Mar 6 Forty Acre Rock, Yes a repeat visit

After last week's visit to Forty Acre Rock, I found myself heading to Columbia SC. The route went right by the preserve, so a revisit was on the agenda. Again parking at the lower lot, we walked the approach trail to the largest rock, passing Naked Falls, above. Trout Lilies were abundant in this area.

Trout Lily

The rock loomed above and the hike was short but steep, passing some Bloodroot trailside.

Entering the rock surface in this shaded area, we are greeted with mosses and lichen. We step carefully through these areas.

Elf Orpine makes its appearance right away. Virtually, every pool is lined with this red succulent. 

The granite surface is reminiscent of some other haunts, Rocky Face and Stone Mountain (NC).  

There is more water on the rock this visit. Small rivulets meander down the rock surface. 

Oval pools dominate the highest portion of the rock. Note the lichen encircling the pools.

Still on the largest rock above, we can see another rock surface with a valley between us. We managed to walk between the two with only a slight descent and ascent. 

Now, on the second largest rock surface, we see many more Eastern Red Cedars and more of the surface is covered in lichens.

A shady spot supports some healthy Reindeer Lichen. 

The Elf Orpine looks like splotches of red paint on the rock surface. 

This very small Dandelion like flower and plant is in one of the pools which has accumulated a little soil. Its leaves are much like a common dandelion but a bit more rounded. Cat's Ear Dandelion?

Note: Jane says Kirgia. 

Continuing on this rock surface, we follow a narrow rock ledge which made a nice passageway to this shady moss covered rock surface. We are very close to a private property inholding. From here, we drop down in the wood to the waterfall below.

Right beside the waterfall is a cave, below. It looks like decades of spray paint have been applied here.

After viewing the cave which goes back about 20 feet, we head back to Naked Falls and the Trout Lilies.

Top of Naked Falls

Bloodroot among Trout Lily leaves

Taking the long route back to the parking area, we get a close up view of this beaver constructed pond. There is one nice overlook of the pond atop a granite rock. Canada Geese are honking at our presence. 

Hepatica

Just before returning to the parking area, some large boulders are trailside, one sitting atop another.

Feb 27 Forty Acre Rock

Trout Lilies showing off

Resurrection Fern showing off

Lichen, Moss, Succulent Bouquet  

South Carolina's Heritage Trust preserves this place, Forty Acre Rock. I believe the SC Heritage Trust is similar to North Carolina's State Park System "State Natural Areas". There is no infrastructure here except 2 parking areas and a system of marked trails. It is quite apparent this area has been a playground for locals for decades. The fire rings, broken bottles and graffiti are a detraction. I've read there is a plan to try to remove the graffiti using smoke from fires. 

This is not spray painted on the rock. Elf Orpine is a small succulent plant. Its leaves absorb and retain water since its location of choice is seasonal pools on rock surfaces. It is a southeastern endemic. Small white flowers will form in late March. 

The preserve consists of a rather large rock complex, probably 40 acres. The headwaters of Flat Creek divide the two main rock surfaces. I can see from aerial photos, there are some separated rock outcrops buffered by forest. Still more to explore. At 2267 acres, it is a big place. 

This is the largest rock surface. It has this split level formation almost along its entirety. As you can see, people love to deface it with spray paint. 

Many of the small depression become vernal pools. Most were wet today and seemed to all have more growth than the rest of the rock surface, although, lichen seemed to be everywhere. In shaded spots, mosses and Reindeer Lichen grow. 

Near the highest point on the rock surface, the largest pools reside, holding a reserve of water. 

There are only 31 known communities of Pool Sprite. Only found in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.  It is endemic to granite rock pools. Each stem has 2 leaves and many will have a small white flower, blooming soon. 

Early blooming Atamasca Lily

The hike today, began at the Lower Parking Area, roamed through two separated open granite rock surfaces. passing 2 waterfalls, peering into a graffiti filled cave and then leaving that area for a walk around a beaver pond and then beside Flat Creek. An old section of now abandoned US 601 is within the preserve. Above, a 1926 bridge still crosses the creek. There was a large community of Bloodroot beside it.

Moving past here and back to the parking area, there was one more spot on the agenda. About a quarter mile from the parking area is a very small one car pull-off. An old road leads into the wood, by an old oil can dump. Very quickly, the road drops down to a creek with a double ledge waterfall and then a jumble of rocks with passages through them. 

The graffiti gremlins have invaded this area. You'll need some rock scrambling skills here. In the rock passage below, the creek disappears underneath a rock jumble to emerge on the other side. There is a lot to explore here.

Feb 19 Little Pilot Mountain

An area I used to enjoy hiking, now, despite being privately owned, is a playground for 4 wheelers. The roads are eroded mud holes. Litter is everywhere. Today it was quiet but that could give way to an assault on your ears at any moment. 

Top of Little Pilot is trashed

I'm surprised to see this has not been pried out.

And, I'm glad to see this has not been vandalized or removed.

This Loblolly appears to be crying. I saw about a dozen just like it.