Sign-up to receive email notices of Outings and Events |
March 22—Jumping Off Rock excursion. Drive to the hallmark view of Jocassee Gorges, overlooking Lake Jocassee and the surrounding mountains of the Carolinas and Georgia, and see some newly opened vistas on Horsepasture Road along the way. Meet 10 a.m. in the upper parking lot of Holly Springs Country Store at the intersection of US 178 and SC 11 (6491 Highway 11, Pickens, SC 29671). Trip leader is Greg Lucas of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and a Foothills Trail Conference board member. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing. Very little walking will be involved on this trip. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for Horsepasture Road, and participants will be asked to car-pool from Holly Springs.
April 19—Wildflower walk at Whitewater Falls. Led by Duke Rankin, botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, this annual rite of spring will get your spring season started off right with the annual lovely display of wildflowers. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Whitewater Falls parking lot on NC 281 (fee required by U.S. Forest Service). This will be an easy walk. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
May 17—Pink lady’s slipper and migratory bird walk. Take a hike on the Foothills Trail from the highest point in the state (3,554 feet) at Sassafras Mountain to Chimneytop Gap. Trip leaders Heyward Douglass (Foothills Trail Conference board member) and Ben Sill (former board member) will help participants look for pink lady’s slipper orchids and listen for migratory songbirds. This is an easy walk of about 2.5 miles. Meet 10 a.m. in the upper parking lot of Holly Springs Country Store at the intersection of US 178 and SC 11. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
June 7—National Trails Day hike to Pinnacle Mountain. Check out the newly relocated section of Foothills Trail up to Pinnacle Mountain with Heyward Douglass, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Lots of great views will be on display for this strenuous hike of at least 6 miles. Meet 10 a.m. at the Carrick Creek Interpretive Center at Table Rock State Park on SC 11 ($2 fee per person). Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
July 19—Moonlight and Sunrise on Table Rock. Take a full-moon trek to the top of Table Rock, and then watch the sun rise. Group size is limited, so reservations are required. Call Table Rock State Park at (864) 878-9813 to register for this hike. There is an $8 per person registration cost for this hike, which will be led by Scott Stegenga, Foothills Trail Conference board member and Table Rock State Park naturalist. Meeting place and time will be announced. This is a very strenuous walk, so do not attempt unless you are fit enough to handle it. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear, and headlamp or flashlight.
August 30—Go batty with DNR bat biologist Mary Bunch! Participants will be treated to a walk-n-talk about the latest bat research, and what this research is revealing about these flying mammals. Date and destination to be announced. Call (864) 654-1671, ext. 22, to pre-register.
October 3-5. Fall backpacking trip. Overnight backpacking trip on the Foothills Trail, led by Robert Stephenson, Foothills Trail Conference chairman, and Les Storm, Foothills Trail Conference board member. This three-day, two-night trek will travel from the Frozen Creek Entrance of Gorges State Park to Bad Creek Hydro Project, a total walk of about 21.5 miles. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, send an e-mail to Fthiker@aol.com.
For more information or to register for any of these outings, call Greg Lucas at (864) 654-1671, ext. 22.
May 19—Critter Walk. Hiking and exploring around the Whitewater River with Clemson-area naturalists John and Kathie Garton. Look for reptiles, amphibians and other animals, and since John and Kathie are also talented plant folks, don’t be surprised if you see a few wildflowers too! Meet at 10 a.m. at Duke Energy’s Bad Creek Hydro Station on S.C. 130, in the Foothills Trail parking lot. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
June 2—Moonlight and Sunrise on Table
Rock. Celebrate National Trails Day in style with a full-moon trek to the
top of Table Rock, then watch the sun rise. Group size is limited, pre-registration
required. Fee, $8.00 required. The hike will be led by Scott Stegenga and
Bill Baskin, Foothills Trail Conference board members. Hikers will meet at
park gate at 2:00 a.m. This is a very strenuous walk, so do not attempt unless
you are fit enough to handle it. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate
clothing and footgear. To pre-register, call or email Scott
Stegenga, Table Rock State Park Ranger (Phone: (864) 878-9813
email: sstegenga@scprt.com ) by May 19th.
