NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Did a day trip to Sipsey last weekend, and will be going back again this weekend. Such a beautiful place, especially for around these parts. Everything about the place feels so different from anything around here. A little Pacific coast forest mixed with tropical rainforest in some areas. A lot of rivers and streams snake through the canyons, and there are plenty of waterfalls and other unique things to see. I HIGHLY recommend visiting, if you are in to hiking or kayaking, and the outdoors in general. It's in northwest AL, so you have to watch out for the banjo people.

I had only my camera, and my 1.8 50mm lens, so I was limited. I wish I had brought a different lens, since this long lens made it hard to get a lot of the shots I wanted. Plus I was snapping in a hurry to get in and out before dark. Nearly got lost doing some bushwhacking off trail, but we found our way out before dark.

































Sort of boring pictures, but they show a taste of what this place has to offer. Just walking around a bend can transform the entire landscape and scenery. I have never seen one 80 square mile area so diverse.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

Nice pics! Sipsey's a beautiful area. You're right though, a 35mm 1.8 would have been more versatile.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

I honestly didn't give much thought as to what lens was on my camera when I grabbed it up and threw it in my bag. I really brought it as a "just in case", but ended up using it quite a lot more than I had planned. When I pulled it out of my bag the first time I face palmed myself when I had to be 200' away from anything to get it all in frame.

vehicular

iTrader: (3)

Several of my friends and I canoed the Sipsey last summer. It would have been magnificent if the 'tour guide' had warned us that 3ft on the gage really meant dry riverbed for half of the trip. It was still absolutely stunning, and I would do it again in a second if I knew we would be actually paddling the whole trip, not hiking with canoes.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

The only canoe trip I have ever gone on was that way. A full day down the Cahaba, and it was mid summer during a drought..... smart move on our part. 90% carry, 10% paddling.

This time of year is the best time on the Sipsey, especially after a rain. when we were there last weekend, it was PERFECT for kayak and canoe. It had just rained for the prior few days, so it was up a bit, but the water was a nice, clear greenish blue, not muddy and murky. Though I had fun hiking, I kept looking at the water and wanted so bad to be in a kayak instead. The Sipsey has so many little offshoots to explore, so a shallow kayak would be ideal.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Went again today, did mostly off trail bushwhacking, and holy ---- did we see some sights. My trail buddy is a big hiking guy, and has been all over the Smokey Mountains and in the SE, and he said this was by far the most scenic stuff he has ever seen, anywhere. I have to agree. Some of the sights today where breathtaking, even if my photography doesn't show it. I yet again, forgot my damn wide lens, and was left with the 50mm.



































































Our first stop was a marked fall on the maps, but not close to any trails, so you only get to it by bushwhacking to it. Once we finally got there, we were both blown away by what we found. A nice waterfall, leading down into a vertical wall canyon. Unlike any other in the park. We found a way down and followed it about 2 miles, all the while in this canyon with no bank on either side. We came across several other falls along the way, and finally come out of that part of the canyon, and explored a few more falls up another fork. This trip was just incredible. In total, we walked probably 10 miles on our route, including three river crossings, and several climbs up shear walls and waterfalls. Can't beat that for a Saturday.