Congaree National Park Weekend: Free Camping, Canoeing & Hiking! - Fri, Nov 11 2011

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Congaree National Park Weekend: Free Camping, Canoeing & Hiking!


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: 25 mi SE of Columbia, SC, about 4 hrs from Atlanta.   Adventure: Congaree National Park Weekend: Free Camping, Canoeing & Hiking!  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Nov 11 2011  7:00 pm >> Sun, Nov 13 2011 2:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 12:15 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Oct 12 2011 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Nov 10 2011 10:00 pm
Event Duration:2 nights and up to 3 days
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Pace:Leisurely
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Bobby Marie
Email Trip Leader(s)
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:18
Minimum Group Size:6
Number Registered So Far: 16 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
NOTE: More details have been added to this article since it was first posted. -Charlie

IN A NUTSHELL:  Congaree National Park is famous for its lovely blackwater streams that meander through its old-growth forest of giant cypress and tupelo trees and for its wonderful hiking trails and boardwalks that take adventurers to remote parts of the swamp and forest. Early November is considered "prime time" in the Park, with lovely fall foliage, avg. daytime temps in the high 60s and avg. nighttime lows in the mid-40s.
  Virtually everything in the Park is offered to the public at no charge!  On this AOC event we'll have two nights free Carside Camping in the National Park's pioneer campsite and even a free Paddling Excursion on lovely Cedar Creek in the Park's own fleet of Canoes!  If you prefer, bring your own boat and gear.
   Entrance to the Park, parking and hiking are also free.  The trip will also include several guided Hikes and a leisurely visit to the very nice Park Visitor Center & gift shop.
  Most of our group will carpool over together on Friday afternoon, but if you have to work feel free to drive over later independently (see carpool info and detailed directions to our campsite below).  Most of us can expect to be back in Atlanta by early Sunday evening.
  Thanks to our friends on the Congaree National Park staff including AOCer C.B. Genrich, who is a regular volunteer at the Park and has assisted us greatly with planning this trip.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT WEATHER, PARK FACILITIES, & AOC TRIP PLAN (Updated by Charlie Nov 9):
Clear Fall Weather is expected all weekend with highs in the 60s Friday & Saturday and above 70 on Sunday.  It'll likely drop down into the 30s late Fri night and into the low 40s late Sat night, but we expect to have big roaring campfires both nights.  Bring a warm sleeping bag and/or extra blankets and layers.
Campsite Details:  Most of our group of about 20 AOCers expect to arrive at the group campsite area by about 4:30 PM Friday and set up camp.  Likely CB and Lorri will have been able to stake out some good space for us earlier on Friday.  Should be no problem for those who have to arrive after dark on Friday or in the wee hours Saturday.
  The group campsite area has pit toilets, but no electricity or running water.  Be prepared with headlamps, lanterns, etc., and I suggest that we each bring 4 or 5 gallons of water in gallon jugs, 2-gallon plastic "tappers," and/or bottles.  (See updated "What to Bring" below.)  It's a great idea to pre-freeze several bottles or gallon jugs of water and use them in lieu of crushed ice in your cooler to avoid the mess and leave drinking water as the ice melts.
  There's plenty of parking for our vehicles big flat parking lot beside our group campsite.  Feel free to sleep in your vehicle or RV if you prefer, in lieu of a tent.  One of our AOCers, CB Genrich, is already camped there with his Airstream trailer.  He's a regular volunteer at Congaree NP.
Friday Dinner & Campfire: For all who arrive in time for dinner Fri evening (say 7:00 to 8:00) we expect to be able to do some grilling in our campfire coals using the hand-held grills that I intend to bring.  I suggest that each of us bring a small personal entree item plus perhaps a small side item of your choice to share "potluck style" (i.e., that might serve 4 or 5 others). We'll enjoy a big campfire all evening.
Saturday Morning Plan:  After our potluck-style breakfast (~7:00-8:30 Sat morning) their Natl Park ranger Camille will host us for our canoeing excursion on Cedar Creek Sat (scheduled for 9:00-12:30).  They have up to 18 spots in their free canoes and several of our AOCers are bringing their own kayaks. We can easily paddle both upstream and downstream in Cedar Creek from the launching areas near our campsite.  
Sat Afternoon:  After lunch back a the campsite (~1:00-1:30) we plan to tour Park Visitor Center and its surrounding area and do a leisurely paced group hike on the Park trail system.  CB can take us to one of the "champion" giant trees in the Park.
Sat Happy Hour & Potluck-style Group Dinner: Will begin say, about 5:00 at the campsite. We'll target serving dinner at about 6:30.  Sunset, by the way, is at about 5:30.  Another big campfire.
Sun Morning:   After another potluck-style breakfast at the campsite we'll offer another optional hike in the park, and/or perhaps more paddling for those who have brought their own boats.
1:00 PM Sunday is suggested as a departure time for carpool groups following a final lunch at the group campsite.

