Tag Archives: No restrooms

Lowcountry – Francis Marion NF

On Saturday, May 15, there will be a walk in the Francis Marion National Forest near Huger, South Carolina. The walk will start at 10:00 AM and everyone should meet at the intersection of Dog Swamp Road (dirt road) and 3047 Steed Creek Road. The GPS coordinates of the meeting place are 33.074667, -79.736444 (or 33°04’28.8″N 79°44’11.2″W). Google Maps indicates this location is 55 minutes or 38 miles from the Coburg Cow sign in Charleston.

Jock Stender will lead and Alison Smith will co-lead.

Please either register for this walk on the CBS website or contact the trip leader(s) so he/she will know you are coming. It is always wise to pack a portable lunch, snacks and plenty of water. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Bring your camera, binoculars, field guide, sunscreen and bug spray.

CANCELLED – Carolina Sandhills NWR, Cheraw SP and Horseshoe Mountain

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, this walk has been CANCELLED. A group use permit is required for us to visit the Carolina Sandhills NWR and, based on Governor McMaster’s state of emergency proclamation, said permit has been withheld by the issuing authority.

All of these locations are in Chesterfield County.  We will go to as many of these areas as we have time for.  Our target species are all elfins and Hessel’s Hairstreak.  The leader for this trip is still to be determined.  More information will be provided as details become available.

CANCELLED – Palachucola WMA and/or Hamilton Ridge WMA, Hampton County, SC

CANCELLED

Due to extensive flooding and a lack of nectar sources in both the Palachucola WMA and Hamilton Ridge WMA, this trip has been CANCELLED. We will instead explore the Timmerman Trail in Cayce, South Carolina on 2/21/20. Please refer to the Timmerman Trail event entry for details.

We will explore Palachucola WMA and/or Hamilton Ridge WMA from 10:30-4:00 or until you need to leave.  Prior to entering Palachucola WMA, please meet at the intersection of Orangeburg Road (County Road S-25-19) and Augusta Stagecoach Road (County Road S-25-20).  Alison Smith and Tom Austin will lead this walk.

Please let us know if you are coming in case plans or meeting places change.  You may sign up on the CBS website or email Marty Kastner at kastners@aol.com.  Bring your camera, binoculars, field guide, lunch, snacks, water and bug spray.  Long pants and close toed shoes are recommended.  We will be driving to several locations and getting out to look around.  Walking level is easy.  There are no restrooms.

CANCELLED – James W. Webb WMA, Hampton County, SC

CANCELLED

Due to extensive flooding and a lack of nectar sources in the James W. Webb WMA, this trip has been CANCELLED. We will instead explore the Timmerman Trail in Cayce, South Carolina on this same date. Please refer to the Timmerman Trail event entry for details.

The Carolina Butterfly Society’s first field trips of the 2020 season will be held on March 21 and 22 in Hampton County, SC.  There are three Wildlife Management Areas adjacent to each other for us to investigate.

On Saturday, March 21, we will go to the James W. Webb WMA from 10:30-4:00.  The entrance to the center is 2.7 miles from Garnett off Augusta Stagecoach Road (more complete directions are below).  We will meet at the office.  Last year at this time we saw 25+ species at Webb including the Seminole Texan Crescent.  Marty and Dave Kastner will lead this part of the walk.

On Sunday, March 22, we will explore Palachucola WMA and/or Hamilton Ridge WMA from 10:30-4:00 or until you need to leave.  Please meet at the intersection of Orangeburg Road and Augusta Stagecoach Road.  Alison Smith and Tom Austin will lead this walk.

If you would like to stay overnight, the closest hotels are in Ridgeland, SC which is about 30 minutes from Webb WMA.

Please let us know if you are coming in case plans change.  You may sign up on the CBS website or email Marty at kastners@aol.com.  Bring your camera, binoculars, field guide, lunch, snacks, water and bug spray.  Long pants and close toed shoes are recommended.  We will be driving to several locations and getting out to look around.  Walking level is easy.  There are no restrooms.

