Fri, Nov 11 2011 - Congaree National Park Weekend: Free Camping, Canoeing & Hiking! (View Original Event Details)
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Our adventurous, friendly and sociable group of 16 AOC camper-hiker-paddlers shared a memorable weekend together at this amazing National Park just SE of Columbia, SC. We're indebted to our friend and avid AOCer CB Genrich, a regular volunteer staffer at the Park, for helping me and Bobby co-lead the trip and for making sure everything went even better than we had planned or dreamed. We also want to thank Ranger Corinne Fenner for putting together such a nice guided canoeing and kayaking outing for us in the Park.
Thanks to those who have already shared your beautiful Congaree photos! Here are the links to online trip albums that I have thus far, and I hope more will continue to come in, which I'll gladly add to this clickable "photolinks list."
RAY REDMOND'S FACEBOOK ALBUM:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.2446897304978.125177.1628281745&type=3
RYAN GRAHAM'S FLICKR ALBUM:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57017520@N06/6347873200/in/set-72157628009894519/
LORRI MEYER'S PICASA ALBUM:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=115116507155383750859&target=ALBUM&id=5675369979540743761&authkey=Gv1sRgCNv6w5H0sOTeWw&feat=email
SCOTT & LAURA ERICH'S SMUGMUG ALBUM:
http://www.jauntsaroundtheworld.com/Atlanta-Outdoor-Club/2011-11-11-Congaree-National/20070036_jkfBnx#1582703066_f8Bx75G
Unlike most National Parks, virtually everything at Congaree is free. A major highlight of our trip was a half-day Saturday paddling safari on lovely Cedar Creek that winds through the heavily forested blackwater heart of the swamp midst its giant moss-draped cypresses, tupelos and pines. Our friend Corinne Fenner, the Park's ranger in charge of outreach and volunteerism, led this unforgettable free guided outing in their nice fleet of canoes & kayaks, with help from CB who likewise knows the swamp well. We launched at Dawson's Landing and got out of our boats at our downstream turnaround point to stretch our legs and to have some fun at a giant hollow tupelo tree that many of us climbed inside for whimsical photos.
After lunch on Saturday thirteen of us including "honorary AOCers" Tom & Jason from Indiana enjoyed joining CB for a challenging 6-mile hike through the heart of the Park. CB escorted us to several of the Park's 30 or so national or state "champion" giant trees of various species, some more than 25 feet in circumference and more than 165 feet tall. It takes more than 4 adults with outstretched arms to reach around some of these wonders of the forest.
At the amazing "Harry Hampton cypress" we took pleasure in precisely re-creating a 75-year-old photo of legendary Park naturalist Harry standing by this huge tree that is perhaps 500 years old. Another highlight of this adventurous bushwhacking portion of the hike was witnessing the flight of a big barred owl who then posed nicely for some great close-up photos in a low tree overhanging Cedar Creek. We had fun orienteering off trail through much of this little-traveled part of the swamp en route back to the Park boardwalk trail, helping one another cross several wet "guts" and "sloughs" en route without getting our feet wet. We enjoyed visiting the current and former "national champion" loblolly pines along the way.
Although we had a frosty Friday night it warmed up nicely Saturday & Sunday, with azure blue skies and brilliant fall foliage by day and awesome stars & planets and a big bright moon by night. Special thanks to Ryan, Mark, Bobby and Sharon who arrived early Friday and helped CB gather a huge supply of firewood for our unforgettable big blazing campfires both nights and warm fires again both mornings. We probably went through 300 pounds of firewood and were happy to honor the Park's ban against using wood from outside the Park to prevent exotic insect infestation. Corinne joined us Saturday night for our partying and singing by the fire and an old local guy named Billy (with a tooth count about 10% of his age) got us rolling in laughter by improvising lyrics reminiscent of Cheech & Chong to our fireside sing-along! Courtney delighted everyone Saturday with foil-wrapped Split Banana treats, stuffed with chocolate, mini-marshmallows, nuts, etc. and baked to perfection in the campfire coals.
Sunday morning, we enjoyed a second delicious potluck-style breakfast highlighted again by Ray's fabulous pancakes and Scott & Laura's tasty bacon! We then took some group photos at the campfire ring. After breaking camp most of the group enjoyed more hiking on the Kingsnake Trail by Cedar Creek before heading home. Thanks to CB for arranging to take me, Lorri, Bobby, Sharon and Ray on a delightful Sunday Cedar Creek kayaking excursion launching at Bannister's Bridge and taking out 6 miles downstream at the public Cedar Ck park landing that had been the upstream turnaround point for our group float on Saturday.
As a native of South Carolina's lowcountry I've fallen in love with this place that reminds me so much of Dillon County's Little Pee Dee black-water swamplands where I grew up, less than 100 miles NE of the National Park. Over the weekend I enjoyed creating and sharing the song below that expresses how I feel about this unique and special place.
-Submitted by trip Co-Leader Charlie Cottingham, Nov 16, 2011
"CONGAREE SONG"
Congaree, you sing to me in springtime,
Congaree, you beckon to me in fall.
Way up high in a cypress tree,
a wise old owl is advisin' me
all about the need to heed your call.
Congaree, you've been here through the ages...
To you a year is just the blink of an eye,
But every hour in the Congaree
is dear to me - how I love to be
by your beautiful streams and your
trees that reach the sky!
Congaree, so grand and green in summer,
Your wonders still astound in winter's chill.
Paddlin' up and down Cedar Creek,
seein' more splendor than words can speak,
colors and critters all 'round me-such a thrill!
Congaree, you can count on me returning...
You always guarantee a natural high,
'Cause every hour in the Congaree
is dear to me - how I love to be
by your beautiful streams and your
trees that reach the sky!
- Lyrics & Music by Charlie Cottingham, Nov 2011, Key of D
- Dedicated to the Park's fine rangers and volunteers, with
special thanks to CB, Corinne & Lauren for their cheerful
support of our Atlanta Outdoor Club outings & programs.
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