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It is very
important to have
everyone in Greenville at the March 13th meeting. Well, it would
be nice if everyone from Greenville is there but "a lot"
of people will be good also. From 6pm to 9pm at Meador's Sandwich
Shop on Main (across from the Poinsett) the park will be holding
repetitive meetings on the hour and half hour to explain the scope
of the $200,000 trail grant the park is trying to secure this
July. Each grant applicant is awarded points based on the number
of people that show up to a the public meeting. Please bring
everyone you know to show that you support new and improved trails
at Paris Mountain. Come when you can.
On
the following day, March 14th, we will open the new Brissey
Ridge re-route. This is the first shared-use trail in the SC
State Park Service and will serve as an experiment for future
trail development in all state parks. Shared-Use is a daily
rotational system of trail users. Shared-Use allows hikers and
bikers to have their desired experience on the same trail without
disturbing each other. It is also a way to provide more trail
opportunities for bikers and hikers without having to build
two separate trail systems, which is a good stewardship ethic for
the resource.
The "new" Brissey Ridge Trail
will rotate users as follows:
Bikers: Monday,
Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
Hikers: Tuesday,
Thursday,and Saturday
The
remainder of the trails will operate as they have in the past. Lake
Placid and Sulphur Springs - hiking only. Firetower
Trail - biking and hiking. We are GPSing the new layout
as I type and new trail maps should be available shortly. Check at
the fee booth when you enter or this website for a downloadable
version. Sulphur Springs will undergo a minor re-routing when the
new trail is open so be sure to check the kiosk when you are
hiking. Pay close attention to trail signage until you become
familiar with these new routes.
That
weekend after the new trail opens will be a work day to
rehabilitate the sections of the Brissey Ridge Trail that will be
closed. Bring a rake and work gloves and pitch in work starts at
10am. Meet at the trailhead at the top of the park road. There
are always fun trail volunteer opportunities for individuals as
well as groups. Such projects include chainsaw certification and
clearing, GPSing new trails, routing signs for trailside, building
stone and wood benches along the trail, removal of debris, finish
work on new trails, and the Trail Steward program. The latter will
help us protect the resource and provide a safer environment for
our visitors. If you are interested in being involved with any of
these or other trail projects e-mail the park at paris_mountain_sp@scprt.com
and request to be placed on the "Trails" group e-mail.
That way we can keep you up-to-date.
A deep
thanks goes out to all of you that have spent so many hours
working on our trails program. We are doing great things that will
last for generations. We are learning how to control our greatest
enemy - water and with your continued support we will serve as a
leader in public trail management in the Southeast.
Thank
you.
Ty
Houck
Park Manager
Feb 2003 |