Andy & Dave Niekamp's

December 2007 Foothills Trail Photos

December 27-31, 2007
The Foothills Trail
Oconee State Park - Table Rock State Park
76 miles in 5 days

The Foothills Trail is a 76 mile hiking trail along the Blue Ridge Escarpment from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park in South Carolina with parts of the trail in North Carolina. On one side of the escarpment is the Appalachian Mountain chain and on the other side is the Piedmont region of the Carolinas.

Day Miles Destination/Campsite
December 27 13.9 Chattooga River
December 28 14.4 Whitewater Falls
December 29 20.1 Toxaway River/Lake Jocassee
December 30 10.5 Stream past Laurel Fork Creek
December 31 17.2 Table Rock State Park

Hike Photos
Click on an image for a larger photo. Hover mouse over small photo for a description.

Nancy (Shuttle Driver), Dave & Andy at Foothills Trail start at Oconee State Park 12/27/2007 Mike (solo hiker), Dave & Andy at Foothills Trail start at Oconee State Park 12/27/2007 Trail Markers 12/27/2007 Level stretch of trail at the start. 12/27/2007
Small waterfall. 12/27/2007 Andy 12/27/2007 View 12/27/2007 Pine needles on moss. 12/27/2007
The sun was shining through the trees today. Boy would that change! 12/27/2007 Holly 12/27/2007 Rhododendron tunnel. 12/27/2007 Dave takes a drink. 12/27/2007
Sign before Chattooga River. 12/27/2007 Dave takes a break. 12/27/2007 The view from Andy's rest break. 12/27/2007 Andy 12/27/2007
Rhododendron bud. 12/27/2007 Andy 12/27/2007 Dave crosses a bridge. 12/27/2007 Possible bear poop with lots of corn. 12/27/2007
Chattooga River 12/27/2007 Chattooga River 12/27/2007 Chattooga River 12/27/2007 Fungus 12/27/2007
Fungus 12/27/2007 Dave hikes along the Chattooga River. 12/27/2007 Dave resting after the first day of hiking. 12/27/2007 Andy after the first day of hiking. 12/27/2007
Dave at night 1 campsite. 12/28/2007 Andy's tent at night 1 campsite. 12/28/2007 Dave's tent at night 1 campsite. 12/28/2007 Chattooga River 12/28/2007
Dave hikes along the Chattooga River in the rain. 12/28/2007 Dave in the restroom at Burrell's Ford. 12/28/2007 Andy in the restroom at Burrell's Ford. 12/28/2007 Waterfall past Fish Hatchery Road. 12/28/2007
Dave at SC-NC border. 12/28/2007 View 12/28/2007 Drying out in the restroom at Whitewater Falls. 12/28/2007 Dave's night 2 campsite. 12/28/2007
Andy in restroom at Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007 Our campsite for night 2. 12/29/2007 Whitewater Falls parking area. 12/29/2007 View of cloudy Whitewater River. 12/29/2007
Andy 12/29/2007 Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007 Dave at Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007 Andy at Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007
Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007 Andy at Whitewater Falls. 12/29/2007 Foggy trail heading down to Whitewater River. 12/29/2007 Whitewater River. 12/29/2007
Dave at the Duke sign. Crossing back into SC. 12/29/2007 Foggy trail. 12/29/2007 A toad was active on this December day. 12/29/2007 Thompson River. 12/29/2007
Dave on the trail. 12/29/2007 Bridge over Thompson River. 12/29/2007 Thompson River. 12/29/2007 Thompson River. 12/29/2007
Fungus 12/29/2007 Bridge over Horsepasture River. 12/29/2007 Stairs down to Horsepasture River. 12/29/2007 Horsepasture River. 12/29/2007
Andy on the trail. 12/29/2007 Pretty sunset on night 3. 12/29/2007 Day 4. Dave hanging out on a rainy morning. 12/30/2007 A steep knoll above Lake Jocassee. 12/30/2007
Dave hiking in the rain. 12/30/2007 Andy hiking in the rain. 12/30/2007 Laurel Creek Falls. 12/30/2007 Andy staying warm on night 4 after hiking all day in the rain. 12/30/2007
Dave staying warm on night 4 after hiking all day in the rain. 12/30/2007 Night 4 campsite. 12/31/2007 Day 5 - waking up to frozen clothes. 12/31/2007 Dave 12/31/2007
Andy 12/31/2007 Dave & Andy getting ready for some hiking. 12/31/2007 Foggy road near Laurel Valley. 12/31/2007 Foggy road near Laurel Valley. 12/31/2007
Foothills Trail sign. 12/31/2007 Dave hitchhiking back to his car. 12/31/2007 Pretty leaves. 12/31/2007 Sassafras Mountain - The highest point in SC. 12/31/2007
Rhododendron tunnel. 12/31/2007 Near Table Rock State Park. 12/31/2007 Andy on the trail. 12/31/2007 Near Table Rock State Park. 12/31/2007
Near Table Rock State Park. 12/31/2007 Tree stump. 12/31/2007 View 12/31/2007 View 12/31/2007
Andy almost done with the Foothills Trail. 12/31/2007 View 12/31/2007 Table Rock Mountain. 12/31/2007 Andy at end of Foothills Trail. 12/31/2007

The Foothills Trail Conference Web Site

Live to Hike ... Hike to Live

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