September 1—Stream ecology field trip at Jones Gap State Park. Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area naturalist Tim Lee will lead participants in a stream assessment on the Middle Saluda River. Then take a hike on one of the Jones Gap area trails. Meet 10 a.m. at the Jones Gap Education Center. Easy walk. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
October 6—Bear Necessities! DNR black bear biologist Skip Still will lead a walk and talk about black bears, their natural history and management and the increasing problem of nuisance bears, and how generally the problem is more with people than it is with bears. Skip’s folksy manner and storytelling will keep you entertained, so don’t miss this one!. Meeting place and time to determined. Easy walk.
Fall Overnight Backpacking Trip. Overnight backpacking trip on the Foothills Trail. Leaders: Robert Stephenson, Foothills Trail Conference chairman, and Les Storm, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Date and destination to be announced.
* * *
For more information on any of these outings, call Greg Lucas
at (864) 654-1671, ext. 22.
2007
April 14—Wildflower walk at Whitewater Falls. Led by Duke Rankin, botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, this annual rite of spring will get your season started off right with the annual lovely display of wildflowers. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Whitewater Falls parking lot on NC 281. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
March 17—Walhalla State Fish Hatchery. Take a guided tour of the source of South Carolina’s $17 million trout fishery, on the scenic East Fork of the Chattooga River, then hike to Burrell’s Ford, an easy walk of about 5 miles. Meet 10 a.m. at the Walhalla State Fish Hatchery on SC 107 in northern Oconee County. Trip leader is Bill Baskin, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear.
February 24 - Foothills Trail Maintenance Hike. Help us finish the reroute Pinnacle Mountain. This is over two miles and strenuous. Meet at the Nature Center at Table Rock State park at 9:00 a.m. Bring food, water, and mattocks, pulaski, loppers and spades if you have them. Pulaski's and mattocks will be the main tools. For more information contact FThiker@aol.com
February 17—Winter Views Hike. While the leaves are off the trees, drink in the beautiful views on the Foothills Trail from Sloan Bridge to Whitewater Falls on a (5.5 mile) one-way, moderate hike with trip leader Heyward Douglass, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Meet at 10 a.m. at Sloan Bridge. Bring lunch, snacks, water and appropriate clothing and footgear. Shuttle provided back to Sloan Bridge. Sloan Bridge located at a picnic area off SC Hwy 107 where East For of Chatooga River crosses - about a mile south of North Carolina state line.
2006
November 3, 4, and 5 - Annual Meeting at Oconee State Park. A fantastic weekend of activities, entertainment, and socialization is planned. More hikes are offered this year, and Thomas King, author of Waterfall hikes of Upstate South Carolina, is the program speaker.
September 30 — Maintenance hike in Eastatoe Gorge. We will meet in the Laurel Valley parking lot at the Laurel Valley Trailhead off of Hwy 178 near Rocky Bottom at 9:00 am. Participants should bring along their favorite tool, water, lunch, raingear and notify Les Storm at : fthiker@aol.com if they are able to attend.
September 9 — Moonlight and sunrise on Table Rock! Leader: Scott Stegenga, Table Rock State Park naturalist and Foothills Trail Conference board member. Enjoy a memorable night and morning as Scott leads a hike up to the summit of Table Rock in the moonlight and then wait for a spectacular sunrise near the top of South Carolina! This is a very strenuous 7.2-mile round-trip hike, with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet. Meet at 2 a.m. at the Carrick Creek Interpretive Center. Pre-registration is required for this hike. Call Table Rock State Park at (864) 878-9813 to pre-register. Bring flashlight or headlight, water, snacks, breakfast, camera, appropriate clothing and footwear.
June 3 — National Trails Day Hike along Chatooga River corridor. Leader: Bill Baskin, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Meet at Burrells Ford Foothills Trail parking lot at 9:30 a.m. The hike will be on the Foothills Trail downriver 8.5 miles (easy) to Lick Log Creek parking lot at Thrift Lake. Visit four waterfalls enroute. A shuttle will be provided for the return to Burrells Ford. A Picnic, consisting of sandwiches, snacks, and ice cold drinks will be provided back at Burrells Ford after the hike. Pre-registration requested but not mandatory. To register, and to volunteer to help shuttle hikers and prepare food, Call Bill Baskin at (803) 484-5768 or send email to wpb3 @ ftc-i.net. Bill's cell phone is 803-428-7602.
