Sassafras Mountain

Stunning Views On the N.C.-S.C. State Line

The following piece, updated here, was published as “The Parable of the Wrong Mountain” on “Old Ones Dream” April 16, 2020.

                                 Sassafras Mountain - Courtesy of The Greenville News

I have been here on Granny’s Rock for over 20 years with Blue Ridges around me for about 250 degrees. This array is anchored on the Southwest horizon by a peak known to me as Sassafras Mountain, and extends North and East to include Whiteface, Chimney Top, the Devil’s Courthouse, Cold Mountain, Mitchell, and Caesar’s Head. The certainty of their names and faces has framed my world. They are metaphoric standing stones and I am living in Stonehenge.

Sassafras is squarely on the state line and is the highest point in South Carolina. S. C. recently built a very impressive lookout tower there –of stone, concrete and steel –centered on the State line. The location and path of the State line and a large compass rosette are inlaid in the concrete and stone deck. S. C. can take pride in the structure – it is a symbol of Carolina community – a reminder of a time when there was but one Carolina.

As we recently awakened to national recognition of a world health emergency that had been in process for almost two months, in a brief moment of patchy morning sunlight, my wife Tanne exclaimed “what’s that shining in the sun over there? Is it Sassafras Mountain?” I looked across the valley of the East Fork of the French Broad and saw, on the top of a non descript ridge about 9 degrees North of Sassafras Mountain, a beam of sunlight spotlighting a bright shining structure. A structure in addition to the two electronics towers that are usually visible on that ridge. It was like a “new Jerusalem temple mount” shining in a sunbeam of revelation. And I replied “No.”

A look with binoculars confirmed the wonderful lookout tower sited on the wrong mountain! I thought to call the State of S. C. to report my discovery but realized that they would be preoccupied with the pandemic, and the effect of climate change on their beautiful Sea Islands. Perhaps they can work later with North Carolina to relocate the State line and rename a mountain, or two.

The non-descript ridge with the Sassafras Mountain lookout tower placed on it had long been a mystery location in my view. The towers and occasional night lights were a curiosity. I had studied Google Earth and triangulated using my location and the other “known” locations of Sassafras and the County landfill. Within this Google Earth triangle where the mystery ridge with the two electronics towers and night lights would be – I found nothing.

Later my neighbor showed me the PeakFinder app on his smart phone and suggested that I might want to try it. I aimed at the horizon and took a look; but I knew my peaks already, and the app seemed to be inexact and in error as to the proper placement of Sassafras.

One brilliant Fall day, after passage of a cold front, and after the opening of the lookout tower by the S. C. Department of Natural Resources, I decided to take advantage of the visibility conditions and I drove over to the other side of the valley to take a look from atop Sassafras. I looked out to where the “mystery ridge” would be – but nothing.

I knew the compass heading from my porch to Sassafras, so I looked back on the reverse of that heading to see my house. What I saw instead was the Rich Mountain tower. I swung a few degrees to the right and there was my house and that of my neighbor. I laid the error to compass readings taken on the fly, and inexact correction for the declination of magnetic North. Satisfaction.

Until now!

I have always known that I am a know-it-all; in fact I take it as a matter of pride. I am descended from a long line of know-it-alls. I was sired and raised by a master of certitude. I also take pride in being of moderate temper, and open minded to ideas. I am stunned by the recognition of my repeated refusal to notice and acknowledge or consider information, even facts, that conflicted with my worldview – my blindness, the total blindness of certitude.

I have installed PeakFinder on my iPhone and am using it – living here at Wronghenge. The wrong “Sassafras” is Hickorynut Mountain.

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