Sipsey Wilderness Trip Report

Sipsey Wilderness Trip Report
November 26th - 29th, 2009

November 26th, 6:00 pm. Matthew and I got into our loaded down Xterra for the roughly 2 hour drive to the Sipsey Recreation Picnic Area. We were excited! We were meeting with Mississippi Rob, HoboSteph, and Robs 2 kids for a 2 and a half-ish day hike.This was my first trip to Sipsey, and Matthews first multi-night trip. So we drove into the night and we eventually made it there.....

We made it to the trail head around 7:45 pm. As soon as we got there we bust out of the truck, grabed our headlamps / flashlights and headed down the trail! Who cares that it was dark-thirty, we wanted to see what awaited us....

The trail started under the very road that we drove on to get there....under a bridge. Matthew found a cane pole that was just his size, ran up against the bridge and forced me to take his pic.....

After this we walked down the trail just a little ways more. I came across what I thought was a tombstone at first, but turned out to be a trail marker, I presume...

We walked a little farther, dreaming one step at a time, what the trail will hold for us the next morning! We finally turned around and headed back to the truck to get everything settled in, but not before I took my own pic....

 

We got back to the truck, moved everything around and tried to make a palate in the back with a bunch of quilts and pillows. It was then that I realized that I couldn't fully lay down in the back of my Xterra! We made it work though....

We had our DVD player and brought along Indiana Jones to watch before bedtime. So we layed back, turned the movie on and tried to relax. Then we noticed that the Xterra doesn't stay warm very long inside when it;s turned off, so we turned it on and off for a while......

I woke up around 2:00 am and noticed that Mississippi Rob, and HoboSteph had made it, so I tried to go back to sleep......It was very cold. The temperature reading in the truck was 29* F......BBrrrrrr....

Finally it was morning! We got up, and I dug the stove and cook set out of my backpack and started boiling water for breakfast (luckily Rob and Steph had brought a gallon of it - it wasn't their first trip!) So, I got breakfast going....

Matthew was so cold, he didn't want to move, even to say hi to our new friends! Finally warm food and hot cocoa got him moving around. He climbed in the back of the Xterra for breakfast, white powder doughnuts, Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal, and hot cocoa. He made a mess.....

I had my coffee and Oatmeal and he finished most of his.....So we got our stuff packed up, got the truck locked up and went to meet our new friends. MississippiRob, HoboSteph, Head of the Class, and Mississippi Queen. We stood around and talked while finished getting all there stuff rounded up.

So then we got going! The kids were excited but still a little tired. The air was still cool, but the scenery took your mind off of that! It was beautiful! So here we go......We stopped and let the kids go and explore all the "caves" that they saw, ok, most of them. Even though the trip was for us (the adults), it was about the kids, so we let them go. They had a great time.

 

So, we trekked on. I think everyone led at one time. I hung back and talked gear with Rob, talk about the kids with Steph, and laughed at all the kids! The only thing that I didn't have was Brandy.....

So we hiked on some more, crossed some little streams, stoped for snacks, and enjoyed God's majestic artwork that we where wandering through....It was during this first early morning that Matthew got his trail name, Twig!

At one point we had decided that we didn't turn off on 209 and stayed on 200, so we backtracked a little ways. We came to a large opening that had a small creek on one side, and the river on the other. We debated about going on or staying, and let the kids decide. They concluded that we make camp there and day hike the rest. So we made camp.

We first had lunch, then set up tents, hung bear bags, then Rob and I repacked small packs with snacks and water and what nots and took the kids for a hike. Steph hung out a camp and settled in a few more things and enjoyed a book in the nice quiet wilderness....

 

 

Rob and I continued to head down the Borden Creek Trail. We met another couple with a little girl that had set up camp on down from us. They told us that Fat Man Squeeze was just on down so we made that our goal. From that point all the kids talked about was Fat Man Squeeze! We finally made it, and it was a squeeze....

 

 

Going in was hard, but coming back out was harder! On the other side we were rewarded with an awesome  double waterfall...

So, the kids played around and then we made our way back to camp for the night. We got back to camp and got settled in. We made us some nice warm dinner, some more hot cocoa, (hot tea for me) and got ready for the night. It was already getting cold again, and the lows were supposed to get in the high 20's the last time we had checked.
We made us a nice little fire, got warm, enjoyed some conversation and turned in pretty early.. We had a big day ahead of us the next day so we needed our rest, and it was going to be a cold night to get through.

