Congaree National Park

“I will be staying local this weekend so I thought I'll give Congaree National Park another try. They make a big deal out of it lately, so it better be good.

I hiked it a while back but it was flooded pretty bad. Everything is fixed now.

I'll do this as a dayhike. You can get about 10 miles or so out of it. Even more if you want to. No hills though on this hike. Lot's of pretty trees, snakes and maybe an aligator or a wild pig.

Some people even bring their canu.
Anyway, I'll hike this no matter what. They weather suppose to be great saturday, high near around 88F.

If you decide to hike Congaree swamp don't forget your bug repelent. It's bad!! I mean REAL BAD!!!!!

Congaree Nationl Park Web site

Oh, someone is interested...you are allowed to camp in the swamp area. The swamp suppose to be pretty creepy at night though I've heard. Should be able to see owles and stuff.”

“oh, i did put it on the trip page, just in case.

Just like I said, I'll be going for sure, anyone is welcome to join.”

“I saw this place in National Geographic Adventure this month and wondered why I hadn't heard of it. Now I remember you trying it and not liking it.

Good luck.”

“lol...it's actually really pretty there if it's not flooded. it wasn't no fun though hiking through the swamp bare-footed. This won't be the case this time. LOL”

“3 day canoe trip there. 3 days is worth the distance.

That sounds like fun...bugs, gators, snakes...yeah...I'm diggin it.”

“oh man stikmon. I would love to, but already signed up for the mitchell trip. any other date you would want to do it??

That swamp is really really pretty. It's just an easy hike or/and canoe trip. no elevation, no climbing...just like you said, lots of bugs, snakes and stuff.”

“Isn't this place the newest National Park in the US? Seems like a recent Backpacker mag (yeah, I know I bought an issue though) mentioned it in a favorable light, especially for canoeing.”

“Watch out for DEET, some people seem to have a pretty severe allergic reaction to it, see the Dr. Deet Killed Scorchfire thread = Scorch had a bad reaction at Hawk Mountain to some Deet spray.”

“it was in the backpacker mag, and yes I bought a copy too.

AND thank god I am not alergic to the deet.

Roam, didn't you want to hike it once when you still lived in NC? too late now, eh? i am not sure if it's worth a trip from FL. It's just a swamp with a bunch of bugs, snakes and cyphris (sp??) trees.

When I first hiked it before the flood, I thought it was almost a bit magical. Kind a like I pictured the magic forest when I was a kid. I guess we'll see how I feel this weekend. SEcond time around things look different. LOL”

“Yeah I wanted to hike it when I lived up in Greenville.

I'd still like to, but i don't think I can get there this weekend.... but ya never know.”

“from NPS website:

Water found along the trails is potable only if boiled, filtered, or treated with iodine.
Be ready for wet weather and always allow time for finding a dry camping spot free of poisonous plants.
To reduce the possibility of getting lost in the "flat" floodplain environment, off-trail travel is not recommended.
The park is subject to periodic flooding. On average, the park floods ten times per year with most floods occurring during the period December through April. Be alert to rising water and be prepared to move camp if necessary.”

“this place sounds kinda cool.

It's only 7 or 8 hours away, I might could meet you at that "after hours" campsite on Friday night.

But that assumes that my car gets repaired for a reasonable price.”

“Roam, no rain to expect on Saturday. High around 90 degrees, expect it to be pretty bad in the swamp.

if you're really planning on hiking the swamp... hope you like the humidity.”

“humidity don't scare me none, I live in S. Florida.

I'll know more by the end of the day tomorrow when the repair shop calls with a quote.”

“Gemini what do you know about the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. I am thinking about driving up to see it next weekend. Let me know what you think.”

“Hey Photo Pack. How are you?
hmm...what do I know? Lots of fallen trees, but very nice area. The area has some 400 year-old trees, pretty impressive.

The trails are well marked and pretty easy to follow, but most of the trails in the area we hiked are pretty rocky. Lots of uphill.

I am not sure anymore what trails we hiked back then, I think one of them was the nacked ground trail, maybe the slickrock trail?? I think that was it. Couple more I can't remember.

I hiked the area once, and I know there over 60 miles of hiking trails. I really don't know much about the other trails.

One of of those trails you'll get to an awesome view. Can't miss that one. You really have to see it.

I have a couple of pictures on my webshot album

I am sure you found the joyce kilmer website.

I thought I saw Roam Around post something about the Joice Kilmer area a couple of days ago....”

“yeah, I did, see the "Jmitch needs NC Help" thread.

