Join the Pacolet Area ConservaN.C.y (PAC) for six Friday hikes offered this fall, free of charge. Starting Friday, Sept. 12, PAC’s first hike will head to the Lake James State Park for a 4.9-mile, easy trek with beautiful lake and mountain views.
On Sept. 26, hikers will head to the Horsepasture River (Gorges State Park/Pisgah National Forest) for a 6-mile moderate/strenuous hike to four beautiful waterfalls – Rainbow, Turtleback, Drift and Bearwallow Falls.
On Oct. 10, the group will head to Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee area, for a 7.4-mile, moderate loop hike on the Boogerman Trail, which contains some of the largest old-growth trees in the area.
On Oct. 24, PAC and the Foothills Humane Society partner for a 7-mile, moderate out and back hike on the Green River Cove Trail within the Green River Game Lands. Participants are asked to bring their own dogs or volunteer to walk a shelter dog for the day. The trail parallels the Green River, offering beautiful views of the river.
On Nov. 7, hikers will head to Oconee County in S.C. for a 4-mile, moderate, out and back hike to view Lower White Water Falls, a 200’ waterfall along the N.C./S.C. line.
Finally, on Nov. 21, the hiking series culminates at the highest peak in South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain. Hikers will take on a 5-mile, strenuous, out and back hike to the 3,533’ peak. The trail follows a portion of the Foothills Trail and aS.C.ends 1,900’ to the top of the mountain for a reward of beautiful views of the N.C. and S.C. mountains, as well as views of Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee in S.C.
Also, PAC invites the public to participate in a “Hiking Challenge.” Complete all six Friday PAC hikes this fall and receive a custom bumper sticker acknowledging the accomplishment.
Those who are interested in attending the PAC fall hikes and would like more information, call the PAC office at 828-859-5060 or e-mail landprotection@pacolet.org. Also find information on PAC’s website, www.pacolet.org and on PAC’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pacoletarea.conservaN.C.y.
PAC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) qualified conservation organization (land trust) that works with landowners to ensure the long-term protection of their land through voluntary conservation easements. Conservation easements enable landowners to maintain ownership and management of their property, preserving precious natural resources (open lands, forests, wildlife habitat, S.C.enic vistas, farmland, stream banks, etc.) and potentially obtain significant federal, state and local tax benefits. PAC’s mission is to protect and conserve natural resources with emphasis on the lands and waterways with S.C.enic, ecological and agricultural significaN.C.e in the North Pacolet and Green River watersheds with a vision of a community living and growing in harmony with our natural heritage and a goal to provide a legacy that will endure and be valued by generations to come.

– article submitted
by Pam Torlina