Join the Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) on Friday, March 18, for a 5.4-mile, moderate hike at Pleasant Ridge Park. PAC’s director of stewardship and land protection, Pam Torlina, will lead the loop hike.

Located off of Scenic Hwy. 11 in Greenville County, S.C., this 240-acre park has been a recreational hotspot since its development in the 1940s. The S.C. Commission of Forestry and the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism created the park to promote tourism in the Upstate. As a testament to the time, the park was originally established by South Carolina for the African American community while the neighboring Paris Mountain State Park was built for the white community.  Finally, in the 1960s, both parks were integrated.

In 1985, the state decided that other parks, like Jones Gap State Park, within 30-miles of Pleasant Ridge State Park were capturing most of the tourism traffic and offered Pleasant Ridge to Greenville County Recreation District. Consequently, the park is now operated by the county, not the state.

On the March 18 hike, participants will traverse the “JFA” trail, a trail dedicated to Jorge Francisco Arango, a generous outdoorsman. This trail is fairly new. It opened in May 2014 as a multi-use directional trail loop system that is enjoyed by hikers and mountain bikers. The JFA trail loops around the perimeter of the 240-acre park, winding through the forest, over several streams, and past an old still, grist mill, and home site.

If you are interested in attending the PAC hike at Pleasant Ridge Park, please contact the PAC office to sign up by phone at 828-859-5060 or e-mail landprotection@pacolet.org. Hikers are asked to meet at the Spinx gas station in Gowensville (at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and Hwy. 11) at 8:30 a.m. to check in and start the approximately 20 minute drive to Pleasant Ridge Park.  Hikers should be prepared to return to the area in the mid-afternoon.

For your safety, do not attempt any hike beyond your ability and experience. Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Bring a bag lunch and/or snack and plenty of water.  Please be sure to bring any personal medication that you may require.

In case of inclement weather, please contact the PAC office by 8:15 on the day of the hike, check the PAC website, www.pacolet.org, and/or the PAC Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pacoletarea.conservancy, to see if the hike will take place.

If you cannot make this hike but would like to attend future hikes, please visit PACs website, www.pacolet.org, or go to PACs Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pacoletarea.conservancy, for information on upcoming hikes.

The next hike takes place on April 1 at Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve in South Carolina.

-Submitted by Pam Torlina

The group of PAC hikers at the March 4 hike at Camp Old Indian included Dan Easley, April Field, Lois Torlina, Don Dicey, Liz Dicey, Pat Strother, Jade Blakey, Linda Greensfelder, Edith Cahoon, Mary Savard, Margaret Burke, Ann Bridges, Juanita Bruce, Stephen King, Tammy Coleman, Bill Coleman, Barb Ketcham, Sandra Fuetz, Chuck Fuetz, Linda Katte, Roger Dehnel, Mary Jo Kellogg, Vince Castello, Edith Castello, and Bill Blaesing. (Photo by Pam Torlina)