Sipsey Wilderness/ Bankhead NF - North Alabama

**bigbamaguy** · 09-21-2010, 09:33

CLB:
look at some of the past Sipsey Threads to see some of the pictures from the hangs. It is some of the most beautiful wilderness I have been in.

**treenester** · 10-19-2010, 07:04

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

I still remember Thomas (Ihanginbankhead?) crossing that log many feet above the creek the next morning.

I've crossed that log before. Correction - scooted across that log

It's amazing how fast the water rises up there. I wouldn't be afraid to say Borden was head high last spring after the rains. Right now you won't even get your feet wet crossing it.

**BillyBob58** · 10-19-2010, 08:23

Originally Posted by treenester

I've crossed that log before. Correction - scooted across that log

It's amazing how fast the water rises up there. I wouldn't be afraid to say Borden was head high last spring after the rains. Right now you won't even get your feet wet crossing it.

Exactly, I crossed it at the Sipsey/Borden junction couple of weeks ago and managed it without getting my shoes wet! And it has not rained for another two weeks now!

**MacEntyre** · 10-19-2010, 09:12

That is an important log, which requires maintenance!

**jmudler** · 10-25-2010, 17:12

You really cant find a "bad spot" along the Sipsey

**BillyBob58** · 10-25-2010, 18:12

Originally Posted by treenester

I've crossed that log before. Correction - scooted across that log

It's amazing how fast the water rises up there. I wouldn't be afraid to say Borden was head high last spring after the rains. Right now you won't even get your feet wet crossing it.

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

Exactly, I crossed it at the Sipsey/Borden junction couple of weeks ago and managed it without getting my shoes wet! And it has not rained for another two weeks now!

Originally Posted by MacEntyre

That is an important log, which requires maintenance!

It is an important log! Referring to the log across Bee Branch close to where you and the rest of us camped last Halloween. The log over the very deep Bee Branch, which had been only ankle deep at the previous sunset. Had it not been for that log, I think Thomas would have had to swim. But, just to be clear, I crossed Borden Creek- which seemed at least neck deep the 1st time I hiked beside it the Feb it snowed- without need of a log this 1st of Oct. Just walked across without even getting my feet wet, and that at the Borden/Sipsey junction. That is how dry it is. But we did get a good rain yesterday, and I suspect so did the Sipsey.

**ratherbecampin** · 09-15-2011, 12:04

Originally Posted by MacEntyre

I actually finished drinking Gorge water while hiking in the Sipsey!

- MacEntyre

Living the dream!!!

**BillyBob58** · 09-15-2011, 13:35

The waterfalls must have been mind boggling- and the creeks beyond dangerous, when Lee came through a couple weeks back. Look at this graph of water flow. The little diamonds at the bottom show the 44 year median daily. Which looks like about 9 cu ft. per second. And the max for todays date is 293 from 1979. When tropical storm Lee came through, it went to about - my best effort to read it- 1700 or more. Whew!
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb...te_no=02450250

Here is a 4 month(max allowed) chart:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb...te_no=02450250

**Navigator** · 09-15-2011, 15:09

I agree that you won't find a bad place to hang. Last time I camped on Thompson Creek and Ship Rock. One piece of advice: The trees are old and many are quite large. Make sure your tree hugger straps are plenty long. Sounds like you'll have a great time.

- Nav