|
|
|
|
Tales from the Trail: November 2012
|
|
Your monthly news from PCF
|
|
|
November Quote
"CLIMB the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn."
-John Muir
|
 If you have pictures of the trail that you would like to share, please email them to us or post them on our Facebook page. |
|
Wish List
Maintaining the Palmetto Trail is a huge task and our trail coordinators do a great job. Having the proper tools, however, makes their work much easier. If you would like to donate anything on our wishlist, please contact our office at (803) 771-0870. We appreciate your help!
Wish List:
Chain Saw Winch
|
|
PCF Featured at Columbia Whole Foods Sneak Peek
 | |
PCF staff members show off the $10,000 donation from the new Columbia Whole Foods Market. This money will go towards upkeep of the Fort Jackson Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
|
Whole Foods recently hosted a sneak peek tour of their new store, taking up $5 donations from participants to benefit the Fort Jackson Passage of the Palmetto Trail. We are pleased to announce that they raised an amazing $10,000 for the trail! Thank you Whole Foods and everyone in Columbia who participated! We're happy to have such a great new partner and trail supporter in our community. Here's a link to the article in The State mentioning PCF and the tours.
|
|
|
Thanks for helping us make Paddling for Progress a success!
 | |
The first day of the conference, held in Columbia, featured Nantahala Outdoor Center President and keynote speaker Sutton Bacon.
|
 | |
The mobile workshop portion of the Spartanburg conference was a great way for participants to see firsthand the development of the new Pacolet & Lawson's Fork Blueway.
|
 | | Attendants and speakers at the Beaufort conference
discussed ways to maximize the ecotourism potential of South Carolina's blueways.
|
 | |
In Spartanburg, participants heard several speakers on the mobile workshop talk about the technical aspects of making a beautiful water trail a reality.
|
 | |
Paddling for Progress was made possible by a grant from SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
|
|
|
The next Handlebar Happy
Hour is November 14th
Meet and mingle with other bicyclists while discussing ways to make Columbia more bicycle and pedestrian friendly
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and PCF have organized Handlebar Happy Hour, a series of family friendly gatherings meant to foster open, relaxed discussion about topics the bicycling and pedestrian community faces on a local and statewide level.
This ongoing program, held the second Wednesday of the month, provides a place for anyone to openly voice their thoughts on the topics concerning bicyclists and pedestrians in the Columbia community. Publick House Restaurant will host the next of these events on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 6:00-8:00pm.
Publick House, located at 2307 Devine Street, will offer free raw fries, wings, and celery with blue cheese for any participants who arrive on bicycle or foot. Free drinks will also be available while supplies last.
 | |
Publick House has generously offered to let us host Handlebar Happy Hour at their location on Devine Street.
|
This month, a representative from the University of South Carolina's Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) will discuss the strides USC has taken to make its campus more bicycle-friendly.
 | |
October Handlebar Happy Hour participants look over materials provided by speaker Mike Dawson of The River Alliance.
|
Bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to travel individually or in groups, and for those interested in riding with others to the event, there are several group rides available to choose from. All rides meet at 5:45pm and depart at 6pm:
Cycle Center
Leader: Cycle Center Staff
1001 Harden St.
Meet: 5:45pm, Depart at 6
Summit Cycles
Leader: Tim Malson
716 Meeting St., West Columbia
Meet: 5:45pm, Depart at 6
USC Green Quad
Leader: Cara Cox
Near the corner of Sumter and Wheat streets, Sumter St. side
Meet: 5:45pm, Depart at 6pm
Outspokin' Bicycles
Leader: Krystal McManus
3223 Devine St.
Meet: 5:45pm, Depart at 6pm
City Roots Farm
Leader: Cait Costello from the Palmetto Cycling Coalition
1005 Airport Blvd.
Meet 5:45pm, Depart at 6
More information on Handlebar Happy Hour can be found on PCF's website.
For any questions about this event, please contact Meredith Walker at PCF's office at (803) 771-0870 or via email at mwalker@palmettoconservation.org.
|
|
Interested in learning more about Trail Maintenance?
If you're interested in learning about how to help trail organizations build and maintain sustainable trails, check out Midlands SORBA's Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Weekend! This event will take place Nov. 16-18 at Poinsett State Park in Wedgefield, SC. After a social event Friday evening, participants will join a classroom session Saturday morning and field session that afternoon. Space is limited, so click on the following link for registration information:
http://trailcareweekend2012.eventbrite.com/
|
The Ladies of the Palmetto Trail head to the Saluda Mountains Passage
After a fun hike together last month, we've planned another outing for the Ladies of the Palmetto Trail. November 10th, we'll be heading to the Saluda Mountains Passage of the Palmetto Trail for a fun "Whine and Dine" hike.
