This promises to be a great trip. Congaree Creek borders the Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve and is a beautiful little stream right here in Columbia, only recently available to paddlers. Check out this website for a description of this area and an overview of some local history.

Palmetto Paddlers helped clean up this creek last spring and it is a great, 3-4 hour trip from the put-in on highway 321 near the junction with I-26 in West Columbia to the take-out on 12th Street. Bryan Long hopes to go with us on the trip and provide access to the parking lot at the take-out. Thanks, Bryan. We will be taking this opportunity to do another clean-up sweep and will be carrying trash bags to collect clutter and saws and clippers to do some strainer snipping, if necessary. We'll leave any chain-sawing to the experts but should be able to make a good difference, depending on what has come down during this fall and winter. There might be some pull-overs necessary and/or some portaging, so come prepared. The stream is fairly narrow and windy, good boat control is advised. Canoes and sea/recreation kayaks are both appropriate for this stretch. Bring spare clothing in a dry bag; some snacks, hydrating drinks, and rain/wind/cold/mud protection and your clippers and hand saws, if you have them. Lots of poison ivy in this area so long sleeves/pants are a good idea if you're susceptible, even at this time of year.

Looking forward to a beautiful trip. Hope everyone can join us. Call me or email at kwhitaker@agfirst.com if you plan to be there or have any questions. Please include your phone number in case there are any last minute changes.

Happy Trails, Kate