 

 

The next morning we woke up early. We had to get ready for the water crossing! We all stumbled around until fully awoke, which didn't take long, it was cold!! We got our warm breakfasts' and hot drinks made and then got ready to head off...

 We took up our packs and head off....into the wild. We backtracked to 209 and made our way down the embankment and changed into our water shoes! This was both mine and Twigs first water crossing, and despite the near freezing temperatures, we were all excited! This will definitely be a memory that I believe we all will have....

 

After we crossed and all had a good laugh we climbed the embankment on the other side and sat down to dry our feet and put our boots back on. We also had a quick snack here and then hauled our packs up again and headed for Falls Creek Falls! The kids found lots of nooks and cranny's to hide and play in along the way....

 

We hiked along and finally made it to Fall Creek Falls, and it was grand. I never would've thought that such beauty was just a few miles down the road from my house, but here it was! We watched the kids run and play, throw rocks in the small pool just below the falls, and climb the rocks. Twig picked up a second trail name here, HoboSteph dubbed him Mountain Goat!

We settled down, took our packs off and pulled out some lunch.

 

 

We got loaded up after a nice lunch to carry on. The day had turned very nice! It was good and warm and the sun was shining. So we made our way past the falls and hiked on some more. After a while we contemplated turning back for the day. There were mixed answers so Rob decided to head up a large hill where we were currently at and do some exploring! After that we would head back and call it a night.

After a short time exploring we headed back towards camp. Twig and Head of the Class resumed their session of sword fighting and we started getting everything ready for dinner and the night. This was our last night out in the wilderness...

 

We had our dinner and Steph broke out the brownies! We celebrated MississippiRob and Head of the Class' birthday. After this we sat around the fire and told old war stories, and I learned of the Hairy Man story! It was a good night. The air was only slightly cool, some clouds had moved in around the moon, and the fire gave us a hearty warmth. We sat around and enjoyed our last night....then we hit the sack listening to the slow soothing flow of the creek just below us....

The next morning we got up super early, had breakfast and tore down camp. We packed our bags and made sure we took everything we brought in the wilderness, back out. As we were finishing, only a shadow remained on a single garbage bag that MississippiRob had left out to collect any trash we saw on the way out....

The kids lead the way back out. Sometimes they would have to stop and wait on us......

So, we made it out around 9:15 am this morning. We took our packs off and loaded them in our Xterra's, got cleaned up a little bit then said our goodbyes.....

This was my first trip to the Sipsey Wilderness, but I plan on going back. It is too beautiful not to. Even if it's for a day hike, but I know I'll spend more nights out in the wilderness, if God's willing....

There is much more to our story than whats posted here, and many more pics. Just click on My Picasa pics and go to the Sipsey album to see them all....

Thanks for reading....

Give Thanks To God

 Thanksgiving is a day that is set aside. Why? Well to give thanks! Of course.....

"Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, (but is now also celebrated as a secular holiday). The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony survive the brutal winter. The tradition of giving thanks to God is continued today in various forms."

The traditional "first Thanksgiving" is the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving Dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members and friends.

With all this being said, to me Thanksgiving is a "special time set aside for family and friends to get together." It is a time for families to strengthen their bonds with one another. And it's hard for me to say this because some members of my family and I are distances apart, and don't get to see each other often. And truth be told, I don't get around to seeing the ones that are close enough to see even on a daily bases. Let alone call on a daily bases.

So, this is a time to get together with family. This is a time to cook lots of good food, have everyone around, stuff themselves and be merry, together! But more importantly to give thanks to God. And what's even better than that, to give thanks to God, as a family! Ecclesiastes 4:12 says it like this:

Though one may be overpowered,
       two can defend themselves.
       A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Just imagine if an entire family stands together!

So, I give thanks to God for the love that He has given me, and the opportunity that He gives me everyday to be a part of His family!
My prayer to God is that I can grow stronger to both Him, and with my earthly family.

Here are a few pictures from a Thanksgiving Dinner that we shared at my mothers house, then at Brandy's granny's house.....

Thanks for taking the time to read through this! And please leave comments for what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving!

"I am a Christian"

One of the hardest things for me to do is to tell people I am a Christian.With all the doubt and criticism that Christianity is faced with, I'm afraid that I will not be able to accomplish this very thing!

I believe that the most effective way to tell someone about Jesus is not by telling them, but instead by showing them. Through my acts of love. More importantly, through my acts of loving others. I believe this because when I read through the Bible, the backbone of every verse seems to be based on love, somehow or another. Also, I say this because it is through others love for me that I see Christ as well! This is why I am so proud to be a part of my church. I have experienced love firsthand from many people at the Church of the Crossroads. Love speaks volumes more than words can.

