Sipsey Waterfall Day Hike

[MississipVol]

This may be a dumb question but has anyone ever thought about getting together and making some log-bridge crossings like they have up in the Smokies? I would think it would be a great alternative for folks that don't want to get drenched while day-hiking or, especially, backpacking.

Just wondered.

[Bad Biscuit]

One issue is that the water level varies from a few inches to over 20 ft and changes very rapidly. But the real reason is it's a wilderness area.

[BillyBob58]

I've only been to sipsey once and on day 1 Borden was impassable. Afternoon of day 2 and Borden looked like it did in jnunniv's pic. How does the sipsey crossing on the 202 compare to the Borden crossing? What about farther upstream where the 209 crosses? I know it's all dependent on rainfall and water level, but when conditions are the same how do they all compare to one another?

The other 2 you mentioned are usually not deep, with a more firm rocky bed. Slightly upstream from the 209 crossing is the cascades-you can rock hop across, but the bank is steep on the 209 side.

One issue is that the water level varies from a few inches to over 20 ft and changes very rapidly. But the real reason is it's a wilderness area.

Take a look at the graphs on this page. Plug in variables as needed to cover X amount of days( 1 year is standard), and scroll down. Flow from about 5 cubic feet/second to almost 7000 over the last year, gage height from about 2 to ~ 23 ft! This is for the Sipsey River, but the same principle applies to all of the feeder creeks. ( I plugged in for about 5 years and the low fell to under 1 cfs flow and high up to about 10,000! (gage height was still ~ 2 up to 31 ft. IOW, from almost nothing to wash you away!

http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/n...te_no=02450250

[Bammacker]

Yes, that was Borden a little bit upstream from the official crossing point. It will get deep in a hurry when it rains.

We went a few weeks ago and had to cross, it was knee deep, and bone chilling. My legs were numb for an hour. I guess the warmer days have helped to warm up a bit, but I'm sure still very cold.

[gps4]

This may be a dumb question but has anyone ever thought about getting together and making some log-bridge crossings like they have up in the Smokies? I would think it would be a great alternative for folks that don't want to get drenched while day-hiking or, especially, backpacking.

Just wondered.

I think a cable line bridge similar to a horizontal dumb waiter would be feasible at a couple of crossings that would make crossing a bit easier during high water

[MississipVol]

One issue is that the water level varies from a few inches to over 20 ft and changes very rapidly. But the real reason is it's a wilderness area.

I can definitely see where the water levels would prove problematic, but I think they've done a great job in the Smokies of preserving the character of the wilderness but making trails much more accessible.

[Bad Biscuit]

But the real reason is it's a wilderness area.

While some type of bridge would be convenient, there are rules and/or regulations in place although I don't know all of them.

I believe there are very few, if any, man made objects that are allowed to be placed in a designated wilderness area.

IMHO, bridges are great for state parks, nature areas, etc but distract from a true wilderness experience.

Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in.

[03XJeep]

Beautiful pics. I need to find some trails near here that some nice waterfalls. That water looks a bit too cold so I have to applaud your ability to wade in that.