Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-09-02
TRIP INTO THE MOUNTAINS.
Not Even the August Rains Could
Mar the Pleasures.

SoHeIOSS, aug. ZU.-EulLOr heO-
wee Courier: On August 9Th |, with
by brothers, J. C.. and T. D. Barker,
and sisters, Misses Lizzie, Beulah and
Jessie Barker, accompanied by G. e..
DuBose, left home to spend two or
three weeks in the mountainous parts
of South and North Carolina.
On the afternoon Of August 5, af-
ter travelling the always beautiful
hills, as we call them; after viewing
the great mountains of North Caro-
lima and passing the tunnel, we
reached the home Of w. G. Barker,
where we met Mr.. and Mrs. j. NJ.
Morgan and John G. and Robert Nor
gan, Of New Pickens, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Lesley Morgan and son Ray, of
Central, who joined us in our travels.
We were greeted with unstin ted well
come and kindness by Mr.. Barker and
his family, and after spending a night
at his home we all mixed and
changed companiors, returned to our
wagons and bug gies and started on
our trip.
After we had become wearied from
riding, and as it was most time for
another meal, we stopped for rest
and here began our first experience
in cooking over camp fire. This
was very amusing and aroused much
merriment at first, but toward the
latter part Of our trip 1t became
more disgusting than enjoyable, es-
pecially when our party became so
hearty over rowing the mountains
that it was hardly possible TO cook
enough TO satisfy their appetites. Be
ing the one to knead the dough, |
came to realize what the cooks in
the mountains have to DO.
Our stopping place was at the old
home place of Jim Burrell, which in
time past had been burned down.
There we had plenty Of fruit and it
was the first time we managed to
have plenty Of dinner and plenty of
large shade trees to eat under, sur
rounded by lovely beds of ferns.
Again we started, and just as we
mount, d the top Of Chatto0ga Ridge
we could stand and gaze over the
whole country. Especially interest
ing was the view to the southeast,
where we could see, as far as our
eye would permit, over little hills and
towns. After a few miles we came
to an old and gnarled, but once pret-
ty, we are told, blackgum tree which
for a number Of years has marked the
North and South Carolina line. Soon
after this, I am sorry to own, we be-
gan to notice that the roads were
better. In the mountains of North
Carolina the roads are far better than
in South Carolina.
After passing through the steep but
pretty Heady mountains we pitched
our tents at the foot Of Terrapin
mountain. Sleeping in tents and
wagons was a new experience to a
number of us, and this was not so
comfortable as our good homes, but
afforded us some amusement.
On through Cashiers Valley we
went next. There in that beautiful
valley, among the many laurels,
ferns and green's of all kinds, we
could look on Chimney Top mountain
and various other noted peaks and
we spent a short time very pleasantly
here.
On crossing the great Blue Ridge
Mountains at height Of $500 feet
above sea level we beheld a small,
cool spring whose waters are divid-
ed, one stream flowing into the At
lantic Ocean and one into the Gulf
Of Mexico.
Four miles from Cashiers Valley,
in Hamburg District, we beheld a
beautiful place on either side OF the
road by a stream called Trout creek.
This place appeared so beautiful to
the eye, with it's beautiful spruce
pines and it surface lined with green
grass, that 1t made us think it was
time to take rest. We soon de-
cided to stop and began to spread
our dinner, which was already pre-
pared, and feed our stock After we
had heartily engaged in the picnic
part Of our day we spent some time
fishing and scining, not reaping a
great result, but realizing lot Of
fun.
After we had travelled down the
large mountains and through Rocky