Sierra Club

January 10, 2010 Paddle/hike North Williman Island.  The Williman Islands are the crown jewels of the Ace Basin National Estuarine Reserve.  After a very short paddle across Wimbee Creek, we’ll spend the day on foot circumnavigating the north island through forest and marsh.  Rubber boots, or a willingness to get one’s feet muddy and wet, are essential.  This is an all day walk, sometimes through mud and marsh grass, so participants should be in reasonably good shape.  Call Bill Turner at 571-3503.

Saturday January 17, 2009 Coastal bird watching trip to Huntington Beach State Park.

About six mile hike along the beach. Fabulous opportunity to view northern birds in our southern climate. We’ll watch for rabid birders and hope to see cormorants diving, Loons swimming, purple sandpipers piping and a host of wonderful waterfowl and sea gulls. Possible side to trip to Brookgreen Gardens for a quiet winter tour of the sculpture gardens. Could be an overnight car camp if there’s interest. Call Starr Hazard (843-881-8902) or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Saturday January 16, 2010 Coastal bird watching trip to Huntington Beach State Park.
About six mile hike along the beach. Fabulous opportunity to view northern birds in our southern climate. We’ll watch for rabid birders and hope to see cormorants diving, Loons swimming, purple sandpipers piping and a host of wonderful waterfowl and sea gulls. Possible side to trip to Brookgreen Gardens for a quiet winter tour of the sculpture gardens. Could be an overnight car camp if there’s interest. Call Starr Hazard (843-881-8902) or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Saturday February 20, 2010  Santee Coastal Reserve

We will hike the Santee Coastal Reserve trails. The hike is 9-10 miles ( 1.9 miles in the marsh loop and 7.2 miles on the rice dikes). It’s not a trivial distance so be prepared to walk that far. http://www.sctrails.net/trails/MAPS/SanteeCostRes%20map.html We hope to see eagles, wood storks, swans(?) osprey, lots of mud hens and assorted dabbling ducks. There may be jasmine in the woods, and the sun will bring the ‘gators’ and possibly snakes out to warm. There may be deer, wild hogs, frog choruses and much, much more. Call Starr Hazard (843-881-8902) or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

February 27:  Bear Island walk. 

We’ve usually hiked the western (Ashepoo River) side of this 12,000 acre refuge.  This time we’ll cover the east side, traversing old rice dikes and fresh water marsh impoundments full of all sorts of wading birds and waterfowl.  About a 7 to 8 mile walk in big sky country.  Call Bill Turner at 571-3503.

Saturday, March 20 Bicycling the Moultrie Passage of the Palmetto Trail

A 30-plus  mile bike (be prepared) ride along the shores, dams and dikes of Lake Moultrie. We’ll see miles of trail, potentially significant numbers of HUGE alligators, breeding ospreys and such. There will be mud, single track trails, sandy beaches and stretches of urban riding to liven our journey. Call Starr Hazard (843-881-8902) or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

March 28:  Cycling at Bonneau Ferry. 

14 to 16 mile ride at a leisurely pace through this state refuge on the Cooper River.  Along the way, we’ll visit 18th century Strawberry Chapel and cemetery, the remains of the Commingtee Plantation house, an old rice mill on the river, a couple of nice ponds, and a few other scenic sights.  Geared mountain or hybrid bikes are recommended.  Call Bill Turner at 571-3503.  

April 3:  Hike in Congaree Swamp National Park. 

7 to 9 mile walk in South Carolina’s only national park.  This park near Columbia has some of the last remaining stands of virgin bottomland hardwood swamp left in the southeast.  It is particularly pretty in early spring.  Call Bill Turner at 571-3503. 

April 25:  Rimini Swamp canoe/kayak trip. 

From year to year, this is consistently our most widely acclaimed and requested trip.  Unique in the state, this cypress tupelo swamp at the headwaters of Lake Marion will just be greening up for spring.  Call Bill Turner at 571-3503.