Date:   November 12, 2023 at 7:25:56 PM CST

Day 1: Sipsey big tree – needle eye

I drove to the tipsy today I stopped in alabaster to charge up, and I stopped again in Cullman to charge up and have lunch. I continued on to the Thompson trailhead.
I parked my car at the end of a bridge that was marked do not use. I took my trekking poles and climbed over the bar that prevented cars from going across the bridge and started my journey.

The first mile and a half was fairly Ho hum. The next half mile was anything but. It felt like a climb down the waterfall. The creek was dry, but I wouldn’t wanna cross this if the water was flowing. Halfway down I fell straight on my ass; thankfully I was OK but being alone, I was very concerned. The rock wall was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, once I climb down, I looked up and it was over 100 feet to the top of the rock wall the trees next to me fully grown or barely able to get over the top of that side of rock.

I went by the off trail to where the big tree is The Bee Branch Creek was desolate so I didn’t even make an attempt to get up to the big tree. Instead, I carried on trail 206 until I reach the point we had been before on Trail 209 and I carried forward from there the next 2 miles Were fairly straight and easy. I went around Needles eye and hiked another mile until I got to the campsite that I’m at now.

There is a burn ban in effect; we haven’t had rain in several weeks. It rained yesterday and it is raining again tomorrow, so I don’t feel terrible about having a campfire tonight.

I’m camping somewhere between Needles Eye and Auburn Falls, but the conditions out here I won’t be surprised if tomorrow I don’t find out that Auburn Falls is not a fall.

I hiked between five and 6 miles today and I think I’ve got 2 to 3 more to do tomorrow.

This is the first solo backpacking trip I have ever taken and honestly I think I want to do it again.

I enjoy the solitude but I do miss talking to others one night maybe two is the most I would want to do this trip I’m only doing one night I’ll update if Auburn Falls is flowing.