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Tales from the Trail: November 2013
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Your monthly news from PCF
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"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference."
-Robert Frost, from "The Road Not Taken"
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Handlebar Happy Hour is Nov. 15!
Meet and mingle with other bicyclists while discussing ways to make Columbia more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.
The next Handlebar Happy Hour will be held at Publick House, located at 2307 Devine Street, Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 6-8 p.m. Publick House 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.
This month, Doris Ford, the midlands coordinator for Safe Routes to School, will be the guest speaker.
For questions about this event, please contact Mary Roe at
(803) 771-0870 or via email at mroe@palmettoconservation.org.
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Keep an eye out for trivia questions on Facebook!
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're nearing the end of our coverage of the trail with only the Oconee Passage left! To round out the year, we'll be posting trivia questions from posts throughout the year and giving away small prizes to the first fans to post the correct answer!
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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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The first-ever mobile tour of the Palmetto Trail is now live!
Palmetto Conservation Foundation is thrilled to announce that the first ever mobile tour of the Palmetto Trail is now live and ready for visitors to enjoy on the Peak to Prosperity Passage. This truly unique experience offers visitors audio, video, pictures and text information about the trail via smartphone, cell phone or other mobile devices. Stops along the tour include historical, environmental, cultural and educational information. To access the stops, look for the "Palmetto Trail Mobile Tour" signs at points of interest along the passage. This mobile tour is free, but regular data and cell phone rates may apply. Eventually, the tour will spread to the entire trail. Head to www.palmettoconservation.org to download the tour beforehand in case of poor cell reception.
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Photo courtesy of Joey Holleman at The State newspaper.
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We hope you will take advantage of the fall weather with a mobile tour hike of the Peak to Prosperity Passage. Afterwards, please be sure to let us know what you think of the new tour. Happy trails! This program was made possible through a grant provided by the Greater Chapin Community Endowment. 
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The new Treetop Adventure Trail at GOLS opens November 21st
With construction of the new high challenge course at the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School nearly complete, we are excited to announce a grand opening of the new course, the Treetop Adventure Trail, on Thursday, November 21st. After the grand opening, reservations for groups will be available by calling the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School office at (864) 529-0259 or going online at www.setgols.org. Here are some shots of the nearly-complete new course!
  We'd like to give a big thanks to Spartanburg County, Spartanburg County Parks Department, and the Mary Black Foundation for their generous support of the Treetop Adventure Trail.
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Boomtown family fun day
A group of employees from BoomTown, a Charleston-based business, recently had the chance to explore the Awendaw Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Bridget Bauer, BoomTown's marketing intern, had this to say about the trip:
"Last weekend a group of BoomTowners drove out to the Awendaw Trail with babies, pups and picnic in tow. A group of us left for a walk through the woodlands and along waterways with our gracious guide, Marie. She taught us about everything under the sun from the pines to interpreting deer tracks, the crabs racing over the pluff mud to the Lowcountry foliage. Four miles later we reached the end of our trail, but I'm sure most of us could have wandered for a while longer enjoying the afternoon sun and beautiful paths. We ended our afternoon with a picnic at Buck Hall's pavilion by the water watching boaters and fishermen on the docks. All in all it was a wonderful introduction to the Palmetto Trail and we all are looking forward to our next trip!"The group also snapped some gorgeous pictures:    We're glad BoomTown had such a great time on the Palmetto Trail! If your business or group is interested in an outing like this one, we'll be happy to help you facilitate the event. To contact us about an outing, shoot us an email at info@palmettoconservation.org.
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Consider supporting the trail with an end-of-year gift to Palmetto Conservation
With 2013 coming to a close, what better way to end the year than with a donation to your favorite trail? We hope you'll consider supporting our mission to build and maintain the Palmetto Trail with the purchase of a membership, trail share or one of our popular publications like the Lowcountry Guide or South Carolina Waterfalls Guide. A purchase or donation in support of PCF makes a great alternative holiday gift that you and the person receiving it can feel good about! Check out palmettoconservation.org for information on memberships, books, trail shares and more! |
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Thanks to our volunteers on the Enoree and Swamp Fox Passages
As always, our amazing volunteers came through this month and helped us clean up sections of the Palmetto Trail along the Enoree and Swamp Fox Passages.
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This local geocaching group helped our Upstate trail coordinators maintain the Enoree Passage earlier this month.
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A group of volunteers from the National Civilian Community Corps, an Americorps Program, will be working on the Swamp Fox Passage and other pieces of Lowcountry trail over the next several weeks.
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Thanks again to our wonderful volunteers! As always, we couldn't keep the trail in shape with out these hardworking folks.
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Don't miss the next Wilderness First Aid Class at GOLS
November 23 - 24, 2013
The 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course provides entry-level training for outdoor enthusiasts to prepare themselves for outdoor trips. The WFA 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 to assessment and treatment.
The course will be taught by NOC/SOLO 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. WFA is a two-year certification.
American Heart Association (AHA) HeartSaver CPR is an optional extra that can be taken on the evening of day one. Taking a WFA class can also re-certify an expired WFR or AWFA qualification.
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Upcoming Outings and Events
Ladies Bike Hike on the Fort Jackson Passage
Saturday, November 9th
10:30 a.m.
 Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: biking - beginner/intermediate, hiking - easy
Trailhead: biking - Gate 5, hiking - Weston Lake
Fees: free for PCF members, $10 for nonmembers
We're excited for the Ladies of the Palmetto Trail to start off another year of adventure with a guided mountain biking and hiking trip. Palmetto Conservation Foundation has teamed up with other Midlands organizations to turn the Fort Jackson Passage into a premier urban mountain biking trail. Participants can choose between a guided mountain biking trip and a hiking trip. Hikers will travel through the lush urban forest that has recently been rerouted. Mountain bikers will enjoy a leisurely ride led by a skilled guide from Gate 5 to Weston Lake. Afterwards, to celebrate and relax, we will head over to the famous Wild Cat Café for some amazing southern food! Lunch is optional and not included.
Please bring a light snack, water, helmet and bug spray. To sign up, please email Katherine Anderson kanderson@palmettoconservation.org.
Guided Hike on the Wateree Passage
 Saturday, December 7th 9:30am
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
This passage begins in Poinsett State Park and runs to the Wateree River, crossing through Manchester State Forest. The passage is one of the most diverse sections of the trail, traversing a variety of landscapes, from near mountain terrain down to a magnificent swamp. This hike will be led by two Master Naturalists and they will show the group how to look for signs and evidence of wildlife along the trail.
Winter Break Camp at GOLS
Monday, January 20th, 2014 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) 
Looking for a fun and educational way to keep your child busy on their day off from school? This fun-filled, active camp exposes kids to all the outdoor recreation GOLS has to offer including rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, teambuilding, nature crafts, games and more. Environmental education is combined with art, history and exploring out natural surroundings.
Cost: $65 per child / $5 sibling discount
Ages: 6-13 years old*
Times: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
*For most activities, campers will be split into groups based on age, ability, and skill level.
Equipment will be provided for each activity, however campers are allowed to bring their own gear.
All of our scheduled activities are subject to change due to weather.
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November Links
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Credit: Dave Allen Photography
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- We recently came across some amazing photography of the Carolinas on Facebook, including spots near the Palmetto Trail. Check out Dave Allen Photography for more of Dave's beautiful work. |
Pinterest Picks
Check out some of our favorite pins this month. Click the pictures for a link to see more of PCF on Pinterest.
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This Campfire Dump Cake recipe would be perfect for dutch oven cooking!
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 | | Anyone else dying to visit Yosemite National Park right now? |
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Those are the best journeys.
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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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