Related link to National Trails Day Background Information
June 3 — National Trails Day maintenance hike at Table Rock State Park. Help keep the trails in tip-top shape. Meet 9 a.m. at Carrick Creek Interpretive Center. Call Table Rock State Park to pre-register at (864) 878-9813.
May 6 — Day-long walk to the petroglyph site on Long Ridge of Pinnacle Mountain. Just off the Foothills Trail, this is truly one of the most unique and memorable sites in the Jocassee Gorges region. Also a most impressive view of the surrounding mountains. Leader: Greg Lucas, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Foothills Trail Conference Board member. Meet at 9 a.m. at Sassafras Mountain parking area. We will either walk in and back, or walk to Table Rock State Park (if we run a shuttle and have a car waiting). Either way, it will be a very strenuous 10-mile hike, so be prepared for a long day. Bring water, snacks, lunch, camera and appropriate clothing and footwear. For more information, call (864) 654-1671, ext. 22, or e-mail lucasg@dnr.sc.gov.
Related article from the Associated Press, "Prehistoric Petroglyphs Discovery In South Carolina"
dated 3 December 2000
April 15 — Wildflower Walk along Whitewater River Corridor on trail through Coon Branch Natural Area. Leaders: John and Kathie Garton, Clemson-area naturalists. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Foothills Trail parking lot at Bad Creek Hydro Project. A profusion of wildflowers will be popping up along the Whitewater River corridor, and the Gartons are great at helping you remember what they are. Some of the state’s largest trees can also be seen all along the Coon Branch Natural Area trail. This is an easy round-trip hike of about 4 miles. Bring water, snacks, lunch, camera and appropriate clothing.
March 25 — Herald the arrival of spring by looking for Oconee bells and pygmy pipe blossoms on the Oconee Bell Trail at Devils Fork State Park. Leader: Heyward Douglass, Foothills Trail Conference board member. Meet at 10 a.m. at Devils Fork State Park in the parking lot closest to the trail. It’s always a fun and memorable outing whenever Heyward is there, especially when pygmy pipe is involved! This is an easy hike of about 2 miles. Note: A $2 entrance fee is in effect at all state parks. Bring water, snacks, camera and appropriate clothing. Click here directions to Devil's Fork State Park.
Feb. 25 — Lower Bearwallow Falls, Gorges State Park. Leader: Steve Pagano, Foothills Trail Conference board member and Gorges State Park superintendent. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls you will ever see. One of the hardest to get to as well! The hike is short but very strenuous. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Frozen Creek parking area at Gorges State Park near Sapphire, N.C. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by Feb. 18. Call Gorges State Park at (828) 966-9099 to pre-register. Bring water, snacks, lunch, camera and appropriate clothing.
March 19 Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve (including Virginia Hawkins Falls)
Leader: Patrick McMillan - Botanist and Herbarium Curator at Clemson University.
Meet @ 9:30 am at Holly Springs Groc on SC 11.
See early spring wildflowers and visit the exquisite, newly dedicated waterfall
named for Virginia Hawkins!
April 16 Wildflower Walk
Leader: Duke Rankin - US Forest Service Biologist.
Meet at 9:30 am at Whitewater Falls Parking Lot.
Duke will lead us to the Whitewater Bridge and then to Bad Creek as he discusses
the profusion of wildflowers that are popping up on the rich hillsides and along
the river.
May 21 Sassafras Nature Hike
Leader: Ben Sill and Heyward Douglass -Naturalists and chairs of the FTC.
Meet @ 9:30 am at the Holly Springs Groc on SC 11.
Resident and migrating birds will be singing as you look for pink lady's slippers
along this easy portion of the Foothills Trail.
June 4 - National Trails Day
Leader: Table Rock Staff and FTC member.
Meet @ 8:30 am at Nature Center parking area at Table Rock State Park.
There is always a need for trail maintenance, and FTC will assist the park in
a worthwhile project! Bring plenty of water, food & snacks, your favorite tool,
and working clothes (plus a change for later?).
Sep 17 Fall Critter Walk
Leader: John Garton - Naturalist and retired Duke Power Biologist.
Meeting time and place to be announced later.
John will lead an informative and entertaining hike to look for local critters!