Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 49

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92

    Halloween in the Sipsey

    This weekend was the Halloween in the Sipsey hangout. We're all home and dried out now (I think ) after a wet but wonderful time!

    Our original plan was to hike a different canyon area each day, and essentially we did...but some inclement weather and sickness necessitated a few changes to our route. Nevertheless we met the challenges and overcame them for a successful outing..

    I would like to personally thank each and every attendee for their good humor and grit through what was a challenging but exhilarating hike. Great to spend time on the trail with you all...

    I won't go into a tedious retelling of the whole event, but rather will give a 'general overview'. I hope all the attendees will fill in the details and stories in their own words..

    Thursday - After meeting up at the Sipsey Rec area, we shuttled ourselves to the Caney Creek FS gate and hiked the trail to the spectacular Upper Caney Falls (double waterfall), and then on to the Lower Caney Falls (triple waterfall) to make camp for the night. The total hike was only about 2 miles, but they were *'Sipsey Miles'. We arrived in time to set camp just before dark. Skippy and MacEntyre joined us a couple of hours later, and we all enjoyed a brightly moonlit evening around a campfire perched under a scenic bluff shelter. Good times...

    Friday - We awoke to a warm and clear morning. We had expected rain to overtake us in the night, but it never came and we were presented with a beautiful day's worth of weather for exploring. So, after a quick breakfast we all spent some time enjoying the nearby waterfalls before starting a 'creek walk' by wading down the canyon and enjoying the many many rocky bluffs, side cascades, etc. We all relished the creek walk and likened it to childhood days of exploring.. After the wonderful exploratory hike, we returned to camp and hiked back to the FS gate to shuttle to meet the ones joining us that day. Upon arriving at the meet up point, we were soon joined by BillyBob58, HikingShoes, and Bigbamaguy, and we all greeted each other and chatted as we lunched. Then, we proceeded to convoy towards the trailhead. We did stop along the way to take a side hike to the Kinlock Shelter (enormous historic bluff shelter with petroglyphs). The afternoon walking route we chose was just less than 5 Sipsey miles of absolutely gorgeous scenery which we hiked through with aplomb. The delayed rain caught up with us *just* as we finished the hike and got into camp...and it continued entirely unabated for the next 12 hours. Our compatriot IhangnBankhead hiked in during the rainy deluge, and camped only a few hundred yards from us but was unable to make the last stream crossing in the dark.

    Saturday - We awoke to find the river's level up several feet, and all of the side creeks running in full force. While amazingly beautiful, it would be tough going on the trails. Sadly, though, our friend Skippy had fallen ill during the night with severe nausea and dry heaving which was already leading to dehydration. So, we all conversed and picked a hiking route that would lead us back to the trailhead so that he could get out to medical attention. Our route did take us through some remarkably scenic canyons, waterfalls, etc..so all was not lost. But, it was a very tough day's hike over some rough terrain. We made it through, though, and got Skippy out to safety by mid-afternoon. After the torrential rain, wet trail conditions, rough trerrain, and sickness...there was much enthusiasm for a change of plan. So, instead of continuing another canyon hike we decided to change our destination to scenic campground just outside of the wilderness for the evening...of course that allowed us to enjoy a wonderful and semi-famous local steakhouse on the way. And after a belly-filling meal of good camraderie, we retired to the campground for the evening to enjoy several hours of campfire chat, storytelling, visits by the local rednecks who DougTheElder scared away with his costume, and a remarkably sound night's sleep listening to the water flow over a nearby spillway dam.

    Sunday - We awoke and enjoyed a morning of chatting and gear talk while having breakfast before the long-traveling attendees needed to depart. The usual suspects couldn't resist one last day hike, though...so we spent the greater portion of the day bushwhacking down Brushy Creek and visiting yet more scenic bluffs, spectacular waterfalls, winding streams, etc...

    All in all it was a scenic, rugged, unexpectedly off-plan hangout...but one that we will have memories of for a long time.. Thanks to everyone that attended!

    Pics courtesy of Hetairoi.

    * Sipsey Mile = a unit of trail measurement equivalent in distance to one standard mile, but that includes no fewer than two boulder hops, four large blow-down traverses, and two (typically small) stream crossings, many of which are in conjunction with one another and often on sloping ground.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  2. #2
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    More pics.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  3. #3
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Some more pics.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  4. #4
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Perhaps another few.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  5. #5
    Senior Member BillyBob58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Tupelo, MS
    Posts
    11,108
    Images
    489
    Quote Originally Posted by angrysparrow View Post
    Perhaps another few.
    AS, in post #4(pics didn't show up in quote) who is that in the last picture bottom right, picture #10?

  6. #6
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Quote Originally Posted by BillyBob58 View Post
    AS, in post #4(pics didn't show up in quote) who is that in the last picture bottom right, picture #10?
    Hetairoi.

    Looking haggard on day 4 of the hangout.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  7. #7

    ἑταῖροι
    Hetairoi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    I'm over here!
    Hammock
    Switchback
    Tarp
    OES MacCat Ultra
    Insulation
    How cold is it?
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    283
    Images
    10
    I think that's the one that got Ihangnbankhead's wife to ask who the girl was
    Live by the sword, die by the arrow

  8. #8
    Senior Member BillyBob58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Tupelo, MS
    Posts
    11,108
    Images
    489
    Quote Originally Posted by Hetairoi View Post
    I think that's the one that got Ihangnbankhead's wife to ask who the girl was
    Doug PMed me to say it was you, and I went "DOH!". It was the hair, I remember it always being pulled straight back.

    I've been going back over all of these pics in these Sipsey threads, and salivating. I am ready to go again ASAP. The place is great and the groups are great. Lot's of fun!

    My toe nail(Sipsey Toe) is still half black, it is taking forever to look normal. Feels good, looks bad! I've decided my other problem, with my severely sore left heel, was severe Plantar Fascitis. I have 2 pairs of Birkenstock shoes, one of which completely eliminates that problem for me. I'm working on finding some hiking shoes ( or possibly inserts if they exist) that have that kind of great arch support. I guess old age is rapidly catching up with my feet!

  9. #9
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Quote Originally Posted by BillyBob58 View Post
    I've been going back over all of these pics in these Sipsey threads, and salivating. I am ready to go again ASAP. The place is great and the groups are great. Lot's of fun!
    We should start planning another hangout soon, then. The only conflict I know of is the Pinhoti hangout in 3 weeks.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  10. #10
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    One last time.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Something for halloween!,
      By Roadrunnr72 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 07-11-2012, 12:28
    2. Halloween in the Sipsey (Oct 29-Nov 1)
      By angrysparrow in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 223
      Last Post: 10-30-2009, 19:56
    3. Halloween...
      By Iafte in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 10-14-2007, 20:42

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •