|
|
|
|
Tales from the Trail: December 2012
|
|
Your monthly news from PCF
|
|
|
December Quote
 "ONLY those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
-T.S. Eliot
|
 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
|
|
|
|
Where's Scot? Help us track the Palmetto Trail thru-hiker!
 | |
Scot recently stopped at Valley Falls Tavern in Spartanburg, S.C. during his thru-hike of the Palmetto Trail.
|
Thru-hiker and outdoor enthusiast Scot Ward will be hiking the entire Palmetto Trail and creating a manual for thru-hikers.
A seasoned outdoorsman, Ward has an impressive hiking resume. After completing North Carolina's Mountains to Sea Trail five times (including once on skateboard), the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado Trail, he has found his next adventure right here in the Palmetto State.
Despite the Palmetto Trail's disconnected sections, Ward is determined to make it across the state and fill in the gaps with alternate, back-road routes. He will use his experiences to write a guide which will help those interested in thru-hiking the trail before it is completed. The guide will include detailed route information with places to stay, eat and stock up on supplies.
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal recently published an excellent article about Scot and his journey. You can read that article here.
Scot began this trip on Nov. 8, 2012 at the Upstate trail terminus in Oconee State Park. He has currently hiked over 180 miles through five of the 21 passages. You can see his progress under the "Where is Scot?" feature on PCF's website here.
 | |
Scot has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado Trail. He's even completed N.C.'s Mountains to Sea Trail five times, including once on a skateboard!
|
In celebration of this feat, PCF is hosting a short hike down Main Street and meet and greet with Scot. Anyone in the greater Midlands area is welcome to join this event on Thursday, Dec. 13.
Participants will get the chance to hear a testimonial from Scot on the rooftop bar of the Sheraton while enjoying light appetizers and beverages. The hike will begin outside of City Hall on Main Street and continue down five blocks. This family-friendly event is an excellent chance to meet the first recorded thru-hiker of the Palmetto Trail.
Participation is free, but in the spirit of holiday giving, small donations are encouraged. All donations will go towards the completion of the Palmetto Trail.
Those interested should meet at 5:30 p.m. at 1737 Main St. Parking has been generously provided by the Main Street United Methodist Church right across from City Hall, at 1830 Main St. Because space is limited, pre-registration is required for this event. To sign up for this event, please call the PCF office at (803) 771-0870..
In support of Scot's journey, we encourage you to put on your hiking boots and find Scot on the trail. We'd love to hear your stories about your experiences hiking and see the pictures you take. If you'd like to submit pictures and stories, please do so on PCF's Facebook page here.
Ward was last seen in Croft State Park in Spartanburg hiking toward the Enoree Passage. From there, he will have roughly 200 more miles to go until he reaches the Intracoastal Waterway.
If you'd like to hike with Scot, even just a short distance, he would love the company. For more information about how to join up with him, please contact Katherine Anderson at (803) 771-0870 or via email at kanderson@palmettoconservation.org.
"What a wonderful adventure so far! I've already had lots of great experiences and met so many really cool people along the way," Ward said
|
|
The next Handlebar Happy
Hour is December 12th
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, Dec. 12 from 6-8 p.m.
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. Please check PCF's website and Facebook page for information about these rides.
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.
|
Learn about wilderness
first aid at GOLS
 | |
Participants of last year's class came away with a whole array of wilderness first aid skills.
|
Wilderness First Aid Course
Glendale Outdoor Leadership School
January 10 & 11, 2013
GOLS is once again holding the popular 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course. This class provides entry-level training for outdoor enthusiasts to prepare themselves for outdoor trips. This is the perfect course for the outdoor enthusiast or trip leader who wants a basic level of first aid training for short trips with family, friends and outdoor groups. It also meets the ACA guidelines. The WFA course covers topics ranging from preparation and prevention of injuries to assessment and treatment.
The course will be taught by Nantahala Outdoor Center/Stonehearth Outdoor Learning Opportunities staff. Each instructor has extensive outdoor experience and has been selected not only for their expertise in emergency medicine and rescue, but also for their teaching skills.  | |
Skills taught in this course will range from injury prevention and simple wounds to treatment of orthopedic injuries like breaks and fractures.
|
The class will cost $185 which includes 16 hours of training, class materials and lunch. It's $20 extra for the CPR class. Lodging is available at GOLS for $15/person.
For more information, look online here.
The course will be held at the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS) in Glendale, S.C. GOLS is located seven miles outside of Spartanburg. Click here for directions. Class space is limited. To sign up for this class, please call (803)771-0870.
|
 Give the gift of the Palmetto Trail this holiday season!
Become an "honorary owner" of a share of the Palmetto Trail. Or give them to friends and family. What could be a better holiday gift? By purchasing shares of the Palmetto Trail, you will be helping PCF build and maintain our state's mountains-to-sea trail. The 425-mile trail will be sold in shares of 1/100th of a mile with each share costing $25.00. Purchasers will receive a "stock certificate" recognizing their honorary ownership and listing the GPS coordinates. Call our office at (803) 771-0870 or click here to order your trail share! |
|
Consider GOLS for your next holiday get-together
 Have you considered renting GOLS for your next holiday celebration? For a reasonable price, our versatile facilities offer ample space and historic charm in a secluded yet convenient location, so you're getting the most for your money. Located in the historic mill village of Glendale, S.C., our unique setting will serve as a great conversation starter and special memory for your group.
GOLS would be ideal for your corporate holiday party, private gathering, church event and more!
If your group is interested in participating in a recreational activity (teambuilding/low challenge course, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking), we are happy to accommodate that as well.
Please contact us at (864) 529-0259 to schedule a tour of our facilities.
|
|
GOLS featured in Ten at the Top
GOLS was recently recognized by Ten at the Top, an Upstate group whose mission is to, "Articulate and promote a regional vision and strategy that protects and enhances the economic vitality, natural and cultural resources and assets, and quality of life within the region." GOLS was named as an organization with excellent human potential driver areas. The GOLS staff was featured in a video created by the group, showcasing the superb teambuilding sessions GOLS proudly hosts. You can see that video here. Thanks to Ten at the Top and congrats to the GOLS staff! |
|
|
Pinterest Picks
Check out some of our favorite pins this month.
 | Yellowstone Falls, Montana in winter. Wow--this is gorgeous!
|
 | |
It's not the destination, but the journey!
|
 | |
We love the S.C. Park Service's new merchandise, especially these t-shirts. Something like this would be a great holiday gift for your favorite outdoor enthusiast!
|
|
December Links
 -B-cycle, a community bicycle share program is coming to Greenville this month. B-cycle is already a popular way to get around in Spartanburg and Charleston, and we're excited to see this successful program spread to Greenville!-After all the craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we were glad to see a new idea: Giving Tuesday. According to givingtuesday.org, "We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals....Wouldn't it be great to have a day for giving back?"-In honor of our upcoming Wilderness First Aid class, here's a cool quiz from Outside Magazine: Test your survival skills!-Another great piece from Outside: Why you shouldn't buy new Patagonia products. "Patagonia and eBay announced a new partnership, the Common Threads Initiative. Together, they asked owners of fleece and Gore-Tex everywhere to pledge to reduce consumption, reuse old gear, recycle, repair what's broken, and reimagine a world where people don't stress the earth with purchases."
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
