Lick Branch to Thompson Creek Backpacking in Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama

In this video, Jonathan and I go on an entirely off-trail explore and overnight backpacking trip in the Sipsey Wilderness of Northwest Alabama.
We started at the Gum Pond Parking Area in the far north of the wilderness and struck out through the trees to the southwest in search of the Lick Branch Falls. We quickly found the location of the falls, though with the extreme drought that we have been experiencing this fall, it was completely dry. We then picked our way down the Lick Branch; sometimes following hints of a trail and sometimes just walking down the dry stream bed. Finally, we came to the intersection with the much larger, but still dry, Thompson Creek. From here, we found a more distinct path and followed that along sandstone cliffs until we found an old cooler full of equally old beer cans and close by a very large rock shelter overhang and we decided to camp just outside the entrance.
The next day, we hiked upstream along the Thompson Creek through clear sign of old trails and even old roads until we reached the confluence with the Mattox Creek. Here we refilled our water bottles from a small pool and explored a bit before we headed up an old road to the top of the plateau. There were a lot of downed trees along this incline which made the going much slower than expected. Finally, we hiked along the top of the plateau to the Gum Pond Cemetery and then back to the starting point at the Gum Pond Parking Area.
The weather and stunning fall colors were beautiful and this was a great opportunity to explore some new areas of the Sipsey Wilderness.
The Sipsey Wilderness (#sipseywilderness) lies within the Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama. Sipsey was the first designated wilderness area in Alabama in 1975 and now encompasses about 24,922 acres (10,086 ha). Rivers and streams have carved canyons and valleys in the limestone and sandstone of the local plateau resulting in a wide range of micro-climates in a short hiking distance, some amazing natural features, a few historic sites, as well as endless nooks and crannies to explore. Wilderness camping, building campfires, hunting, and fishing are permitted. Drones are not allowed. Sipsey is a "Leave no Trace" area (lnt.org/why/7-...) with, despite appearances, no designated fire rings, camp sites or facilities. Unfortunately, there are many traces of the hundreds who hike and camp here every year. Please be considerate and do not add to the already extensive damage in this special place.
My custom maps of the Sipsey Wilderness: drive.google.c...
My other videos of the Sipsey Wilderness:
• Sipsey Wilderness
Link toTrail info: www.alltrails....
Equipment:
Camera: GoPro Hero8 Black: gopro.com/en/u...
Title card music by Lobo-Loco: freemusicarchiv...
#hike
#hiking
#backpacking

[@virgilcaine4843]

Thanks for posting these videos. I'm planning some trips to the Sipsey Wilderness for 2024. When backpacking in Alabama, to you find the need to take any precautions for bears?

[@SoutheasternFrontiers]

There are not any bears in the Sipsey Wilderness or Bankhead National Forest (yet). There have been some reports of black bears in the northeast part of the state with reports that they are slowly spreading west, but I haven't seen sign of any myself. About once a year bears are reported raiding garbage cans in the Huntsville area, but again, I haven't seen any sign of any myself yet. I keep expecting to run into some in the Talladega National Forest as I've read sporadic reports of them there, but so far nothing. North Georgia has bears and western North Carolina and east Tennessee definitely have bears (and I have run into those bears frequently). I always carry and use my bear bag to hang food in those areas, but I do not carry bear spray for black bears (grizzlies out west are another matter!!). Just stay aware of what is around you and give any bears you encounter some respectful distance. 95% of the time they go crashing off through the woods as soon as they detect you (and you don't even get to see them).

[@SoutheasternFrontiers]

The biggest wildlife threat in the Sipsey Wilderness are wild boars (feral pigs) and even they are very rare to encounter. The key with them is not to corner them where they feel they can't get out without attacking you. You can usually smell them and see their tracks or where they have been rutting ("plowed up" ground) long before you see any. I've never seen any while recording my videos, but they are out there and people do see them from time to time.