amazing time to the confluence of Borden and Braziel creeks. Following Braziel Creek we discovered that the trail (which must head all the way to Clifty Creek Falls) was surprisingly well worn, at at many times followed the path of a road of some sort. Somebody had recently done some trail clearing, although they left all the debris in the trail, and their cuts were very pointy and dangerous. By the time we passed the first tributary of Braziel Creek on our hike, the vegetation had already changed several times, from mixed forest with hemlocks, to cluttered decidious forest with lots of undergrowth, to tall decidious forest with no undergrowth, and then vice versa, and finally back to a mixed forest with hemlocks, only to continue the cycle a number of times. Signs of human habitation were not overt, but we got the impression that a homestead may have been somewhere along this road, because we even found some random rose bushes. The second tributary brough us to a steep, boulder strewn, mossy hidaway that is described in Alabama's Canyons, which terminates in a straight-drop overhang waterfall of moderate height. Taking the easier way back out, we discovered signs of camping, and an interesting rock wall. Back on the trail up Braziel, we lost the trail briefly a few times, before making a turn where Clifty and Braziel meet, although we missed that at first. We followed the trail up Clifty for a while, before we rectified out mistake, and found the confluence of the two creeks, which was out first target for the day. We had information that there was a massive cluster of Virginia Bluebells at the confluence, and hidden behind a screen of bamboo we found that the information was more than accurate, but that we were about a week too late. After admiring the spot for a while, and holding out noses at the stink of Clifty Creek (which continued far upstream), we turned back for our next destination. At an undisclosed location during the way in and out, we encountered two Yellow Lady's Slipper orchids, and only two. I saw signs of digging near the orchids, with small holes that looked suspiciously like they were made with a garden trowel, and I sincerely hope that they were animal signs, and NOT indications that some idiot was digging up orchids. Anyone who'd take these beauties home with them doesn't deserve to share our wilderness.

Our second trip was a waterfall few, possibly only Jay, know about on a Capsey Creek tributary, which has two cascades above it that flow into a T shaped confluence, before dropping down into Capsey Creek via the MASSIVE canyon. A mile long bushwack through briars, stickers, thorns, and razor-sharp holly in shorts later, and we found the beautiful waterfall. In light of my fear of heights, I exercised a rarely used chicken-out option, and didn't head down to the base of the falls, but instead enjoyed it from a safe distance above, while the guys explored below. We headed out, and with my legs looking like they had been attacked by a weedwhacker, we headed home after stopping for food.

AWESOME HIKE!

[cwhiker]

"Following Braziel Creek we discovered that the trail (which must head all the way to Clifty Creek Falls) was surprisingly well worn, at at many times followed the path of a road of some sort."

Yes, this is the trail that leads to Clifty Creek.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Cwhiker,

Did Clifty Creek smell really bad when you were there? It smelled awful all the way up to the first major bend, where we turned around after confirming with the GPS that the stream we were following WAS Clifty Creek.

Also, how much longer did it take from the confluence of Braziel and Clifty for you to get to Clifty Creek Falls?

[Suz]

For Josh and anyone else's information.  The orchids only survive when a particular fungus is present.  If they are transplanted to a new place they will probably die, because the fungus is very specific in what it needs - as are all of our wood orchids!

Why is Clifty smelly?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Suz,

Me and Jeff both thought it smelled a little like brewing effluent, ie fermentation leftovers. It could be shine, but it did have a hint of decay to it, so it was probably biological. The odd thing was that the water smelled well above the confluence, where the creek bottom was rocky. Maybe something died upstream?

We also smelled something entirely different at the first tributary crossing, much more of the skunky decay-death smell.

People who just have to own a Yellow Lady's Slipper can BUY them from reputable orchid growers for a modest fee per plant, so there is NO EXCUSE for taking (and probably killing) wild plants. They are very hard to grow, and harder to keep alive, which is why people should just leave them be and enjoy them in nature, where they seem to do just fine.

[cwhiker]

Cwhiker,

Did Clifty Creek smell really bad when you were there? It smelled awful all the way up to the first major bend, where we turned around after confirming with the GPS that the stream we were following WAS Clifty Creek.