NOV 8 OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP HAPPY HOUR & PLANNING MEETING - 6:30-7:30 PM PRIOR to AOC SOCIAL at the PRADO TACO MAC: You're sure to enjoy this "drop-in" gathering, so please attend if it's convenient. We'll grab a couple of tables in the same area where AOCers will be gathering for the November Social. (The Prado shopping center is on Roswell Road just a quarter mile south of the I-285 "Roswell Rd" exit in Sandy Springs and has free parking in its multi-level decks.)
  We'll introduce one another, answer questions about the trip, and discuss our activities for the weekend including camping, canoeing, hiking, carpooling, group "potluck meals" and gear sharing.
Charlie will follow up on the Nov 8 meeting with emails to the group firming up our scheduled optional activities and summarizing our various plans including "custom carpools" for any who prefer meeting and driving independently of the main 12:15 PM (correction!) Friday carpool caravan.

Required Items to Bring:

- Carside Camping Gear including a warm Sleeping Bag and perhaps an extra blanket or two since it will be in the 30s Fri night and near 40 Sat night.  Sleep in your vehicle or RV if you prefer.
- Clothing layers appropriate for the weather forecast.
- Personal & Toiletry Items including a Headlamp or Flashlight. 
-Comfortable Hiking Shoes or Boots.
- Iced-down Cooler of Refreshments & Food
- "Potluck" food items of your choice for our shared group meals if you'd like to participate. I (Charlie) will provide my usual big pot of perked Coffee and Creamers/Sweeteners for the group both mornings and a big pot of boiling water and a ladle at dinners & breakfasts for tea, hot chocolate, dishwashing, etc. - also dishwashing bins, scrubbers & liquid. I'll provide limited paper/plastic dining gear, but you're generally on your own for dining-related supplies and utensils.
- Cooking & Dining Gear: Coleman stoves & large covered pots & pans are preferred for our "potluck style" meals, although backpacking style gear is OK if you prefer.
- Water: 4 or 5 gallons of per person in plastic 2-gallon "tapper jugs," gallon jugs, bottles,etc, since there's no running water at our campsite.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
- Firewood: CAUTION! The Park rangers have told Courtney that ONLY local firewood may be used in the Park due to fear of exotic invasive insects.  We can likely find plenty of down & dead wood in the surrounding woods (+ kindling) and cut it on site, so perhaps bring a Saw or Axe for that if you have one.
- If you prefer bringing your own Kayak or Canoe (+ paddle & PFD) feel free to do so.  The free Park canoes are expected to be available only during our reserved 9:00-12:30 time slot with the Ranger guide in Cedar Creek on Saturday.  They have another group scheduled for 1:00 PM Saturday.
- Don't forget your Camera!  This is a very photogenic place.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:

FROM the I-20/ I-285 INTERCHANGE on ATLANTA'S EAST SIDE:

1. Take I-20 East about 135 miles to the GA/SC state line just beyond Augusta.
2. Continuing into SC via I-20 East, go 58 miles and get off at Exit #58, "US-1."
3. Turn Right onto US-1 North and go 4.9 miles.
4. Merge Right onto I-26 E toward Charleston and go 4.3 miles.
5. Merge Leftward at Exit #116 onto I-77 N toward Charlotte and go 5.0 miles.
6. Merge Rightward onto SC-48 East, "Bluff Rd," and go 8.1 miles.
7. Bear Right onto Old Bluff Road and go 4.4 miles.
8. Turn Right onto National Park Road and go just 0.5 mile to the Park's Pioneer Campsite entrance and parking lot on your left.
9. We'll set up camp in the available portions of the campsite that are closest to our vehicles or already "staked out" by our early-arriving AOCers.

THE FOLLOWING LAT/LON COORDINATES may be useful in conjunction with the above directions as your entered GPS or Google Maps destination:
33.8360,-80.8280

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):440Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 12:15 pm
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $176.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

Free event with free Parking and free Congaree National Park admission.  Each participant who rides with other AOCers should be prepared to chip in generously to cover the cost of gas.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.