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Post by dparrott on Oct 12, 2009 21:26:08 GMT -5
Paul and I met recently with Pepper Shields and Danny Leep of the ACOE and Philip White, resident of Clarks Hill who is profoundly knowledgeable about the topography, history and land owners in the area from Clarks Hill to the bridge at the river. We also spent several hours doing field checking. This trail will link Bartram Trail at West Dam to FATS via a combination of paved and gravel roads and new singletrack. Two criteria are paramount: 1) minimize travel on Rts 221 and 28 as much as possible and 2) utilize any non road segments as low or no maintenance. One option is easily achievable without any consideration of private land. This will take one off the east end of the dam and down the road to the powerhouse. Singletrack will take off below the dam and dump out onto gravel and paved Luke's Ferry Rd which will mean 3.5 miles on Rt 28 to get to Woodlawn Rd. The main key is the old railroad bed upon which the railroad delivered equipment and supplies during the dam construction. Unfortunately, COE has determined that they gave up all easement rights in 1959 so most of that tramline is owned by multiple private owners. The ultimate deal would be to forge access all the way down the tram and access a dirt road that comes out to Rt 28 right at the Woodlawn Rd turnoff. This dirt road is on the "Mason Tract" and is public land managed by SC DNR. You can see it from the Woodlawn Rd intersection and it's barricaded by a wooden "fence".
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