Color Challenge Friday Blue - "BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS" ~ © Tiffany E. Reed

Today's photo was made from the summit of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. Centuries ago, the sassafras tree was common on this mountain, hence the name. There are still some up there today, but they aren't as common as they once were. Lovers of root beer might enjoy reading about the tree, as it was once used to produce the drink.

When I was a child growing up in the area, the top of the mountain was dominated by a heavy growth of trees and there was NO VIEW at all from the top. The forestry service built a "fire tower" there so the forest rangers could see over the treetops and watch for wildfires. The public was not allowed on the tower, though. To get a view from the mountain, one had to hike down a trail from the top to a rocky outcrop, and then only a view in ONE direction could be seen. The fire tower fell out of disuse eventually, due to satellites and other fire-watching technology, but the tower was fixed so trespassers couldn't climb up it, even if they scaled the chicken-wire fence with barbed-wire on top. The tower was finally dismantled and nothing more happened for several years.

Finally! The forest service cleared the top of the mountain of tall trees so that folks could go up there and get a view! Since the boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina passes virtually across the summit, views into both of those states are easy to see. It is purported that, on a clear day, part of Georgia and even a snippet of Tennessee can be seen. Fundraising is currently underway to erect an observation tower on the mountain, affording visitors an even better view.

I asked one of my neighbors if she wanted to go up there with me one clear day, and she was very happy and excited that I asked her. So, off we went, We met a nice young couple up there, and the college-aged girl happens to be attending one of the colleges I went to when I was her age! Small world!

All of the mountains in this area are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range, and so called because of their bluish appearance most of the year. The bluish color is due to copious vegetation on the mountains and the gases produced by that vegetation. I so love these mountains!

Thank you for embarking on this little adventure with me! 😊

edited to add:
I am very grateful to have this post receive an "Honorable Mention"
in "Travel Digest #26" by SteemitWorldMap.

!steemitworldmap 35.0651881 lat -82.7772032 long Sassafras Mountain D3SCR

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