Enoree Passage Opening (Dec 14) The opening of the 36-mile Enoree Passage on December 14, was the culmination of 7 years of hard work by PCF and many public and private contributors. The passage winds through Newberry, Laurens, and Union Counties.

Mary Black Rail Trail Landscaping: PCF recently completed the landscaping of the popular Mary Black Rail Trail, which is located in Spartanburg.

Enoree Passage Trails Day Hike (June 2) PCF's Jim Majors hosted a "preview hike" of the Palmetto Trail Enoree Passage in celebration of National Trails Day. The passage will open in 2007.

Sparkleberry Swamp Kayak Trip (May 7) PCF's Wayne Argabright guided kayakers through the Sparkleberry Swamp on Saturday, May 7. The trip was one of several spring outings hosted by PCF.

Lake Jocassee Kayak Trip (April 28) PCF's Wayne Argabright led a kayak trip in Lake Joccassee on Saturday, April 28...one of PCF's spring outings.

PCF's New Upstate Digs Effective April 30, 2007, PCF has relocated its Upstate office from Spartanburg to Glendale. It is on the grounds of the Glendale Methodist Church property out of which PCF's new Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS) will operate.

PCF Awendaw Passage Canoe Launch Area Opening (April 21) PCF held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sat, April 21, near the Awendaw Passage to open the newly constructed canoe launch site and parking area. The US Forest Service has constructed this first-class handicap-accessible canoe launch on the Awendaw Creek and a parking area on the Palmetto Trail's Awendaw Passage.

A crowd gathers for the canoe launch opening (left). US Congressman Henry Brown was the "ribbon-cutter." He poses on the right with PCF board member Babs Warner.

PCF Earth Day Geocaching Expedition (April 21) PCF organized a geocaching outing in the Manchester Forest area on Earth Day that took participants to the scenic "High Hills" of the Santee Passage.

Explorers were treated to scenic sites during the expedition. A budding geocacher

Earth Day Trails Information Fair (April 21) The Francis Marion National Forest Information Fair was held on Sat, Apr 21, at the Sewee Visitor's Center. It gave people the opportunity to learn about trails in the Francis Marion Forest. The event attracted families with a day of food, fun, and prizes.

George Fields receives State's highest Preservation Award (March 2007) PCF's Military Heritage Program Director George Fields was awarded the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation at the 2007 Landmark and Preservation Conference in Beaufort. He was recognized for his many accomplishments in preserving and interpreting Revolutionary War battle sites. George was the leader in acquiring property at the battles of Musgrove Mill, Blackstock's, Camden, and Lee's Trenches at Ninety Six. Dressed in backcountry militia garb, George leads bus tours and marches (see 6 stories down), and gives tours and seminars.

The Palmetto Trail replaces a bridge in the Swamp Fox Passage The Francis Marion National Forest sponsored an American Hiking Society Volunteer vacation and replaced a bridge on the Swamp Fox Passage of Palmetto Trail. The original bridge was accidentally destroyed by a controlled burn. The bridge is between Witherbee and Cane Gully in a Loblolly Pine Flatwoods ecosystem.

PCF-SC Forestry Commission Conservation Easement Seminar (February 28) PCF hosted a conservation easement with the SC Forestry Commission at the Commission's headquarters on Feb 28. Speakers included Rick Handel of the SC Department of Revenue (DOR); Burnie Maybank, former director of the DOR; Cary Hall, an attorney tax specialist with Wyche Burgess in Greenville; Mike Robinson, an experienced property appraiser from Charleston; and Joel Felder from the SC Forestry Commission.

Mike Robinson, Chas. Appraisal Service Rick Handel, SC DOR

Palmetto Trail Construction Progress (February 2007) PCF continues to work hard on opening new Palmetto Trail passages. Here's a picture of new bridge construction that will be part of the Enoree passage in the Upstate. This passage will open during 2007. Stay tuned to our Web site for updates on openings and other Palmetto Trail news.

Conservation Close Up Series: Lunch Box Lecture (January 2007) Rep. James Smith and Rep. Jim Harrison were the presenters for the January 2007 Lunch Box Lecture, where they discussed private and community property rights as related to "takings" and "just compensation." The General Assembly will once again consider legislation relelvant to these issues.

Trail Improvements Complete on Santee Passage (January 2007) An Americorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC) team has completed a number of trail improvement projects on the Santee Passage near Santee and Vance, SC. Trail maintenance and relocation work was long overdue near Santee and now users should not have trouble following the trail. The work near Vance on the Avinger property brings a really great wooded section of the trail up to standard. The passage utilizes a number of rural dirt roads in eastern Orangeburg County and is a favorite with mountain bikers. Hikers and bikers are urged to use the passage map to avoid miss-turns.

Morgan's Victory March (January 13-14, 2007) Gen. George Fields led a stalwart group on a two-day march along the same 25-mile route that Gen. Daniel Morgan used as he moved his army from Grindall Shoals to Cowpens during two days in January 1781. (Photos are from day one of the march.)

See Photo Gallery Archives from 2006

See Photo Gallery Archives from Fall 2005

See Photo Gallery Archives from Summer 2005

See Photo Gallery Archives from Winter 2005

See Photo Gallery Archives from Fall 2004.