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South Carolina!
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Congaree National Park
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Hike, Paddle, Hike - I did all the trails except the River Trail, which is pretty easy to do because its a small place. Very beautiful area so close to a big city, Columbia. The rangers were very helpful and cordial! They helped me plan my trip as when I called, I had no idea what awaited me. I camped in the After Hours Campsite before the gate. The next day was never-ending rain so I dayhiked a loop that included the high boardwalk and the fishing trail saving the low boardwalk for later. After the rainy dayhike, I visited my aunt in Rock Hill and came back the next day where I met up with Gabriele who lives in Columbia (she hiked with me on the Chattooga and Mt. Mitchell). I drove out to Banister Bridge and put in the kayak while Gabi hiked out to the Cedar Creek bridge at the other end of the park. I paddled and jumped over lots of logs. Shew! This was a tough little 7-mile paddle because of the blowdowns. Some I had to portage and there were plenty of them! Let's just say that Gabi was half-asleep when I crept up to the bank. We set up camp downstream from the trail and the bridge. I listed to the Vols swamp the Gamecocks in their own country! Funny how the game was 30 minutes away, but it was great to spend it where I was. We got up the next day and stowed the kayak out of sight. We hiked the Kingsnake Trail to the Red Trail (Big Oak?) and to the low boardwalk. We kept on the trail to the After Hours parking lot where Gabi drove me back to my car and kayak. |
 Bridge along a Congaree hiking trail |
 Me in my kayak on Cedar Creek |
| Chattooga Scenic River Trail |
Chattooga Trail to Kings Falls - Gabriele and I met at the parking lot near the bridge over the Chattooga south of Highlands, North Carolina. We took a forest road to this walk-in campground not far from Kings Falls and stayed there. The next morning, we left one car there and parked near the bridge on the main road. The Bartram Trail, Foothills Trail, and Chattooga Traill all share the same foot thoroughfare. We found a great campsite on the Chattooga not far from Simms Field. We swam around from pool to pool and walked on the rock face of the cascades nearby. It was beautiful and the camp spot was popular for a reason! After swimming, a storm swept through pushing us under the tarp. We sat under an ill-designed tarp (I wonder who set it up?!) getting splashed by the rain. I should have set it up lower to the ground to avoid the splashing! We saw a rainbow over our campsite and after the rain stopped we had a fire with sheer determination and encouragement from each other. That next morning, we hiked to Big Bend Falls and on to Kings Falls of which shortly thereafter ended our trip. |
 Rainbow view from under the tarp |
 Big Bend Falls |
 Kings Falls |
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Copyright © Kristina Dean