Spring Break 2021
A hike on the Foothills Trail Extension was the best way I knew to start Spring Break. This 22-mile total 1-night out-and-back trip started at Sasafrass Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina, and featured ample rest at Dolves Mountain and Bursted Rock Mountain. Nearly the entirety of this hike was on the NC-SC state line with the North Carolina side featuring inviting State Forest signage while the South Carolina side featured continuous large "NO TRESPASSING" signs. This was so extreme that many of the path's blue vertically blazed trees were also marked with red horizontal slashes.
The beginning of the hike was at Sassafras Mountain, which is a tourist destination. Mabel greets a small child. Throughout the hike Mabel greeted everybody she observed. Millie did not go on this hike.
The gate blocking the trail from motor vehicles. Much of the trail consists of well-kept former logging roads with only a few minor obstructions mostly in the form of fallen trees. Immediately after the starting point the trail steeply descends for nearly a mile. This was an especially challenging climb at the end of the hike.
North Carolina signage along the trail
South Carolina signage
Demarcation marker on the state line
Friday lunch consisting of two tuna packets, a tube of crackers, and a granola bar was slightly after noon at a campsite 4.3 miles into the hike.
Friday Lunch location
There were several burned areas on the trail.
Dolves Mountain; just under 6.5 miles into the hike.
View from Bursted Rock Mountain; accessible from a steep 0.3-mile side trail. This was well worth the hike. We arrived just before 2:00 and ended up staying here relaxing and looking at the scenery for more than 90 minutes.
Mabel sleeping at Bursted Rock Mountain
One of two large frog egg clusters alongside the trail
Much of the trail consists of well-maintained former logging roads.
Shortly before my campsite I noticed an algae-covered stream intersecting the trail.
A pipe carries water below the road/trail.
The trail is adjacent to private land.
Reached the campsite approximately half an hour before dark. This campsite is the side of the trail next next to a stream and a dried out fallen tree with easily breakable branches perfect for firewood.
The temperature started dropping once it started getting dark. The fire was easy to start and maintain, but it would only burn for a limited time without intervention since the only fuel small enough to cut and move burned relatively quickly.
Mabel is not a guard dog. During the night there were various howls and scampering noises, and Mabel didn't bark a single time. Most of the night she just stayed curled up by my feet.
Hiking on the return trip Saturday.
We climbed back up the access trail to Bursted Rock Mountain on Saturday and stayed up there for another hour or so. It was unfortunately a bit colder than the previous day, but we made the best of it.
I've always wondered what a super-tall TV/FM transmitter tower would look like in a huge mountain range. Here's the answer. This photo was shot from Dolves Mountain.
Back to the car at 4:00 on Saturday afternoon. The final 0.8-mile climb was a challenge.
Mabel went right to sleep, but she readily awakened when I called her to walk up to the nearby observation platform at the top of Sassafras Mountain. This dog has tons of energy.