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Tales from the Trail: February 2013
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Your monthly news from PCF
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February Quote
 "I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." -Henry David Thoreau
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 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. |
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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
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Stop by the PCF booth at SEWE Feb. 15-17!
 This month, PCF will host a booth at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) in Charleston, S.C. Now in its 31st year, SEWE has grown to be the largest event of its kind in the nation, attracting over 500 artists and exhibitors from around the globe who present their offerings to over 40,000 attendees. A three-day celebration of nature that has earned a reputation for excellence, SEWE now hosts the world's foremost experts in wildlife and nature art, as well as conservation research and environmental education. SEWE has always been a great experience for PCF and our staff, and we look forward to seeing some of you there! For more information about SEWE 2013, click here. |
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OnCell program coming to the Palmetto Trail
 OnCell is a service that allows organizations to create mobile device tours with no extra cost to users. This technology allows anyone with a cell phone, smart phone, mp3 player or tablet to access a more enriching, interactive trail experience including information about local history, culture, geography, ecology, flora/fauna and more.
We are excited to develop our OnCell tour and hope this new feature will allow hikers to further enjoy their time on the Palmetto Trail. Look for more details about this exciting new program in future newsletters.
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We're gearing up for the 2013 Palmetto Trail Challenge!
 The annual Palmetto Trail Challenge is a walking/biking contest designed to get people active and healthy. Partners team up and log as many miles as they can during the 15 week period. Teams compete against one another in the same category, and team miles are logged and turned in each week.
The 2013 dates for the Palmetto Trail Challenge are March 4 - June 16. Click here for more information and to sign up today! |
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June 1 is National Trails Day
 According to American Hiking Society's website, "Trails do not just magically appear for our enjoyment; it takes many hours of planning, labor and negotiating to develop them. National Trails Day, the only nationwide celebration of trails, increases awareness of trails and celebrates the hard work and support of many people and partners -- including volunteers, land agencies and outdoor minded businesses. It is also a day to introduce people to the many joys and benefits of trails."
Celebrate the Palmetto Trail with PCF May 31 to June 2, 2013 as we hike, bike, paddle and camp at Poinsett State Park in Sumter, SC. Registration for PCF members will begin April 15 and will open to the general public April 22.
Some of the events planned for the weekend include campfires, several hikes and bike rides, camping, BBQ lunch on Saturday, facepainting and games for kids, s'mores and a night hike.
The entire National Trails Day weekend of events is free and includes camping, meals and all activities.
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The 2012 National Trails Day event on the Peak to Prosperity Passage of the Palmetto Trail was PCF's most popular outing all year. Nearly 200 participants enjoyed guided hikes, lunch, ice cream and more.
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Palmetto Trail featured on CarolinaLiving.com
A special tour of the Palmetto Trail was recently featured in an article on CarolinaLiving.com. The article highlights four different passages, Peak to Prosperity, Awendaw, Blue Wall and Saluda Mountains, for a road trip along the Palmetto Trail. Included are tidbits on where to stay, where to eat and what to do on or near these four special passages. Thanks to CarolinaLiving.com for a lovely showcase of our trail!
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Handlebar Happy Hour is February 13
Meet and mingle with other bicyclists while discussing ways to make Columbia more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly
Handlebar Happy Hour, 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, Feb. 13 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.
The February Handlebar Happy Hour speaker will be Rep. James Smith.
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.
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Scot Ward finishes his thru-hike of the Palmetto Trail
In January, Scot Word completed his thru-hike of the Palmetto Trail--way to go, Scot!
We enjoyed getting to know Scot and were excited to get people talking about the Palmetto Trail. Through Scot's hike, we heard from many people who have planned similar trips in the past or would be interested in long-distance hiking in the future. We encourage anyone who is interested in sharing their thru-hiking journey to contact us with pictures and stories. Happy trails!