I'll admit that I have problems with this. Sometimes I get in God's way and try to do things myself. This will not work. Instead I need to quit worrying about what I will do and let God do it through me.

So, in doing this I am asking God to show me ways to love. People. Love them as myself.

By letting God love me the way only He can!

By letting Him take control in my life.

By letting God in.

This is the best way that I am convinced to tell someone about God. By letting Him in my life.

I came across this poem by Carol Wimmer from 1988 through Mark Verbers site and it got me thinking about this, so I thought I would share. Here is the poem.....

 When I say "I am a Christian"

by Carol Wimmer

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering, "I get lost!  That's why I chose this way"

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name

When I say, "I am a Christian,"  I do not wish to judge
I have no authority--I only know I'm loved


Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

Picture Day

So, on this beautiful day my beautiful fiance and I drove to meet our wedding photographer for our engagement photos. April took our photographs outside in the leaves, near an old timey looking red barn, and at an historic war home and in the beautiful garden areas that surrounded the home. It made for a beautiful day, and I thank God that he gave me such a wonderful women to spend it with.....
As we were striking and holding poses for April (the photographer) I did something that I haven't done in quite a while....I stared into Brandy's beautiful eyes. The way they sparkled in the light, and the light striking her face and bringing out her beautiful smile, the way her hair hangs down and outlines her delicate face.....she is gorgeous.
It is so easy to get caught up in our everyday life, and to carry on in life in a zombie like state. Ok, so maybe that's a little drastic, but what I'm saying is it's easy to get caught up in habits, or everyday rituals. Today, God gave me a shrug. It's like He said, "Son, look at the woman that I have given to you, really look at her. Forget everything else going on around you and see her. Take a moment, and love her again." And I did.
So, I want to thank God tonight for my soon to be wife. She is truly a blessing to me. And not that I don't think of her as that everyday, but sometimes I need to be reminded, a refresher of sorts. And it's in these moments as well that I see God's love. For me, for her, forever.
God is such a lover. He shook me and woke me up (again) today, not just for me to see Brandy, but ultimately for me to see Him. I have everything in my life to thank God for, and for these things I thank Him. He showed me today how He loves me. He reminds me of the blessings that he has given to me. And He shows me this because he wants to draw me nearer to Him. He wants to love me as only He can. And He is so good and grand, the way that he reminds me is with a gentle nub, not with pain and hurt, but with love. By reminding me of His love for me, through Brandy's beauty.
God is good.
God is love.

The Beatitudes

Here is a video that Joe Woolworth from our church created. It was for a study that we did on the Beatitudes. I thought it is pretty cool and thought I would share.


Beatitudes Kinetic Typography from Joe Woolworth on Vimeo.

You can check out Joe's website here: http://relevantmediasolutions.com/portfolio/

Something to think about......

Here is an email that I got today. It kinda hits the spot for me. It is something that I must learn to keep in mind at all times.  I am very guilty of these things especially while at work. It's  easy for me to get tired and lazy, and it's the little things that I decide I don't want to do. I think that once the big things are done, then I should be done! However, the small things will matter, just as the big things matter. Friday, November 20, 2009

Servants Do Every Task with Equal Dedication by Rick Warren

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." Luke 16:10 (NLT)

Servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants "do it with all their heart" (Colossians 3:23 NIV). The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It's a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, "If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody" (Galatians 6:3 NLT). It is in these small services that we grow like Christ. Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he came to serve. It wasn't in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example (John 13:15). Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant's heart is revealed in little acts that others don't think of doing, as when Paul gathered brushwood for a fire to warm everyone after a ship wreck (Acts 28:3). He was just as exhausted as everyone else, but he did what everyone needed. No task is beneath you when you have a servant's heart. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. There will always be more people willing to do "great" things for God than there are people willing to do the little things. The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants. Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way, you develop a servant's heart when you're willing to do anything needed.

Bonfires & Hayrides

I want to start this blog off with a gathering of our small group from church called the Vessel. It was our get together the weekend before Halloween and like the title suggest, we had a bonfire and a hayride!
It was a great night out! Time spent with good friends and the kids (and adults) got to enjoy a hayride. We had a nice fire that the kids couldn't help but throw things in! After that we gave them marshmallows and made s'mores.
It was a wonderful night as everyone enjoyed each others company, and a great time to enjoy the Lords presence!
So, here is a photo video from that night....

Enjoy!