Bikepacking in South Carolina

[donmeredith74]

I'm hoping to do a few nights out on the bike this fall in South Carolina or within reasonable driving distance. I could do a section of the Palmetto Trail but I can't find a loop. Can anyone recommend a good loop to run? I'd prefer the upstate but I'm open to about anywhere. Thanks in advance!

DM

[FeloniousDunk]

I can't be of any help but I'd be interested in a 2-4 day route in SC for this Fall/Winter.  I haven't done much research on routes in SC but I just got the new Trails Illustrated map for Pisgah and it has a tiny bit of the Up State on it with a bit of the Palmetto and it didn't show that bikes were not allowed.  It piqued my interest.  Coming down the mountain from Asheville for a long weekend might be nice this Fall. 

If you come up with anything, please keep us posted.

[FeloniousDunk]

I just looked a minute into the http://www.sctrails.net/TRAILS/ALLTRAILS/Palmetto%20Trail/PALMETTO%20TRAIL.html"] Palmetto Trail [/url] and suddenly I see a swamp trip in my future!  That 150ish mile leg from Wateree to Awendaw at the coast looks like it'd be a very unique long weekend experience for someone who is used to riding up here in the mountains.  I only have about a 3 hour drive to Wateree and finishing with a night of seafood near Charleston might be really slick.  Looks like it might be on the relaxing side of bikepacking as far as elevation change and tread surface goes (could be wrong), but I'm up for that.  Hum...water moccasins, alligators, and lots of bugs...I'm thinking post Thanksgiving.   

Any thoughts or experience? 

[donmeredith74]

I'm considering that strongly as well. I live in Lexington (Columbia) so it wouldn't be difficult to convince my wife to drop me off at the trail head and have her pick me up Sunday in Charleston. Its never hard to convince her to spend time in Charleston. I've hiked some of the trail down around Awendaw. Its flat, easy riding that's well marked. I spoke with a rep from Palmetto Conservation about getting more info. There's a booklet out that has some information that I need to go get. She implied that there is a fair amount of road riding between legs in the upper sections. Keep in touch - we should work together on planning details so we don't have to re-invent the wheel. I'm planning on taking my 29" ss bike that should be finished Tuesday. It will be a little slower probably but I love the simplicity.

[FeloniousDunk]

What would be the best month to do that Wateree to the coast section to avoid being carried away by mosquitos or eaten my a snake?  I'm not familiar with the seasons down there. 

I'm not a fast mover, but not neccesarily slow either.  I just like to get out there and take in the sights.  And after some of my latest hike-a-bike fests that have been my exploratory trips up here in the mtns, I'm ready for something flatter.  Oh, and my wife isn't up for shuttling me, she's more interested in waking me up from my slumber so we can hit the trail at the crack of dawn     

[FeloniousDunk]

I forgot something.  Loops are really nice, but when they're not available I've found that renting a car to run shuttle isn't too bad.  Enterprise has been known to deliver a car to me at the trails end within 30 minutes...a good option sometimes. 

[donmeredith74]

Technically the bugs go away after the first good freeze but I'm convinced mosquitoes from the NE come to the lowcountry to winter. I used to live down in Charleston for 7 years and it seemed like the only months that didn't have bugs was during the brutally cold months. I camp down there in October and November on kayak trips from time to time without a lot of trouble. I don't use DEET and I survive (use organics and / or dryer sheet method with some luck).

I wouldn't worry too much about the snakes. I've seen more in the upstate than I have in the swamps of the lowcountry. I haven't come up with a packing solution just yet. I do a lot of UL backpacking with a base weight of around 8lbs so my bulk is low. I'm thinking I can get by with a 25L dry bag strapped to a rack on the back and some gear in my Camelback MULE with no problem. This will be my first bike trip so any pointers on gear location, etc would be appreciated.

[FeloniousDunk]

DM,  Thanks for the info.  Do you have an idea of when the first freeze usually happens down there?

On the gear hauling, I'd suggest looking over the Personal Setups page here.  All the ideas you'll need to get a good start.

[donmeredith74]

Thanks. I'll have to give it some serious thought. I tested out my dry bag earlier. The volume (actually a 30L bag) is more than enough for my gear on a multi-nighter. I just need to figure out how to attach it to the Lynskey. No rack mounts of course but I'm sure I can work around that. I will probably cobble something up to see if that size pack will get in the way back there. I'd like to avoid buying a frame pack if I can - more task specific gear.

You can expect the weather to get cold enough in the lowcountry to knock the edge off of the bugs in late October / early November most years. How long were you thinking to plan for the trip?

[Mike Brown]

I posted this question over in the emptybeer forums a while ago.  I got a couple of replies indicating not a good plan, lacking in fun and ride-ability.  A very knowledgeable person, however, sent me a map for linking FATS, Turkey, Wine, Modoc, and Long Cane trails with some back roads for a 3-4 day trip about 150 miles or so, running from Augusta to Greenwood.  I'm going to do this in March with a friend from Augusta. 

Anyway, I can e-mail this map to anyone interested.   Please e-mail me at mikemtnbike@netzero.com and I'll get back with you sooner than later.

Mike