Directions to James W. Webb WMA Office – Address: 1282 Webb Avenue, Garnett, SC 29922 GPS Coordinates: Latitude = 32.608860, Longitude = -81.301580

  • From Columbia – Take Highway 321 South to Garnett.  In Garnett the road will fork. Stay right on HWY 119.  Turn right onto Augusta Stagecoach Road (S-20), cross the railroad tracks and go approximately 2.6 miles.  Webb WMA entrance is on the left.  Follow Webb Avenue 1.5 miles to the office.
  • From I-95 – Take exit 21 for SC 336 towards Ridgeland.  Turn right onto SC 336 and right onto US 321 N.  Turn left onto Augusta Stage Road and follow it to the Webb WMA entrance on the left.  Follow Webb Avenue 1.5 miles to the office.
  • From Aiken – Take Old Barnwell Rd, US-278 E, 7 Pines Rd, Patterson Mill Rd, … and SC-3 to County Rd S-25-19/Orangeburg Rd in Hampton County.  Turn left onto Augusta Stagecoach Road and right onto Webb Avenue and follow it 1.5 miles to the office.

Pre-Symposium Walk – Santee Coastal Reserve WMA

Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area
220 Santee Gun Club Road
McClellanville, SC 29458
GPS Coordinates: 33.147765, -79.396188

Meeting Location
Lily Pond Baptist Church
734 South Santee Road
McClellanville, SC 29458
GPS Coordinates: 33.152602, -79.410820

Driving Directions

From Charleston or Mt. Pleasant:
Drive north on US 17. Once past the small town of McClellanville, turn right onto South Santee Road (State Rd S-10-857) and drive until it intersects with Santee Gun Club Road. Lily Pond Baptist Church is at this junction on the right. Park behind the church.

From Georgetown:
Drive south on US 17 for approximately 15.0 miles. One mile beyond the South Santee River Bridge, turn left onto South Santee Road (State Road S-10-857). Drive approximately 1.4 miles until it intersects with Santee Gun Club Road. Lily Pond Baptist Church is at this junction on the left. Park behind the church.

Oconee County, SC – Northeast Location

We will look, drive and walk various forest roads in the Oconee County section of the Andrew Pickens District of the Sumter National Forest for uncommon species like Diana Fritillary, Golden Banded-Skipper and Mottled Duskywing.

Meet at the Mountain Top Trading Post located at the junction of Highway 28 S and Whetstone Road (State Road S-37-193).

We will ride and walk along forest roads and the pace should be easy. There are no restrooms at these locations.

Bring water, binoculars, field guides, sun screen, insect repellent and lunch.

If you plan on staying in the vicinity for the weekend, hotels are available in Anderson, Clemson, Easly, Seneca and Walhalla.

Oconee County, SC – Southwest Location

We will look, drive and walk various forest roads in the Oconee County section of the Andrew Pickens District of the Sumter National Forest for uncommon species like Diana Fritillary, Golden Banded-Skipper and Mottled Duskywing.

Meet at the junction of Long Creek Highway (Highway 76) and Spy Rock Road (State Road S-37-748). This is about 10 miles northwest of Westminster, South Carolina, just past the Brasstown Baptist Church on the left if heading north on Long Creek Highway.

We will ride and walk along forest roads and the pace should be easy. There are no restrooms at these locations.

Bring water, binoculars, field guides, sun screen, insect repellent and lunch.

If you plan on staying in the vicinity for the weekend, hotels are available in Anderson, Clemson, Easly, Seneca and Walhalla.

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and Shealy’s Pond Heritage Preserve

We will visit Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and Shealy’s Pond Heritage Preserve if time permits. . Meet in the parking lot at Peachtree to look for the colony of Brown Elfins and other early butterflies. The address is 883 Peachtree Rock Road, Lexington, SC 29073. There are no facilities at this site, but gas stations and restaurants are nearby.

If the weather is too cold or rainy, we will move this trip to March 9