When: Saturday, April 9, 2011 (Friday - Sunday)
What can we do?
- Hike along a mountain stream or up a mountain - or both!
- Camp - either "hard core" (primitive) or "family" with flush plumbing, hot showers and a place to plug in your hairdryer!
Details:
Beginning Friday evening, April 8, members are invited to bring their personal watercraft to the 65-acre mountain Lake Oolenoy, just off Hwy 11 at Table Rock State Park. No gas or electric motors allowed - just paddles, oars and sails. Big sailboats wouldn't do so well, since it's not terribly deep.
This event does compete with the Sr LCY retreat to Camp Awanita. We can do it again another time for them. This event is targeted at other folks who would like some adventure. Why should the LCY have all the fun?
This is anticipated as a very casual event, without substantial programming and no meals provided. Bring whatever you want to eat and cook it on a personal stove or campfire. Bring whatever boat, tent, sleeping bag, lawn chair or fishing rod you want. We will praise God for the blessing of the out-of-doors.
A valid SC Fishing License is required for those over 16 years old who wish to fish, available for $10/year at most sporting goods stores, but not at the Park.
If the boats are on-site in time to be put in the water on Friday evening, they can be taken across the lake and tied up adjacent to a trailside (primitive) campsite. Someone will stay at the campsite all night to keep an eye on the boats, and help bring them back to the dock on Saturday morning.
Members and guests of St Michael are invited to visit the Lake on Saturday to try out the boats. You don't have to bring a boat to try a boat. Try different kinds!
Of course, the hiking is also excellent in the main Park - The trailheads are in the main park, a 15 minute drive across Hwy 11 and into the woods nearly a mile from the lake. An all-out assault on Table Rock is planned for Sunday morning, once the boats are secured for travel again. Note that it takes up to 4 hours to go up and 2 hours to come back down from Table Rock (at a moderate pace). Hikers are advised to carry food (lunch), several bottles (2 to 3 liters) of water and some spare outer clothing for the trek of about 4 miles each way and 2,000+ vertical feet. There are lots of shorter hikes along a nice stream with waterfalls, too. Contact David Cooke or Randy Freeman for more information on the hiking.
Those folks who do not wish to camp overnight pay $2 per day per adult for Park admission. Kids under 16 are free and Seniors over 65 pay $1.25.
If families would like to camp out for some or all of the weekend, reservations can be made at the park office (864) 878-9813 for either primitive or better campsites (with water and elec power). Advance reservations can be made for not less than 2 nights, same-day arrangements can be made for single-night accommodations - first come, first served. Primitive sites for up to 5 campers cost about $15/night, and the nicer sites (with access to flush plumbing, hot showers and electricity) for 5 campers about $20/night. Camping fee includes full access to the park facilities (no additional $2/day fee).
Rental boats are not currently available at the park since Pinnacle Lake has been lowered for work on the swimming facilities before summer. Park boat rentals may not be taken to Lake Oolenoy.
Please let us know if you plan to attend or if you have additional questions.
Tom Harriz
864-963-2465 H
864-230-2845 C
