Heading out. 8:00 a.m. Sipsey Picnic Area, Upper parking lot. Up front, Murphy the Dog, and Gary White "Whiteman". From left, Myrna Tuggle, Larry Barkey, and Mike Henshaw "Hank". Myrna hiked the portion to Borden Creek and returned to the Picnic Area.
Murphy, Whiteman's dog. He's totally excited about his new day pack, as you can see.
Larry at the only necessary stream crossing, Borden Creek.
Hank and Murphy at Falls Creek Falls.
Greedy Whiteman withholds food from Murphy.
Whiteman tells Murphy "you're not really hungry."
Hank uproots a Chinese privet bush with a vengeance.
Chief Sipsey Rock
Good dog.
Whiteman takes the high road; Murphy takes the low road.
On the trail.
Larry hangs ten.
Whiteman takes the high road, again. Murphy takes the low road, again.
Oakleaf hydrangea in fall color on a boulder.
Hank in a formation we named "ultralight tent."
Budda?
Smaller tributary enters Sipsey Fork.
Murphy runs out of gas.
Whiteman and Murphy make a second stream crossing. This crossing was done to hike the quarter mile of 209 that lies on the other side of the Sipsey. This done, Larry and Whiteman can righteously say "We hiked ALL of trail 209." Of course, a consequence of that action was that they had to re-cross the Sipsey to get to 206. Whiteman and Larry chose this route, Hank took a righteous nap on a sandbar for 45 minutes.
Larry makes a second stream crossing.
Whiteman makes a third stream crossing.
After 12 miles, Murphy dog says "It's 5:00 somewhere, let's go HOME."
