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Tales from the Trail: April 2013
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Your monthly news from PCF
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April Quote 
"As one goes through life, one learns that if you don't paddle your own canoe, you don't move."
-Katherine Hepburn
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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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April 20th is the United Way Day of Action Clean-up on the Palmetto Trail
Saturday, April 20 - 9am-Noon
 PCF will be participating in United Way of the Midlands' 2013 Day of Action on Saturday, April 20th. This event is an annual day of volunteerism mobilizing hundreds of local volunteers to complete community service projects throughout the Midlands. These volunteers are individuals and groups from local companies, organizations and the community. All ages, including youth and adults, are welcome to participate as volunteers in this event.As part of this year's Day of Action, we'll be holding clean-up days on the Ft. Jackson and Peak to Prosperity Passages of the Palmetto Trail.
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Ohio State students maintain trail during alternative spring break
Thanks to a group from American Hiking Society and Ohio State University who helped with repairs along the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail in Francis Marion National Forest. The group came from Ohio State as part of an alternative spring break . We think it's pretty awesome that a group of young people are willing to spend their spring break helping us maintain the trail, especially from so far away! The students and volunteers worked on two bridges, oen spanning a 130-foot wet area and another bridge over 100 feet long. Here's a glimpse into their busy week:
  
We are grateful to all of our amazing volunteers and are inspired to see young people out serving the community during time off from busy schedules. Many thanks to everyone who came from so far away to help!
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Berkeley County students win award for service on Palmetto Trail
In December, a group of students from Timberland High School in Berkeley County participated in a trail maintenance day along the Swamp Fox Passage at the Witherbee Ranger Station in Cordesville. The group's adviser, Lillian Coffin, submitted the students' work as part of a statewide competition for a community service project for the SC State Career Development Conference in March. The group won third place! Congrats to all the Timberland High students and thanks for your hard work. We're always in need of good volunteers to help maintain the trail and we appreciate your efforts and a job well done. Check out some pictures taken by student photographers of the group's work day:
   Congrats again on your achievement, and thanks for your help in keeping the Swamp Fox Passage in top shape!
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Learn email marketing tips from the pros at GOLS next month
Interested in increasing your business or nonprofit's email marketing potential? Join us at GOLS on Friday, May 3 as we host a FREE Seminar on the power of email marketing by Constant Contact. This workshop is a valuable and insightful seminar for anyone to attend. Whether you are a small business owner, a big business owner, a nonprofit, an entrepreneur or just an individual, this presentation will help you to grasp the best practices needed to utilize and maximize the power of email marketing.
 The topics taught can be applied no matter what email marketing platform you use. There will be no charge for this event filled with incredibly valuable information, including a Q&A option.
The seminar will be conducted by Constant Contact Local Expert Presenter Aaron Wesley Means. Aaron is an Internet Marketing Specialist and the CEO of ACTIVATE Business Solutions. He is a Constant Contact Authorized Local Expert and provides Best Practices seminars in the Carolinas and surrounding region.
Call the office of Palmetto Conservation Foundation at (803) 771-0870 or email Kari Hanna at kari@palmettoconservation.org to sign up today!
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OnCell program coming to the Palmetto Trail
 Look for a launch of this program on the Wateree Passage during our National Trails Day Celebration Weekend May 31-June 2!
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.
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Save the date: National Trails Day Celebration at Poinsett State Park May 31 - June 2
 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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The next Handlebar Happy Hour is April 10
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, April 10 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.
Merritt McHaffie from Five Points Association, Sarah Luadzers from Vista Guild, and Matt Kennell from City Center Partnership will speak at this month's Handlebar Happy Hour.
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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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! |
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Outings This Month
 Explore the South Carolina Railroad Museum with Rudy Mancke
South Carolina Railroad Museum
110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC
Join the South Carolina Railroad Museum (SCRM) and USC Professor and host of ETV's Nature Scene, Rudy Mancke, for a special glimpse of the Palmetto State's great outdoors. Enjoy an open-air ride through Fairfield County while Rudy gives an overview of the area's wildlife and native plants. Seating is limited, and demand will be high with Rudy leading the trip. Sign up soon and learn more about this outing via the SCRM website. Call the museum at (803) 712-4135 to reserve your spot today!
April Ladies of the Palmetto Trail Hike
Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail
Saturday, April 13
For some, the words "spring cleaning" either bring to mind all of those boxes in the closet that need to be sorted through, or the chance to de-clutter and start fresh. No matter what your spring cleaning style is, you deserve the chance to take a break and get outside!
Join the Ladies of the Palmetto Trail for a spring cleaning hike on the Enoree Passage with our amazing Upstate Trail Coordinator, Jim Majors. Jim will lead the group on the Enoree Passage as we pick up sticks and cut back minor overgrowth so that others may enjoy a smoother hike. We hope that you'll join us on this adventure!
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Carpool: From Columbia- meet at 722 King Street, Columbia, SC at 8:40 a.m.
For those interested in a carpooling from another area, please contact Katherine Anderson.
