The group for the Fall 2014 Sipsey trip.
It happened suddenly, silently and without warning. We missed a sign and veered onto the wrong trail.
We were early into our overnight backpacking and Bible study trip in northwest Alabama’s Sipsey Wilderness with some guys from my former Bible study group. This trip in late September was only my second time in the Sipsey and the first time at Thompson Trailhead. Our plan was to follow Trail 206 along Thompson Creek and continue east on Trail 209 along the Sipsey Fork and explore the Bee Branch area before turning around and heading home the next day. These are all official and well-worn paths.
That was the plan. But about 15 minutes into the hike we reach a campsite and an apparent crossing of the then bone-dry Thompson Creek. There are no blazes to mark the official Sipsey trails, only signs at pivotal intersections on official trails. To further complicate things there are many “unofficial” trails made by hikers over the years. These trails are unmaintained and not recognized by the U.S. Forest Service, but they are easy to confuse with official trails if you are not careful.
On this hike, we missed a turn across Thompson Creek very early and took us on a 4 or 5 mile detour on a faint “unofficial” path up an area called White Oak Hollow. We were never in any danger and it ended up being a fun side adventure, but it served as an important spiritual reminder to me.
We followed a creek bed for about 30-45 minutes through some beautiful canyons, but the narrowness of the path and amount of overgrowth gave me the sneaking suspicion that this was not the well-traversed Trail 206. Still, we walked on, hopeful to find a sign we were on the right path. As we ascended a ridge, I was encouraged to see bright orange tape marking the trail as it briefly joined a faint road and jogged right back into the woods. Someone had been here before! Continue reading
Reboot Wilderness Adventures 