Sipsey Dayhike - Turkey Foot Creek - Sat. Nov. 3rd

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hey folks,

I'm just wondering if anybody would be interested in a little dayhike in Sipsey NEXT Saturday, the 3rd. I'm already planning to visit Turkey Foot Creek, so I figure it just makes sense to see if anybody wants to join me.

I'm thinking that a meeting time of either 9 or 10AM at the picnic area on Cranal Rd. would make the most sense. From there it is a short walk across the river, under the bridge, and up the creekbed.

Turkey Foot Creek Canyon features scenic waterfalls (and we're finally getting rain), and some history in the form of an old car, some native american mortars, and the signs of an old mill.

Total hike time in the canyon should be less than 3 hours, leaving plenty of time for exploration in other areas of Bankhead should time and energy permit. Should be safe for leashed dogs. Not difficult, but not an on-trail area. Total hike distance should be less than 2 miles in and out.

If you'd like to tag along, please reply in this thread, along with if you have a time preference. Hike is obviously weather-dependant.

[Magic City Matt]

Sorry about moving this one folks. Unfortunately there is no way to link an event to the calendar once it has been posted without creating a new post. Hopefully this will be fixed in later versions of the software.

[lawnmowwer]

I'll go. I am thinking about making an overnighter though.

[Joshua Szulecki]

lawnmowwer,

I'd be more than willing to join forces in the morning with anybody who wanted to do an overnight. I have some scheduling issues that won't allow me an overnight that weekend, but it obviously won't be an issue if other people overnight.

I'm hoping to get around to doing an overnight (or multi-night) trip to either Eagle/Little Ugly Creek or the Bee Branches some time this year, when the water levels are more to my liking, and the leaves are off.

RE-EDIT: I still don't think I will be able to squeeze in an overnight... I'm missing more of my equipment than I thought, and I have something that needs to get done early the following week. Plus there is the issue of my dog. He's never been camping, so I don't know how he'd behave, and I don't have anywhere to deposit him right now.

[lawnmowwer]

If You want to get together later for an overnighter I'll  see about it. As for the dog mine will be going and the only way to find out is to take Him. If we get together for an overnighter I have plenty of junk.



All things in life fall into the catagorys of stuff or junk. This makes life simple.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm settling on leaving the day-use area a little after 9AM.

I hope I'll be able to convince some of my fellow law-students to attend.

[lawnmowwer]

I will see you sat. I may not make it an overnighter as I have gotten no feedback here, and no local friends can go at this time. I am undeceided about a solo at this point. Right now I have a two nighter for the next weekend. I also have a group from church b-packing the weekend after so alot is going in the month of Nov. for Me. I also talked to another friend about going to Cheaha before the end of the year. Darn job getting in the way of my fun :'( poor me (sorry hop-a-long had to use it). By the way lawncare biz has sucked a big one the last two years.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've been trying to get some of my fellow ~400 students here at Cumberland to tag along, so far no takers. All the usual suspects are busy...

The dayhike is still on for me. I won't be able to do any camping this weekend, but overnights between Feb and March to both Eagle Creek and Caney Creek are floating in my head. I also might consider hitting upper and lower caney creek falls after Turkey Foot. The colors should be getting nice, and the lower falls has some nice foliage surrounding it.

Hopefully a few of these 50 some odd people can find a half a day for at least a dayhike!

[Skippy]

I have to work this weekend but I am looking forward to making some trips this winter.Looking forward to meeting some of the members who enjoy backpacking.Over nighters in Feb. and March sound good to me.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I want to double-check to see if anybody else is planning on coming. If you are, please post soon!

Btw, you should be home by both the Auburn and Alabama games, in case that is holding anybody up...

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hey folks,

**LAWNMOWWER TAKE NOTE IN PM**

I'm going to have to cancel tomorrow's dayhike, at least for me. I'm really sorry. A family emergency and a morning lost today talking to my insurance company on unrelated matters have forced me to reshedule this weekend's events.

I do want to still do this hike in a few weeks! I'll post an updated date and time when I have it.

[lawnmowwer]

If anyone still wants to go I will be there, and lead the trip.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Lawnmowwer,

Did anybody show up? How bad were the water levels at the falls, if you got to them?

I'll expect a delayed response because I'm betting you went ahead with the overnight. The weather is gorgeous.

[lawnmowwer]

I just did a solo day hike jo7hs2. I had a landscape job come in and really didn't have time to pack.  Unfortunately the water levels were at the lowest I have every seen. The Sipsey was so low I didn't even look for the falls. I don't think you could float a leaf down stream without hiking. I did take today to hike up into the Borden Creek Area trail (203). Most of the rocks, washes, and strems were dry all the way up Borden Creek. I covered a little over 11 miles round trip. I think you could have crossed Borden at Sipsey River trail (209) with out taking off your boots or getting your feet wet. All was not lost I did shamlessly tell most people about our little forum and there were a lot of people there today.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I was worried about how bad the water levels would be. Sipsey is right in the heart of the area of worst drought from the last map I saw. Levels have been a tad better in the eastern side of the state where I've looked, but not much.

Good to hear the word of mouth was still successful. I think I'll be sticking to foliage trips while the leaves last unless we get some rain. Of course, with the way the leaves around here work, they'll all fall off next week before any good color develops... Seems like it is always too dry in Alabama for decent color.

[Magic City Matt]

We went. Where were you guys?


Just kidding we didn't show up to the Bordon Creek TH yesterday until like 2:30 in the afternoon. Kind of went impromptu style. Hiked a few miles in and set up camp, got up this morning bushwhacked along this one bluff for a bit this morning then packed out. Merlesray and Suzglass were both with me. The leaves started really falling on us today. It was pretty and cool. made for a great weekend. BTW don't let either of those two talk you into a "friendly" game of rummy. They are both sharks.