Hey Gemini, I'm staying south this weekend, I just can't drive three weekends in a row and I am definitely going to Trail Days next weekend.

But I still wanna do the swamp sometime, maybe after I get a boat this fall.”

“no problem Roam. That's the reason why I am staying local this weekend too :)”

“Photo Pack,

That's on my to-do list too. I've been told there is some sort of overhang/view that is a must. The other thing I've heard is that there are more trails than are shown on the map, so be careful. I really want to check out this area at some point, but who knows when.”

“Your talking about Hangover

It is way cool, you can see all the way into the Smokies on a clear day, and parts of Fontana Lake.

Santeetlah Lake is almost always in view.

Hangover is marked on the maps.

Lots of trails aren't signed, but the FS has been working on them. There are several that aren't on the topos and hunters use the area too.”

“that's what I ment. if you check my pictures you see the view from the overhand. Awesome. The weather was a bit foggy that day, but still... it was worth it. I can only imagine what it will look like on a nice day.”

“bugs, snakes and gators. oh my”

“chicken!!”

“It is good to hear from you. Thanks for the info. I am going to take off Friday after work. I did look up the web cite and looks pretty good. Thanks for the Pic's.
Dayhiker your welcome to join me if you want. Good to hear from you too. I have been working weekends and holidays sence our hike at Sipsey, and looking forward to a weekend off.
Roam Around thanks for the input.”

“your welcome, it's a great place.”

“the Forest Svc. ranger station just outside of Robbinsville has trail maps and can give good info on current conditions.”

“Photo Pack.
Wish I could. I'm tied up this weekend. I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading the report though”

“This is all good info. I plan on leaving right after work. I am also lookiing at Sewanee Tenn area. I have been told there are some real nice areas and natural bridges up there.”

“okay, so I wanted to hike it today, but I "got up" too late.
That's okay though, I'll hike it tomorrow. Weather is going to be hot, hot, hot, 93 or so.

Going to sesqui park today. 2 rounds around the lake. Kind a swampy there too.”

“i'm feeling completely sluggish today. slept till 10:00 and just took a small catnap.”

“roam...I think that's how I feel. I wanted to wash the car then go to the park..well, I am still sitting on my a$$. Just got a package from germany too...now I am digging through the stuff my mom send. :)”

“bucket thiefs!!
Now I can't wash my car either dangid. Already bought a pink bucket so they leave mine alone...and now?? now it got paint in it.

My only flippn bucket that I had left.”

“lol

i had so many things I wanted to do today, wash the car, clean the fish tanks, and lots of other stuff.

instead? nothing, nada, and I like it.”

“...but a couple of pics

Cameron decided to hike with me today so I changed my mind and decided on the shorter loop. We hiked about 7 miles today. There isn't really much to write. Lots of huge trees, lizards, swamp, turtles, and spiders. Didn't see any snakes today, which surprised me. Like expected I didn't see any aligator either. People say though that one does exist and was seen on many occassions. Just not by me or Cameron.

Somehow I couldn't get the idea out of my mind that any minute a fairy, or some other magical creature would pop out of the forest. It is that pretty and macigal looking.

I can't see how any canoe can even get by some of the logs in the swamp, but I guess it's possible. At least that's what they say on their website.

Cameron was pretty tired at the end, but had fun hiking this trail.”

“canoeing is prob better during the rainy season when the water is higher.

I bet that is a real "primevil" forest!”

“yeah, Cameron said it reminded him of Lord of the rings. I am not sure if that's true..but I can see it...somehow...”

“a "couple" of pics???

lol

I thought I took a bunch!

Cameron looks to have enjoyed it.”

“yeah...I know...took a bit too many I guess. But some of them are REALLY good.”

“never can take too many, its just not possible!”

“How were the bugs?

It's on my To Do list, esp. because its so close... but I was thinking it might be better in Winter.”

“the bugs really wasn't as bad this time. Surprised me. Lots of spider webs on some of the trails that wasn't hiked too often, but that was expected. I would really try to get it during the dryer season because this area floods real easy. Right now is actually perfect. Bugs not too bad, still some swamp areas to look at. Real nice. Tild if you wanna go again let me know. I would love to get another hike in this area.
Just remember...this is not a huffn' and puffn'' kind a hike. Flat all the way to the end :)”

“Cool -- you can crank out some miles without losing any toenails <grin>... leave the boots at home, I'll bet.

I remember seeing it on a map a couple of years ago, but then I got distracted, LOL... I really need to pay attention to things closer to home like that: places like Cumberland Island and the Okeefenokee...

Especially the 'Oke-fen-oke'. It's really a world class habitat, they say.”