I need about 10 miles

[Lostsheep]

I'm working with our scout troop this summer on completing their backpacking and camping merit badges and need a little help. I've hiked the Sipsey several times and think it's great, and would love to take the boys on the trip in the next few months, but I'm stuck on the route. There will be 3 leaders and 7 boys on this trip. So, at most we will have the max. of 10 on the trails, but it looks like a few may not make it. We plan on camping near one of the TH's on Friday night before completing our dayhike on Sat. We are hoping for 5hrs on the trail, but are planning for 6-7.

The minimum these boys need to cover is 10mi, but the maximum they really want to cover is 15mi. I'm hoping to find points of interest along the trail so they don't become bored and miserable, but to pick up most of them, I run over the miles. Here's what I have so far, and am looking for suggestions from others too.

1-Start at Randolph
Begin FT201N to School House Falls. Double back and follow the unnamed trail parallelling the Sipsey Fork toward FT205. Cross the Sipsey Fork, and contine SE along FT209 to Bee Branch Canyon. Hike up to the Big Tree and back to FT209. Continue on FT209 SE to Feather Hawk Falls and FT202. Follow FT202 toward Johnson's Cemetary and back to Randolph TH for a total of 11-12mi.

2-Start at Borden
Begin FT200 S through Fat man squeeze toward FT209. Pass by Fall Creek Falls. Head NW along FT209 to Bee Branch Canyon. Head up and back down to Big Tree.  Double back along FT209 and FT200 back to Borden. This totals 16mi roughly and I'd like to avoid that much of a double back if I can help it.

Anybody else have any other suggestions or trips they've done that they'd like to share?

[Nalgene Ninja]

You could take 204 and 224 back to Borden TH. From the map it doesn't look all that scenic, but could be better than seeing the same scenery twice.

[Lostsheep]

What kind of trail is 224? It looks like an old roadbed from the map, but I'm not sure. Plus, I've never been down that road before.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Not sure what 224 is like, never hiked it. Just seemed like an idea.

[Woody]

224 is an old wagon road but it was overgrown in small pines to the point that it is mostly a one lane foot path now (last time I was there anyway). It is open to horses and hikers as far as I know but there is no water along it that I found. Be careful though I pole vaulted a small snake last time I walked that one (should have been paying better attention).

[Lostsheep]

hmm. that one may be out of the question then. The hike is in July and we'll definitely need a water source. That's part of the reason why I think the Randolph TH will be out of the question. There's just not much there!

[Joshua Szulecki]

I think our Big Tree hike ran around 7 miles, and could have been stretched to 10 or so if more exploration was done.

[Lostsheep]

I think I found the 10 I needed. Could someone give me some input on this planned trip?

Beginning at Thompson Creek Trailhead and car camping Fri night.
We'll head south along FT206(thompson ck) toward Ship Rock/EOTN.
We'll pick up FT209(sipsey rvr trl) and head to Bee Branch Canyon.
We'll head up to the Big Tree/Bee Branch Falls via FT204 and return back to FT209 using the Bee Branch Trail.
   **Is there really two distinct trails or is there only one?**
We'll follow FT209 back to Ship Rock/EOTN area and cross the Sipsey River heading toward FT201.
We'll follow FT201N to the river junction and continue up river to School House Falls.
Returning back to the river junction, we'll cross the Sipsey River and head back North along FT209 back to the TH.

At least this is the plan so far. There will be 8-10 of us as of right now also. The major concern is that this is planned as a dayhike and we will leave the wilderness Sat evening.

Here's the map I used for planning too Sipsey Wilderness Club Map
Does anyone have any suggestions or comments regarding this? I'd appreciate some input from those that know a bit more.....thanks.

[Nalgene Ninja]

The SWC map is fine to print out and give out to your scouts. But I would have at least one copy of the Cartocraft Sipsey Map.

The route sounds fine too. Have fun!

[Lostsheep]

Do you have a link or a place where I can buy the Cartocraft map?

I have the Alabama topo quad map (photo 1976) and the briartech maps as well. I'm hoping they'll suffice. That and I've been on those trails a few times now, so they shouldn't be too hard.

I'm just a little unfamililar w/ the no name trail up to Bee Branch, and the trail to School House Falls. I'm hoping I can wing those alright.

[cwhiker]

you can buy the map at the trading post in wren or  the Mnt high store sells them

[Joshua Szulecki]

When are you planning on doing this hike?

Personally, I'd recommend that if you have some time, you hike it out and TIME it. If you get lost on a 10 mile hike in this heat, you might be spending the night.

[Lostsheep]

Thanks for the concern Josh. I've expressed the same thing with some of the leaders and they believe it is possible to get the 10mi in one day and still make it out before dark. Hopefully they are correct.

The trip will be July 11-12. Since arriving late on Fri, they'll camp near Thompson TH and hit the trails by 6:30-7am on Sat. Also, the Scoutmaster is planning on 6hrs of hiking. I will be taking a tarp in my daybag as an impromptu shelter just in case.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Good luck with it!

I'm sure you'll be fine, but I'm never sure why people schedule such long dayhikes, because I can't imagine you have all that much time to really look around and get the flavor of the land. Then again, I've been guilty of both hiking longer than I should have for proper enjoyment, AND taking WAYYYYY too long on a short hike because I was taking pictures, but none of that is terribly relevant.

Do they have to cover 10mi in a day for some requirement?

[Lostsheep]

Yes. They have to get 10mi in one day for the requirement. Unfortunately, they will be going to somewhere like Sipsey that has so much beauty to see. For them to rush it, I feel like they'll miss out on half of the experience.

I'm trying to get them to stay Sat night as well and do some exploring or relaxation that afternoon instead of rushing the drive home.

[JRR]

hmm. that one may be out of the question then. The hike is in July and we'll definitely need a water source. That's part of the reason why I think the Randolph TH will be out of the question. There's just not much there!

If you go in from Borden Creek, it's only about 4 miles to the tree, you can get water there and come out via 209.

[Lostsheep]

From Borden to the Tree is only 4mi? What trail are you following? I'd like to explore that possibility.

[JRR]

Just hike up 224 (the old road) and take a left on - I believe 205, it might be 204, this trail turns sw, take it to 204 alternate, which will take you straight into the canyon.  About 4, maybe 4.5 miles all told.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Lostsheep,

It is only about 2.5 miles if you know the shortcut Jay took us on. It was about 4 miles on the old road collection that I think JRR is talking about. It was 4 long, BORING miles, compared to the shortcut, but much supported a nice quick clip.

Hopefully Jay will chime in on the route we took, since he knew it better than I do.