The Boardwalks Loop, Congaree National Park - October 10, 2010 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | The Boardwalks Loop, Congaree National Park |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | South Carolina |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | October 10, 2010 |
| Duration: | 1 hour |
| Trail Conditions: | Excellent |
| Trail Traffic: | Light to Moderate |
| Trip Weather: | Sunny |
| Trip Winds: | None |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 81-90, Low: 81-90 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | Having an ancestor who served with Francis Marion, the Swampfox, in the Revolutionary War, I had long wanted to see the landscape that protected these men as they fought the British in 1780-81. I was not disappointed, although at first I was a little dismayed that the water was so low that the Boardwalk stood incongruously high above a slightly damp landscape. But the low water meant almost no mosquitoes, so I was happy to take the good with the bad. Even without the still dark waters normally seen in this area, I was amazed at the beauty, and the incomprehensible density of the vegetation. Without water covering all of the ground, I had a clear view of the tangled roots, the forests of baldcypress knees, and the downed trees that constitute the unseen hazards to those (like the British!) who might be trying to walk through here when flooded. Near the junction with the Weston Lake trail, the ground got progressively muddier until I happened upon a slough that still had water in it. Here I had a great view of a baldcypress swamp in its normal state. One thing that impressed me on this hike was the density of the forest canopy. In many places it formed what appeared almost to be a solid green roof overhead, and way overhead -- maybe 100 feet up. Under this canopy sound carried long distances. I don't even know how far away the woodpecker was that I could hear but never did see. |
Trail Map For This Area
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