Mud and Horses
It was a good day in the Fant’s Grove Wilderness to watch one’s feet, but make sure to be wearing a good pair of boots.
I was looking for a quick hike on the first Sunday afternoon in March, and so I found the Fant’s Grove Wilderness Management Area. I decided to take the Johnstone/Fox trail, a 2.5 mile multi-use trail. It turns out to be between Clemson, SC and Anderson, SC, closer to Clemson. After a few wrong turns, I found the trailhead and set off to see how this trail would go.
I had not been able to find a trail map, and the trail isn’t as well marked as I’d like, at least not in a way to let you know which trail you’re on, so I’m still just assuming that I was on the right trail. But, whatever the trail, one thing was certain. The day before, there had been snow in the upstate. Although it had been rather pretty, and it did accumulate, it was gone before noon, as if it had never been. However, the melted snow and ice had affected the trail, turning it into a muddy mess in many spots, particularly near the beginning.
But, the mud wasn’t the only thing requiring a close watch on one’s footwork. As this is a multiuse trail, there were many horseback riders along the trail, enjoying the fine weather. And where there are horses…needless to say, I kept an eye out for where my feet landed. In the end, I got a little mud on my boots, but not much else.
Overall, the trail was relatively unmemorable, although it was still a good day to be out on the trail. I think this trail will be much more interesting in the spring and summer, when the leaves and blooms are out, so I will probably return again later in the year. I don’t know how far I got, really, but I ended up taking the road back, rather than travel back through the mud. I’m glad I did, though, as I got a nice image of some of the agricultural fields surrounding the wilderness.