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PCF to celebrate 20 years of the Palmetto Trail in 2014
 In 2014, PCF will celebrate 20 years of the Palmetto Trail. To mark this milestone, we are hosting a celebration of the trail on Facebook. To start the celebration early, we have been featuring a different passage of the trail with fun facts, trip suggestions, pictures and more to highlight the unique qualities of every section. Every two weeks we will feature a different passage. We have also asked our Facebook friends to submit their pictures of the featured passage as part of an ongoing photo contest. Our staff will vote on the best picture for each section and the winner will receive a free PCF membership. At the end of the year, all the winning photos will be entered into a larger photo contest, and that winner will receive a special prize pack. You can find PCF's Facebook page here. Get your best photos ready as we prepare to celebrate 20 years of the Palmetto Trail!  | |
Submitter Peggy Greaves won one of the mini-photo contests recently with this gorgeous shot of the Awendaw Passage.
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Kayaking Lawson's Fork near GOLS
 GOLS staff member Bobby Alexander recently made an excellent video of his trip down Lawson's Fork Creek.
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Thanks for the new GOLS sign!
 Thanks to Steve Russell for building and donating this wonderful new sign for the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School. Steve and GOLS Manager Brad Cooper installed the sign themselves--and it looks great. Thanks again, Steve! We know your donation will help us further our mission in the Upstate as more people become aware of our top-notch facility. |
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Outings this month
 Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup
February 2nd, 2013
8 a.m.
Meeting Place: US Forest Service Office
2967 Steed Creek Rd., Huger, SC
In a joint effort with the USDA Forest Service, PalmettoPride has planned a February 2nd, 2013, cleanup of the Francis Marion National Forest and they need your help. Illegal dumping continues to be a problem in many areas of our National Forests and we are determined to prevent it through education, enforcement, awareness and pickup.
Volunteers will meet at the US Forest Service office and then be sent to designated areas throughout the 260,000 acre forest to clean up. Volunteers are encouraged to bring trucks/trailers if available. PalmettoPride will also accept donations. The cleanup will last until noon. After the cleanup, a cookout lunch will be provided for all the volunteers. Local businesses have also donated items to be awarded to volunteers. Berkeley and Charleston Counties will dispose of the litter gathered during the cleanup.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring bug spray and water!
 February Ladies of the Palmetto Trail Hike Croft State Natural Area
Feb. 9
Love is in the air this February and to celebrate, the Ladies of the Palmetto Trail would like for you to invite someone that you love to join us on a hike! Whether it be your grandchild, your husband, or your best friend, bring them along as your date on this adventure.
This beautiful four-mile hike traverses through the historic Croft State Natural Area, showcasing the preserved beauty in and around Spartanburg County. We will park at Huntington Road and follow Kelsey Creek until the trail branches off towards McFadden Road.
Length: 4.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Map: www.palmettoconservation.org/croftpassage.asp
The main carpool leaves from Columbia. However, if you are interested in a carpool from your area or are willing to drive please contact Katherine Anderson by email or phone. You can also meet us at the parking lot on Huntington Road. Please register for this hike.
Columbia: Meet at 722 King Street, Columbia, SC at 8:30am Contact: kanderson@palmettoconservation.org or (803)771-0870 Trail Head: Meet at the Huntington Road parking area at 10:30am
 Partners for Active Living Mary Black Rail Trail Clean Up Day
Feb. 16
Join Partners for Active Living for a clean up day on the Mary Black Rail Trail portion of the Palmetto Trail. The group will meet at 10am at the Rail Tail Dog Park on Union Street across from Duncan Park. Lunch will be provided afterwards for participants.  Fall Creek Falls Waterfall HikeFeaturing Master Naturalist Dan WhittenMarch 9
10 a.m.
Join Master Naturalist Dan Whitten on a tour of the uniquely beautiful waterfalls featured at Fall Creek Falls in the South Carolina Upstate. During an easy to moderate hike, you'll be led past a series of three distinct falls which flow into the nearby Chattooga River. Remember to bring water and a lunch or snack. Look for more details on this hike in the March newsletter. To sign up for this hike, please call the office of Palmetto Conservation Foundation at (803) 771-0870. This trip is free for PCF members and $10 per person for non-members.
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Pinterest Picks
Check out some of our favorite pins this month. | |
Excellent infographic on the wonders of a little walking.
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Another great John Muir quote.
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A young grizzly bear hitches a ride on his mom's back to prevent his paws from getting cold as his mom hunts for food in the freezing snow in Yellowstone National Park.
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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!
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Contact Info
722 King Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 771-0870
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