1st Annual Congaree River Trail Fish n Hike n Hang

Hey Guys!

I am starting a 3 day Annual Hammock Hang and would love for everyone to join me. Here are the details:

Dates:
Feb. 18-20, 2012

The trip will take place at Congaree National Park off of the River Trail. Here are the tentative plans:

Day 1 – Hike down to the Congaree River from Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Set up camp (hammock) right off the Congaree River. Given the remaining available daylight, possibly explore as much of the surrounding area as possible. I may even plan to do some back-country hiking a mile or so off trail into the Congaree Wilderness for fun.:thumbup:

Day 2 – This day is pretty much open to anything. But after an awesome breakfast:woot:, I plan on fishing all day long on the Congaree River. I would start fishing a dawn and stop about 2:30pm. That way we would have plenty of time to clean, cook and enjoy the taste of a hard day’s work of fishing. ;)

Day 3 – I plan on enjoying the last day in the swamp. This can be done in anyway wanted(fishing, park trail hiking, back-country exploring, lounging from the hammock, etc). Most of us will just be lounging in the hammocks til about noon or 1pm (ish). At that point, we will pack up camp and say goodbye to the “Congaree River Swamp God” as we hike back to Harry Hampton Visitor Center to end the trip.


Remember that this is just my preliminary Plans for the trip. If anyone has opinions or options on other activities during or for the event, please interject. I would like this to become a yearly event for me during Presidents Day Weekend. I am hoping there is enough interest in this to make it fun for all us Hammock Hangers!!!


For more information on the trails of the Congaree National Park - http://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=308199

I might be interested. I'm not much of a fisherman even thoug I do enjoy it. That's some beautiful area too, and the winter is the best time to enjoy it while the bugs are gone. Watch out for the wild pigs!

I'm interested, but I don't fish, but could possibly be talked into it. :) I haven't been in this area, but would love to check it out. I would love to do some hiking. My husband may do the fishing. :) Looks like a good weekend for us also.

I might be able to come out to this also. I have been here before and reaaly liked the area. One note, do not get your water from the creek. With the slow moving current and the amount of debris that enters the water, it is very acidic and even after filtering has a horrible taste and is the color of tea. I don't know about the river water. I would assume it is fine. Also as most of this park can flood, it is a good idea to have an alternate trip plan. I would check with the ranger just days before to confirm the park conditions.

I was looking at the map and it looks to be several miles to the river. My husband has bad knees and can't hike too far. So, not sure I can make this one. I'd love to see that park though. I have heard great things about it. Maybe we will go and stay at the primitive campground near the parking lot, and I can hike in and visit you all.

how far is the area you are thinking of camping at from the first parking area (the outside camp sites)? You know i have a bad knee also :eek:
have you been to that spot before? any high areas there?

I was looking at the Bluff primitive campground, but was also considering the primitive campgound and after hours parking area. I've never been there, and would like to know what is better from someone who is familiar. I would rather not hang in a campground, but my husband can't hike far, so I think that would be the best option. This time of year the campgrounds probably won't be to busy.

The trails there are very flat and well maintained. You will be able to hike farther with less effort in the Congaree than any mountainous area for sure. The Bluff Primitive site is about 1.5 mile easy hike from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. The trail actually crosses the road too, so if you got out there, you could shave maybe a third of a mile. I wouldn't consider it a very nice campground though. It's basically a small, open field with picnic tables and fire rings set up along its perimeter. There is absolutely no privacy whatsoever between sites. Also, there is no water source (although it's not far so you can easily bring water). I have never been to the after hours campsite, but it looks to also be about 1.5 miles from Harry Hampton. Of course, it also appears to have its own parking.

Thank you Str1der, does the campground with the after hours parking lot have trees to hang??? I will call Congaree to find out more info. How far of a hike in to where you will be at the river??

It looks to be about 3.5 - 4.0 miles to the river, and then the trail follows the river for another 1.5 miles before heading back. I'm not sure where the op wants to set up camp, so I'll let him chim in on that one. Like I said before, I've never been to the after hours site, but there are trees EVERYWHERE, so I doubt they would be missing. At the Bluff Campground, there are plenty of trees, but you may have to fan out from the central field a little. I would do that anyway to try to find a modicum of privacy. Did I just say modicum? :confused:

The good thing about the trails here is that it is pretty much completely flat. I think the whole park might have an elevation gain of maybe 10 feet.

I like the after hours parking campsites. It is right outside the gate that they close at night. So if you think you may have to leave you will have to park there. Once you go past there, they lock the gat at night and you can not get out. there are plenty of trees at the after hours camp sites. If i remember right i think there are either 8 or 10 sites (fire rings) at the after hour campsites. I also think you can only have a campfire in an official campsite fire ring, so that would mean either the after hours sites, or the Bluff Sites. You can camp ANYWHERE in the park, but i don't think you can have a campfire.

Also there is the raised boardwalk trails that keeps you up high from the swampy area, so it is easy to getaround and see a couple of the small lakes. They also have benches every so far on the boardwalk so you can rest from time to time. And if i remember right at the after hours sites is a port-a-john for the campers.

Here is a pic of Extreme's first hammock at one of the after hours camp sites. :D

Here is a pic of the Bluff camp sites. There are a few picnic tables in the open area and a few in the trees right beside it.

I think my husband and I will go for the after hours camp site. I am really looking forward to this. That is such a nice area. I'm getting anxious... :)

I just talked to the wife and I have a green light to go. Hope to see ya'll there.

Thanks To everyone for responding in such a positive manner to this trip thread. Unfortunately, personal circumstances have arisen that will prevent me from attending this trip.:crying I hope to maybe try again later this year or next year. Feel free to make this trip happen if you guys wish! Thanks again everyone for participating in the thread.

Sorry to her that man. I hope everything is ok.

Can't make this one either. I got family coming in that weekend..

I just got my new "Emberlit SS" stove today, hoping to make it there so people can play with it. I also got one of his prototype "Emberlit Mini" stoves to try out also. Hoping to test it thouroly :D

As much as I would like to join you guys for the hang, my schedule is not permitting me. However, I may have an opportunity to swing by on Saturday for a few hours just to get a chance to meet some fellow hangers. Just wanted to see what peoples' agendas are. I may have my 2 daughters in tow but both are hangers as well and are becoming more critical of their gear choices, so this might be a good opportunity for them to see some different setups and get some additional ideas of how to spend my money.

Bajahanger, I am also co-planning the Goat Island Hang with Chickenwing, although he has taken more of the lead this go-round while I am preparing for my professional engineering exam. Would love to meet you and your husband in advance of this upcoming hang.

I have been to the afterhours camping area and if memory serves me correctly, I want to say that site #4 appeared to me to have the best options for hanging. However, its been a while since I have been there.

I my not get to stay overnight either. But i am hoping to be around the campsites at the front gate on saturday morning in case anyone wants to play with the Emberlit stoves. Also will bring Xtreme's Switchback Double layer :D and my Grant Trunk UL's.
:)

Is anyone still going to this one???

I am going to Congaree Saturday morning and just going to the front campsites. Wife and husky are probably going also, so no overnight. but i am bringing the emberlit stoves and the Switchback hammock in case anyone wants to play with them :D

We went out to Congaree for a little bit today. The wife and our Huskey went also so we didn't get to stay very long. We left bout 3:30 or so. But i did get to try the Emberlit SS and the Emberlit Mini Prototype. Here is the link to the thread:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=47409

:D