Also, how much longer did it take from the confluence of Braziel and Clifty for you to get to Clifty Creek Falls?

Joshua,
No it didn't smell bad on april 6th. I would have to say it was another 1mile or so but that is a ruff guess my gps kept losing signal, so I used this as reason to go out and buy the Garmin GPSmap 60CSX. I am going back tomorrow I will let you know for sure then 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Watch out for the ticks, mosquitos, and poison ivy. We all were pulling ticks off constantly, and I'm covered in mosquito bites. We encountered large amounts of poison ivy both along Braziel Creek and at Capsey. Also keep a close eye out for snakes. We saw a number of un-ID'd baby snakes, so watch where you sit!

I'm pining for a new GPS too. I get a great signal, and great battery life, but Magellan's maps are lousy, and I don't have a topo basemap for this one. I'll probably upgrade my camera and GSP together. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

In case anybody is interested, there is a some interesting information about Yellow Lady's Slippers in this conservation report from another FS region.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/p...ypripediumparviflorum.pdf

[Rob]

Joshand Jaybird,  Great Pic's. The ladies slipper was an awesome find. I've never actually seen one in the wild, but would love to. I agree that people should never collect specimens of flora from the wilderness or even the road sides as I have seen many people doing. It is a despicable act of true ignorance or selfishness.

Jaybird, I am really learning about the wildflowers found on Alabama trails thanks to your Photos. Can you reccomend a book that would also be helpful?  Happy Trails!   Thanks for sharing.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Rob,

In a previous thread (http://www.alatrails.com/...opic,258.msg2410.html#new) Jay recommended Wildflowers of Alabama and Adjoining States, by Blanche E. Dean, Amy Mason, and Joab L. Thomas, and I went ahead a purchased it. Excellent resource, and I highly recommend it. It is an ugly little yellow book, but the information and photographs within are terrific. If you can find it, go get it.

[Magic City Matt]

Man I am jealous. I would have loved to have been on this hike.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Matthew,

I enjoyed it so much that I almost went back today for some more pictures of the Yellow Lady's Slipper!

Don't worry too much about missing this one, I'm working on about four days of consecutive activity when my finals end, so you will probably be able to squeeze some of that in. Weather permitting, I'll probably end up with May 8th - May 11th looking like this:

Thursday the 8th - Upper Caney Falls, hopefully with Mountain Laurel, and probably hauling my old Pacemaker Speed Graphic. Upper Caney will be early, followed by Lower Caney and Kinlock Falls/Kinlock Chute, or earlier, followed by either Parker Branch Falls or Turkey Foot Creek.

Friday the 9th - Cahaba Lilies at dawn, Cahaba River NWR. Wade out to lilies. Probable visit to Falling Rock Falls afterwards if water conditions permit.

Saturday the 10th - Cahaba Lilies at morning, Cahaba River NWR, wade out to lilies. Possible swimming/fishing in river.

Sunday the 11th - Probably my last hike in Alabama for a long while, as the next few days will be spent moving out. Looking at Clifty Creek Falls, Quillan, or maybe Hemlock Creek in Sipsey. Also considering a FLOAT down Capsey Creek to visit that waterfall Jay took us to, but I might do that during finals as a break, still wondering how rough the water is.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Jay,

So I can fix the description when I get the chance... This picture of mine is of the Jacob's Ladder, correct?
http://www.szulecki.com/i...alls/slides/IMG_7662.html

I've got some SERIOUS superficial battle damage from Friday! My legs look like the top of a ham, what with all the criss-crossing cuts and scratches! I'd take a picture, but the mosquito bites and the potential poison ivy (might be more mosquito bites) have my legs looking all mottled, and the scratches wouldn't show up well as a result. It didn't hurt to take a shower, but it did stink! There was so much dried blood on my legs when I got home that the shower smelled like a vault full of pennies for a minute or two. That one cut from the tree is deep, but probably not stitches deep, although I can't really tell because I get bend that part of my leg close enough to my face to see.

This one sure was a good one. How was yesterday's hiking? Mine today was quick and relatively dull.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Jay,

I assume if you made multiple trips the food was good? I've been within a few feet of that place dozens of times, never went in.

Do you have any pictures from Cheaha/Pinhoti?