This newsletter is published quarterly by season as content demands.  It is sent electronically to FETA members only.  If you are no longer a FETA member or prefer not to receive the newsletter, please scroll to the bottom and click on the safe unsubscribe link to have your email address immediately removed from the mailing list.  Please do not report this newsletter as spam.  Doing so reflects poorly on us.  This is not a solicitation nor do we share your email address with anyone.

Ric Rondell retired from the FETA board at the end of 2014.  Ric served as trail co-chair and color commentator of our trail status recorded announcements. We will miss his wit and optimistic outlook; however, we do understand his desire to grab a margarita and a hammock on a warm Caribbean island these days. Ric we wish you all the best.

Jim Troppmann has stepped up to replace Ric as the trail co-chair.  We are blessed to have so much talent and volunteerism in our FETA membership.  Many thanks to both Ric and Jim

The 2015-16 membership applications will be sent to your email address inbox around April 1.  In order to renew promptly, please remember to:

• Send email changes to Roberta Axelrod at information@fetatrails.org.  This will insure delivery of the application to your inbox.
• Check your records now and call your vet to update your Coggins if necessary. Outdated or missing Coggins is a frequent problem that delays completion of renewals.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please click here to send Roberta an email. 

Riding on the red clay footing of Turkey Trot West was like taking Micah down the horsey version of a slip-n-slide.  I always held my breath going down that hill.  Thanks to the crew from Cotton Patch, the incline is now safe and I can breathe atop my surefooted pony as we descend.

There was 125 feet of the trail in need of safe footing.  Tremayne graded the trail. I measured and cut the geo-textile ground cloth the day before. We put the cloth over the graded trail and hammered in the landscape staples. I prefer to use 6 ft concrete curb stops instead of pressure treated lumber that rots over time. The stops impede the flow of water and reduce the risk of erosion. The cloth keeps the crusher run in place and keeps it from mixing into the red clay. All of this will extend the life of the trail and eliminate the need for regrading.    

These are some of my favorite trails within the system.  I hope you will make it a point to check out our handiwork.  If you would like to see my album of the work we did, click here.

Faith Jorgenson
                                                                                                           

FETA has four official parking areas and three unofficial ones.  The entire system of trails may be accessed from these designated places. We are fortunate to have gravel roads available to ride when the trails are closed. Parking along Hooker Road, River Road, and Carriage Row is permissible when trails are closed; however, be aware that you may not use a FETA trail to get to a road when the trails are closed.  

 

Gravel roads include:

River Road (3.7 miles),  

Carriage Row (1 mile long),  

Scriven Road (1 mile long),  

South River Road (0.9 mile).   

 

Clarence Rhodes and Capps Road are also graveled and pretty routes to take.  There are roughly 10 miles of gravel roads to ride. A closed trail system is no excuse to forego riding.

 

Some of the parking areas are near fences. Please do not tie your horse to a fence or anything they can pull away from in the event of a panic.  Horses have been known to pull away from fences with the fence board remaining attached to the lead rope.  A fence board chasing your horse compounds the flight response and will most likely result in injury to your horse or even death should he run into the path of a moving vehicle.

 

Remember that you may not ride on the trails when they are closed.  Land owners and others often contact FETA when riders are seen during questionable trail conditions. In the event that concerns arise regarding riders, concerned parties are encouraged to make note of the date and time in addition to vehicle descriptions, including tag numbers of both truck and trailer then relay that information to FETA. 

We take the protection of the best trail system on the East Coast seriously.  Thank you for your help in maintaining it with us.

FENCE

From I-26, take SC Exit 1 toward Landrum. 

Go 1.5 miles, then turn right at the light onto Bomar Road (Land Mart on the corner).

Go one short block, turn right onto Prince Road.

Follow Prince Road for approximately 1.5 miles.

Turn left onto Hunting Country Road (just before the I-26 overpass).

Follow Hunting Country Road for approximately 3/4 mile.

Equestrian Center entrance, Mane Gate Lane, will be on the left just before the I-26 underpass.

For the main FENCE entrance, the FENCE Center, hiking trails and TROT barn, continue on Hunting Country Road under the I-26 underpass to the main FENCE gates on your right.

 

Hooker Road 

Pull off parking for horse trailers along Hooker Road before intersection with River Road and Scriven Road.

