Mark's Photo Travels

Sassafras Mountain  recently gained an overlook thanks to the efforts of some Clemson University graduate students. Last Saturday, I made my way up U.S. 178 (aka Moorefield Memorial Highway) to visit the summit to see for myself this overlook and whatever else of interest in the area I could find. Sassafras Mountain is located at the North Carolina-South Carolina border near the community of Rocky Bottom in northern Pickens County. The South Carolina side of the mountain was purchased from Duke Energy by the DNR in 2004, as recorded by a deed available from Pickens County Public Records. Another 4.8 acres on the North Carolina side is being donated to the South Carolina DNR by The Conservation Fund. The new overlook, installed September 2012, is the start of the Sassafras Mountain Improvement Project . Plans for the project include an observation tower with a 360-degree view, new trails, and restrooms. To help raise funds for the observation tower, custom engraved brick...

Back in May 2012 , I traced the long abandoned portion of the Swamp Rabbit Railroad from where the Swamp Rabbit Trail currently ends just north of Travelers Rest then up to the River Falls area. Sunset forced an end to my trip before I felt the job was done, so I went back a few days ago to see what else I could find. But this time I was not alone. +Ed Clem , aka the  Duck Hunter  joined me on this adventure. We've been chatting over the internet for a few months now, so it was nice to finally have a chance to meet him in person. We settled on meeting at the U.S. Post Office in Cleveland, SC on US 276/SC 11 to start our adventure since it's within walking distance of some trestle remnants. Our adventure covers the northern area, long abandoned, of the Swamp Rabbit Railroad: View Abandoned Railroad: Greenville and Northern (Swamp Rabbit) in a larger map Update 1/7/2014 : The map above has been superceded by a Google Maps Lite version . The biggest difference is in ...

I haven't been able to get away a while, but with a few days off I decided to visit two popular parks off of S.C. Highway 11, Pleasant Ridge County Park and Wildcat Wayside State Park. I've been to Wildcat Wayside many times over the years, but I don't recall ever going to Pleasant Ridge. Pleasant Ridge is the nearest, so I went there first. Their colorful entrance sign makes for an eye catching advertisement. Pleasant Ridge County Park View Pleasant Ridge and Wildcat Wayside in a larger map While walking back to the parking area after taking that photo, I read over a sign about the origins of the park. I learned this park originally built for "Negroes" in the early 1950s during the segregation era. A September 1951 story in the The News and Courier  concurs. Thankfully, such nonsense ended in the 1960s when the state parks were all integrated. Leroy L. Smith was the park's first superintendent and stayed until his death in 1979. Thre...