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Tales from the Trail: May 2013
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Your monthly news from PCF
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May Quote 
"Do something for the wildness and make the mountains glad."
-John Muir
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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.
We have also asked our Facebook friends to submit their pictures of each 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.
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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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New passage of the Palmetto Trail to open this month
Fifteen miles will open in Greenville County comprising the new Middle Saluda Passage
Here's a sneak peek of the new Middle Saluda Passage, a 15-mile section of trail connecting to the Saluda Mountains Passage, which will open to the public Saturday, May 18. Stay tuned for more details on this beautiful new passage in future newsletters.
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The only passage of the Palmetto Trail to be rated "extremely strenous," killer climbs pay off in gorgeous vistas of Paris Mountain and the surrounding blue ridge.
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The new trail runs right past Hospital Rock, an historic and interesting spot. Legend says that during the Civil War, deserters used the shelter of the rock as a hospital and hiding spot.
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The new trail is a tough one, but well worth it. The Middle Saluda Passage will begin at Jones Gap State Park and will eventually connect to the gorgeous and very popular Raven Cliff Falls.
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Reserve your spot while you still can! Our National Trails Day Celebration is May 31 - June 2
 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. 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.
Space for this event is limited and spots are filling up quickly. Register online soon to reserve your place for this weekend of family-friendly fun and adventure!
Click here to register now. | |
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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Thanks to all of our United Way Day of Action trail clean-up volunteers
Thanks to everyone who helped us clear the Fort Jackson and Peak to Prosperity Passages of the Palmetto Trail as part of the United Way of the Midlands' 2013 Day of Action last month. With your help, we were able to clean up the trail so that hikers, cyclists and other trail users can better enjoy these popular sections.
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Thanks to Stewart Sneed, owner of Cycle Stops, for his generous donation
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The prototype for Stewart's City of Columbia bike racks.
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Columbia business owner Stewart Sneed, who recently sold an order of his locally-made bicycle racks to the City of Columbia, donated 15% of the profits from that sale to PCF! Stewart's beautiful custom bike racks will beautiful Columbia's streets while offering much-needed bicycle parking. Thanks so much to Stewart for his generosity in donating a portion of the proceeds to Palmetto Conservation. PCF plans to use the funds to purchase bike racks at the Peak to Prosperity Passage of the Palmetto Trail so that cyclists have a safe and attractive way to lock up their rides at the trailhead. |
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It's time to sign up for summer camp!
Join the adventure this summer with mountain biking, kayaking, team building, crafts and much more! Session 1 June 17 - June 21, 2013 Session 2 July 15 - July 19, 2013 Both sessions will be held at Canoeing for Kids in Lexington, SC. |
Thank you, Midlands SORBA, for partnering with Palmetto Conservation  We want to take the opportunity to thank Midlands SORBA, the local chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association, for all the help they have lent us in our mission to promote the Palmetto Trail. The SORBA folks have been very generous with their time and expertise as of late, and will even help us guide mountain bike rides at our upcoming National Trails Day celebration. Thanks to Midlands SORBA for all you do!
If you plan on biking with us on National Trails Day, please be sure to give the SORBA volunteers a thank you or extra high-five--they deserve it! |
Spaces still available for a FREE email marketing seminar at GOLS
Join us on Friday, May 3 to learn tips on the power of email marketing from the pros at Constant Contact.
Interested in increasing your business or nonprofit's email marketing potential?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 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.
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May is National Bike Month
Midlanders will find plenty of ways to celebrate
Check out all the awesome cycling events going on in Columbia this month! Click the picture for details on the different rides and events.
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Mobile device tour 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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PCF is looking for summer camp counselors
 We are currently looking for counselors for our summer day camps in Lexington. Applicants should have experience working with children. Kayaking and mountain biking skills, as well as first aid/CPR certification, is preferred but not required. All applicants must undergo a background check before starting work with camp participants. If you'd like to apply, please send your information or resume to Kari Hanna, assistant director and camp coordinator, at kari@palmettoconservation.org.
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The next Handlebar Happy Hour is May 8
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, May 8 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.
Columbia Councilwoman Tameika Devine 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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Outings This Month
 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 email Kari Hanna.
 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.
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 miles
Click here for more information about the Tour de Cure.
May Ladies of the Palmetto Trail Hike  Peak to Prosperity Passage of the Palmetto Trail
Saturday, May 11
To register for this hike, or for information on carpool options, please email Katherine Anderson or call 803-771-0870.
Discover Your Watershed
Spartanburg, SC
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 in Spartanburg, SC. 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.
Waterfall Hike with Master Naturalist Dan Whitten
Thursday, May 9, 201311 a.m.
 Just outside of Oconee Station State Historic Site, Station Creek drops into a beautiful 60-foot stepped waterfall. To get to this waterfall, we will take an easy 1/2 mile hike through an Appalachian cove forest that will surely be blooming with countless springtime wildflowers. Plan to see trillium, orchids, pink lady's slipper, and maybe even the rare yellow lady's slipper.
We'll then drive a short distance to one of the best waterfalls in the county, Twin Falls. A short 1/4 mile hike will bring us to a viewing platform to see the 75-foot falls side by side.
Limited transportation will be available for this trip. Participants can also choose to meet the group at 11 a.m. at the Holly Springs Country Store at the intersection of Hwy 11 and Hwy 178.
Things to bring: lunch, water bottle, camera, sturdy hiking shoes/boots Please call to register and for additional information on transportation.
Spots are limited, so sign up soon. To register and for information on transportation, please contact Kari at Palmetto Conservation Foundation at (803) 771-0870 or via email.
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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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