The Saluda Mountains Passage is one of the most recent passage to be completed. It traverses through the Greenville Watershed, and passes over the Saluda Gap. Come out and meet some great people while enjoying what SC has to offer! When: 10:30am Where: Talisman Camp parking area, Saluda, NC Length: 4 miles Carpool: Columbia - Leaves at 7:30am at 722 King Street Please contact Katherine Anderson about setting up a meetpoint in your area. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Bring water, lunch, snacks and a tailgate chair. After the hike we will have a pot-luck wine tasting, so bring a bottle of your favorite wine! We will meet at the Talisman Camp parking lot then be dropped off right past mile marker 3. The walk back down to the parking lot is moderate and the elevation is mostly decreasing. The hike should be finished around 3:30pm. Directions: http://palmettoconservation.org/SaludaMountains.asp (click on the map for detailed directions). Registration is required for this trip. Please contact Katherine Anderson at kanderson@palmettoconservation.org or (803)771-0870. The group had a wonderful first hike together on the Blue Ridge Electric Co-op Passage in October. We hope you'll consider joining us this month!   
|
Cyclists Flock to Jam Room Music Festival
We had a blast helping coordinate the bicycle valet at the Jam Room Music Festival in October. We were thrilled to see so many people in Columbia using their bikes to get to the festival--over 100 bikes came through our valet! Thanks to Jodi Barnes and the Jam Room Festival's organizers for including us in this fun project. |
Stunning Photos of the Peak Passage
We recently came across some beautiful pictures of the Peak Passage of the Palmetto Trail, taken by talented photographer Seth Berry. We hope you enjoy these beautiful shots, and that they inspire you to take a hike through one of the Palmetto Trail's most scenic passages!
|
|
|
|
Adventure Awaits
Swamp Fox 50 Mile Paddle and Camp Trail Dedication
Saturday, November 17th
10am
Low Falls Landing
 Berkeley County Blueways and the Berkeley County Soil and Water Conservation District are hosting the dedication of the Swamp Fox 50 Mile Paddle & Camp Trail on Saturday, November 17th at Low Falls Landing. The trail winds through lakes Marion and Moultrie and highlights their historical and natural significance, while also utilizing the dozens of island and primitive campsites throughout.
The trail represents the collaborative efforts of Santee Cooper, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the Berkeley County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Boy Scouts of America. The dedication will start at 10:00 am and will be followed by a paddle through Stump Hole Swamp. Please note: you must bring your own boat and gear to participate in the paddle.Directions to the landing and more details can be found online here. For more information you can contact the Berkeley County Water & Soil Conservation District at (843) 719-4146 or blueways@bswcd.ne
|
Senior ExplorersAnother excellent Senior Explorers season has ended, but we can't wait to begin a new series of outings in Spring 2013. Thanks to everyone who participated this year!  | | In September, the group traveled to the historic Penn Center, a sea island natural reserve and one of the country's first schools for freed slaves. |
 | |
The Senior Explorer's waterfall hike in June was a huge hit with participants.
|
 | | The Senior Explorers heard all about the history of Columbia and the Midlands--all while on the Palmetto Trail!--during one of our popular history hikes in April. |
 | |
Columbia's Mast General Store, located on Main Street along the Palmetto Trail, generously hosted a history hike and offered a tour of their historic facilities.
|
|
Pinterest Picks
Check out some of our favorite pins this month.
 | |
Sunrise from the top of Table Rock, very close to the Blue Ridge Electric Co-op Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
|
 | |
We know it's getting too cold to take your pups surfing, but we couldn't help but laugh at this shot.
|
 | |
This is a pretty solid fall checklist! We would lose the treadmill on the hiking picture, though :)
|
|
November Links
 -Help keep SC's coastal waters clean of marine debris by participating in Beaufort's Clean Marine event Nov. 2-4! At this free event, boaters will be able to dispose of unwanted, damaged, and unusable equipment for free. More details can be found here.
- A recent article in the New York Times has found that among chain stores like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Costco and Kohls, "commercial installations of solar power have increased sharply in recent months." It's great to see the big guys really investing in solar energy! -We're excited to check out the new Soda City Farmer's Market that opened up last month on Columbia's Main Street. Check out Soda City's Facebook page for more details on hours, vendors, events, and more. -We recently came across a fascinating article explaining just what happens to stolen bikes. It's also a sad reminder that bike theft is a huge problem just about everywhere, so remember to lock up your wheels!
|
|
Become a PCF Member Today!
A membership to PCF comes with great benefits, including discounts at local outfitters and special rates on PCF events. Your membership dollars will go towards building and maintaining the Palmetto Trail. Click here to become a member!
|
|
Contact Info
722 King Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 771-0870
|
|
|
|
|