If you aren't carpooling, please meet at the Enoree trail head at 10:30a.m.
Please Bring: lunch, water, hiking shoes, lightweight clothing
 Wadboo Creek Birding Paddle
Join us for a bird watching trip on Wadboo Creek and enjoy the many different birds that live on this waterway teeming with wildlife. You will get an opportunity to see many species of birds including eagles, great blues, ospreys, egrets, warblers and others. We will explore the bird life in the historic rice fields as well as the swamp of Wadboo. The length of this trip will be 3-4 hours with rest breaks. We suggest that you bring a lunch or snack and water. Please register for this trip by calling our office at (803) 771-0870 or emailing Kari Hanna kari@palmettoconservation.org.
 Botany and Photography Hike along the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail Saturday, May 4
Join us for a guided hike along the Swamp Fox Passage for a chance to spot and learn about local plant life. Jeff Jackson from the Native Plant Society will be your guide on this showcase of the botanical beauty of the Palmetto Trail.
Photographer Gregg Pratt will also lend his expertise, teaching participants some techniques for taking beautiful photographs while exploring the outdoors. Don't forget to bring your camera!
We'll meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot at the Halfway Creek Parking Area (near mile marker 6) on the Swamp Fox Passage, hike approximately 5.5 miles and end at the Steed Creek parking area (near mile marker 1). Hikers will then be shuttled back to their cars. This hike will take approximately 2-2.5 hours. Please bring a lunch or snack and water. Space is limited, so sign up soon at (803) 771-0870 or kari@palmettoconservation.org.
 Wambaw Swamp Stomp 50-mile Trail Run Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto trail Saturday, May 4 Hosted by Eagle Endurance, LLC, the Wambaw Swamp Stomp is a 50-mile trail race along the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail. This event uses an "out and back" format, 25 miles out and 25 miles back to the start/finish line.
The reason for the "out and back" course from this location to ensure the safety of the participants and to provide medical coverage if necessary. There will be seven aid stations along the route. One at the start/finish line, five on the course, and one at the 25-mile mark. Aid stations are roughly five miles apart and well-stocked. Each station will be manned with volunteers and will have a portable toilet for participant and spectator use.
The aid stations are also the switch point for the relay participants.The event will also have a 12-hour cut off for solo 50-mile participants. The event starts at the Witherbee Ranger Station in Cordesville. Register online here: http://wambawswampstomp.eventbrite.com
American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure
Saturday, May 4
6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
Little Mountain Reunion Park Individuals and teams composed of co-workers, family and friends are taking the ride of their lives by helping raise funds to change the future of diabetes. The South Carolina Tour de Cure is a one-day celebration bringing together cyclists of all ages and abilities. In this event, riders of all levels join forces in the fight to stop diabetes and raise critical funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy in support of the American Diabetes Association. With six route options, anyone can participate!
Route Length Options: 5, 15, 30, 65 and 100 mile
Click here for more information about the Tour de Cure.
Discover Your Watershed
Saturday, May 18
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 With the warm weather here to stay, enjoy a day of paddling and learning all about the Tyger River Watershed. Guided wetlands tours and educational exhibits will highlight this program designed to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our water resources. No pre-registration is required and the first 300 people to check in at the registration table receive a meal ticket! Don't have a boat? Canoes and kayaks will be available to use at no cost. Please bring a bag of recyclables for a chance to win door prizes provided by Pratt Recycling.
Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (864) 949-1658 for questions. All ages are welcome at this free event. Click here for more information.
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2013 Senior Explorers Outings
 Palmetto Conservation Foundation's Senior Explorers program encourages greater use of our state's natural resources, promotes healthy and active living, and provides outdoor skills for participants. This program is graciously funded through Palmetto Health Hospital.
We have many exciting classes and trips planned for the coming months. Our goal is to teach a combination of health and fitness mixed with outdoor education and recreation. Most importantly, we like to have fun! Click here for more about this program.
Cowpens National Battlefield Tour
Saturday, April 25
10:30 a.m.
 The Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781, took place in the latter part of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution and of the Revolution itself. It became known as the turning point of the war in the South, and part of a chain of events leading to Patriot victory at Yorktown. The Cowpens victory brought together strong armies and leaders who made their mark on history.
Join us on this journey back in time as we visit the park museum, watch a short video, hike the two-mile nature trail and end with lunch at the picnic shelter. Limited transportation will be available for this event. You can also choose to meet us at the facility at 10:30am. The address is 4001 Chesnee Hwy, Gaffney, SC 29341. Please call to register and for additional information on transportation.
Things to bring: lunch, water bottle, camera
Spots are limited, so please sign up soon. Registration will be open now through April 15. To register, please contact Palmetto Conservation Foundation at (803) 771-0870 or via email at kari@palmettoconservation.org.
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Pinterest Picks
Check out some of our favorite pins this month. | |
Noticed any baby bunnies on the Palmetto Trail this spring?
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Some good basics for those of you interested in birding! You know spring has arrived once the singing starts!
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...and just get outside!
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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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