Congaree Swamp Trip Saturday Jan 13 2007 9 AM Put In

Sorry for the late notice, but that is how things are sometime. This is a awe inspiring trip. Every time I go into the swamp at high water I feel refreshed for having participated in our beautiful background wonderland.

Agenda
Meet at Bannister Bridge 9:00 AM
Drop Boats
Shuttle to South Cedar Creek about 9:30 AM
Return
Launch 10:00 AM or shortly thereafter.
Lunch about Noon
Wesson Lake about 1:30
Take out about 3PM

If you are late, just leave your car at the put in and fetch a rid back afterward.

Description
Congaree swamp Cedar creek gauge has risen most of the week and has held for the last day and a half at over 10 feet. It is declining slightly, but the weather forecasters are predicting the flooding at Sandy Run and Eastman Kodak to decline slightly over the next few days. The river has dropped at the Saluda in Columbia to the base of the pillars (it had been to the pillar cap (below the arches).

At this level the swamp is a lot of fun with pretty easy access to everything.. We are going to do Cedar Creek from the put in at Banisters Bridge at Old State Road to the take out at South Cedar Creek Road (about 5 miles East of the National Park). We will go past large stands of Cypress & Tupelo with much variety of trees. We will likely hear some birds, but will be lucky to see them. Unfortunately, the snakes have gone to sleep for the winter and will likely be non existent. But the mosquitoes will be almost non existent too. The trip will wind into the flood plain growing in size till there is so much water that the path will be difficult . We will pass the site where the old hunt club was. There should be a little dry land there and the bridge will be out of water, so I am targeting this for the lunch stop. If the water is high enough (it will be close) then we will paddle up the path and cut over to Wesson lake. It is a lot of fun paddling on the path. I try to do it at least once a year. From there we will take the gut out of the east end of the lake and join Cedar creek where it is about an hour and a half to the takeout. If level is not high enough to do the road (it will be close), then we will continue down Cedar creek and time permitting, will paddle up the gut to Wesson Lake & back. The gut to Wesson Lake is one of the most beautiful places in the park. It is possible to get lost in the section at high water, so the group needs to keep in sight of each other. Great spot for pictures. We discovered a short cut to get back on the river from Wesson lake that avoids the tight turn around the bridge over Cedar Creek just downstream of the gut entrance.

The weather is forecast to be in the 70's with partly sunny to sunny skies, in short, perfect for this type of paddle. The water temperature of Lake Murray is about 55 degrees, so the swamp is likely to be about 60 degrees at this time of year. This means that even thought you will likely to be comfortable in shorts & a T shirt, you should bring some fleece in case of an accident. Kayakers will be cooled somewhat by the river, so paddling pants would be in order.

I would like to paddle so that everyone gets a chance to be at the lead position where the best views of the magnificent trees and lighting patterns will be seen as well an any wildlife. If there is a large crowd, there will be some spreading out of necessity and waiting when we go under or around snags. I have no idea what the snags will be like from Banisters to about a mile before the site of the old Hunt Club, but am very familiar with the Creek at this level from there to the take-out. If the two sections are similar, it will be a fairly easy paddle for canoes or rec boats with medium experience. I did the Bannister to Hunt club & on two years age at maybe 6 or 7 feet and it was very easy and a very pretty trip, especially seeing the vegetation change as we entered the flood plain. Medium experience for this trip means that you can safely return to your boar if you capsize, but that you do not capsize in moderate current or when avoiding snags (river obstacles such as stumps, trees, etc.)

Dangers are getting lost or falling in, both of which can be serious, so this is not a trip for anyone who is just learning the strokes. Novices should consider an easier trip by putting in at the takeout and paddling upstream or downstream a bit, but not going past the point where Cedar Creek separates from the land. This is a truly awesome paddling opportunity, but definitely not the place to learn how to paddle.

Bring (suggested):
Camera (and bag/box to keep it dry)
Lunch
Drinks, water
GPS (waterproof) & map.
Extra clothing in dry bag.
Extra paddle (do not know anyone who has ever lost a paddle in the swamp), so you can bowwow one of mine if you loose yours.
Like jacket -
Sunglasses
Sun Screen or Hat
Binoculars are not generally much use as it is hard to find any wildlife in the trees..
Walkie Talkie
Minor first aid.

I routinely take flashlight, matches, compass, map, extra food, extra clothes and can't remember having needed it.. I have loaned gear to people who got cold, no one has ever capsized on one of our winter swamp trips. Its your call on how much of this stuff you need, but it is a good safety principle to be able to take care of yourself and someone else.

Directions to Put in:
Take the I-77 Beltway and get off at Old Bluff Road (hwy 48) going East. You will go approximately 10 miles when the road forks with the left branch going to the new entrance to the Congaree national Park and the right branch (Old Bluff Road) going to the put in. The put in is on the right about 5 miles down the road. The way you can tell is that there is a bridge which crosses 2 creeks, neither of which looks big enough to paddle (will likely be a little more water tomorrow). The put-in is on the right and before going over the first bridge. There is a short carry of about 100 feet to the creek.

If you miss the turn to the put-in
Continue to the Congaree National Park and turn right from Bluff Road and go toward the park. After a half mile or so turn right on Old Bluff and continue till you go over a bridge with 2 creeks and see the Put-=in sign on your immediate left after crossing both creeks..

Directions to Take out.
From Put-in go right on Old Bluff till it dead ends into South Cedar Creek road. Turn right and continue straight to the put-in about a mile away. South Cedar creek road curves left just before the Put-In, but you will go straight. Park tight together and back into the woods. There is limited parking. Feel free to leave cars at the National Park Headquarters if you prefer a safer situation.

Contact
No need to call, just show up. We have a small core group who are going for sure.

Steve Collum (a future member) and I will lead the trip.

Lee Olson, Membership Chairman and Trip Leader
803-463-5547 Cell

I will have my cell on till we loose service . I believe there is service at the put-in and at least part of the way to the Take out. No service at the take out (for me).