Looking Up, America's High Points.

South Carolina

I have had problems in my latest blogs, so instead of stretching "Part 2" of my life story to a breaking point, I am going to write about places I've been.

The first series will be my recollections of my visits in recent years to the high points in Amerca. This will be what I know from the "drivers seat", so to speak.

Historically, the first high point I visited was either Tennessee's Clingmans Dome, or my home state's Brasstown Bald. However, I will fast forward to my present quest, and start with South Carolina.

I live at about 1000 feet above see level, About a half mile lower and About 38 miles southwest of Sassafras Mountain. I have never seen any sassafras growing there, but I have long forgotten what that looks like. It takes a little over an hour to get there.

Anyway, my wife and I have been there many times. The peak shares a bench, monument and radio tower, and soon, a panoramic view of North and South Carolina. 

I had hoped the planned viewing platform would have been finished before last falls eclipse but that didn't happen. The preparations turned what was once a peaceful park in the woods to a wasteland. But one day soon...

On the waste slope, right off the gravel parking lot, is a modern overlook that looks over the local lakes toward Georgia. The horizon does not allow a view of Georgia's Brasstown Bald.

The monument, or placard, at the top gives the height at 3560 feet above see level. Since South Carolina has beaches, the math would give a mean elevation for the state to be 1780 feet. Keep that in mind when I cover other high points.

I miss the scenic wooded peak. Here is Debbie at the top back then. Below that is the scene now. I hope that soon there will be a modern platform or tower with at least grass and shrubbery at ground level.