Traveling south on Hooker Road, parking is on the east (left) side of Hooker Road immediately past the gas pipeline and before the "T" intersection with River Road and Scriven Road.

 

Traveling west on River Road (from Golden Road, Morgan Chapel, or South River Road), turn right onto Hooker Road (paved). Pull off along the right side of the road up to the gas pipeline. There are yellow FETA diamonds posted along the tree line.

 

   

 

 

 

 

Be aware that GPS refers to Hooker Road as Spicer Road. Road signs read Hooker Road.  Rondo Ridge, Hooker Ridge and Cotton Patch trails are accessible from here.  

 

Because this parking area is close to River Road and Scriven Road it is a good place to park when the trails are closed. Riding on River Road and Scriven Road is always permissible. Scriven Road is 1 mile in length.  It is 1.6 miles to Morgan Chapel and 2.4 miles to Carriage Row.  From this parking area to the end of Carriage Row and back is a 7 mile ride.

 

 

 

 

Parking is available on Scriven Road. Traveling from Hooker Road or River Road, go west on Scriven Road (becomes Screven Road). Parking area is 1.6 miles from the Hooker Road/River Road intersection. Go past Clarence Rhodes Road on the right. Go 0.1 mile and turn left into the marked grassy lane. Drive to the end of the lane and park in the open grassy area under the power lines.  There is a Trailer Parking FETA diamond posted on Scriven Road indicating where to turn in. 

 

This area is also accessible from Hwy 108. Turn onto Screven Road from Lynn Road (Hwy 108) at the Carolina Yarn Processors sign (CYP) near McFarland's Funeral Chapel. Continue past Markham Road 0.2 miles. The parking area is on the right.  

 

Access the Scriven Trails by crossing Little Creek to the south then follow the marked trail.

 

Ride along Scriven Road to get to Cotton Patch and Hooker Ridge. Go right out of the parking area heading east along Scriven Road. To make a loop back to the trailer through the Scriven trails, turn right onto Little Creek Trail before the bridge over the Pacolet River.  

 

To access the trails on Hooker Ridge continue on Scriven Road across the bridge and past the tomato field on the right. After the road curves, take Glen Trail uphill on the left to access the trails on Hooker Ridge. To access Cotton Patch, go right off of Scriven Road into the Ag Tract.  

 

Follow Scriven Road to Hooker Road to access the Rondo Ridge Trails.

 

Contact Faith Jorgenson if you need help locating this parking area or if you would like a guided ride of these trails. 

Parking is allowed along Finally Farm's fence line on Carriage Row. This is just before the intersection with Hunting Country Road.  Several trails may be accessed.  You may park and ride along Carriage Row when trails are closed.  Carriage Row is 1.0 mile in length. Do not tie to fences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a pull-off on River Road on the east side of the Morgan Chapel Bridge along the river.  Ride River Road in either direction to access FETA trails.  Cross the Morgan Chapel Bridge to access trails to FENCE (left after crossing the bridge) or the Underpass Trail (right after crossing bridge).  Check the trail status line at 828-894-0496 for updates on the Underpass Trail. Do not tie to the fence at Fields Edge. 

 

 

 

 

Questions or comments?  Board members are happy to talk to you any time.  They are:

  

Judith Kerns, President                                  Faith Jorgenson, Communications

    Dot Moyer, Vice President                          Roberta Axelrod, Membership

Gail Gardner, Secretary                                      Rhonda King, Member Relations

     Bill Kerns, Treasurer                                   Jim Troppmann, Trails Chair 

      Liz Dicey, Webmaster                                       Anne Swift, Trails Chair  

    

                                               Mike Frye         Aleah Wicks

  

Trail Area Representatives are:

  Nancy:  Chinquapin Farm                                     Dot:  Pretty Bottom, Stonybrook

Rhonda:  Pony Track, Hunting Woods                 Judith:  River Rd, Carriage Row

   Faith:   Hunting Country Rd to River Rd                Jim:  North Peniel Trails

    Anne:  FENCE                                                 Tina:  Little Mountain Trails

 

FETA's Board meets the 4th Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30.  All members are welcome to attend, raise questions or issues at the start of the meeting, or just observe.  Contact Judith Kerns for location.  No July or December meeting.