October 1997

October 7, 1997

Dear SCAN members,

The 16 SCAN members and guests that participated in the September field trip to the Little Pee Dee State Park in Dillon County certainly didn’t need sun screen. Rain threatened throughout the day. While there were a few sprinkles during the morning, there was no heavy rain at the site to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants.

The morning was spent exploring a 1.3 mile “nature trail” that passed by a beaver pond. There were a great variety of trees including many oaks along this trail. The challenge to naturalists that are trying to identify the type of oak tree was emphasized by one oak tree where the leaves at shoulder height differed markedly from those that were 30 ft up. Very few birds were seen as they were probably taking shelter from the impending rain. The afternoon was spent exploring along the lake.

See the Flora/Fauna List

Thanks are in order for Julie Finlayson and Sandy Elliot, the joint Eastern Regional Directors, for a well planned trip at an interesting site.

Sincerely,
Ken Boni, President

Secretary’s Notes: As the planning for the 1998 set of field trips progresses, it has occurred to the Board to remind members of a file we have set up. It is a file of possible trip sites, and other sites of natural history in a particular county. If you have information about an interesting site, please send it to Virginia Winn. Directions plus a name and phone number for a contact person would be ideal, but any information would be helpful. This file is made available to regional directors before the planning meeting, but any member is welcome to contact Virginia, and ask for suggestions for a given area even for non-SCAN visits. It is a perk of being a member. Feel free to use it. Remember the information is only as good as members contribute!

Change of Site Notice for November: Our November trip is being changed to allow us to visit a special exhibit “Piedmont Past” at the Scheile Museum in Gastonia, North Carolina. It will be the regular November date, November 15 (early because of Thanksgiving), so note the change now. The specific directions will be in next month’s newsletter, but with a shorter lead time than usual. So, forewarned is forearmed. If the details work out, a special transportation-provided visit to a special site owned by the city of Gastonia that is not open to the public is planned. It features a rock chestnut oak forest reputed to the good for migrant birds. The Cherokee IronWorks will be rescheduled for 1998.

Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
Sumter National Forest, Long Cane District (Edgefield County)
October 25, 1997

The October field trip takes us to a typical piedmont oak-hickory woods. The US Forestry Service Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area is located in the western half of Edgefield County. We will explore the Lick Fork Lake Trail that is an easy 1.7 mile nature trail around the Area’s lake. There is a self-service fee station near the entrance that requires $2.00 per car for five people, 50 cents for each additional person. (There are also camping sites available for $5.00 per unit per night with six people maximum per unit). The bathhouse with flush toilets and showers has been closed for repairs but pit toilets are in the campground.

WARNING: this is hunting season. The Forest Service has warned us to avoid wearing anything white and advised us to wear bright colors such as hunter orange. This will be an “either sex” deer hunting day and there should be lots of hunters out. For this reason, we have been warned to stay away from the Horn Creek Trail that is also accessed from the same location as the Lick Fork Lake Trail. Both trails are circular and share about 100 yards of path. The point that Lick Fork Lake Trail breaks to the right and crosses the creek is not well marked. If you find yourself following a trail next to a rocky creek for some distance, you are on the wrong trail. Go Back!
Details:
follow the gravel road through the recreation area and meet by parking near the trail head for Lick Fork Lake Trail near the boat ramp (see map). Bring sunscreen, insect repellent (there are lots of ticks) and plenty of liquids to drink. Plan to start at 10:30 am. Note that the Lick Fork Lake Trail has several foot bridges that are not in good repair, be careful.

Directions: from Edgefield, SC take SC Route 23 south 8.2 miles. Bear left onto SC 230, drive 0.5 miles and turn left onto route S 19-263, drive 1.9 miles to entrance on right.