Charleston County High Point Trip Report

Date: December 30, 2001
Author: Ken Oeser

Take exit 203 from Interstate 26 northwest of Charleston, then go south 0.7 mile to US78. Turn right (north) and go 3 miles to an intersection and turn right onto Finucan Road and pull over and park. Walk around both sides of the road, then walk to the highway and view the rise in the contour just to the east, and then look across the road to the south. The highest area in this large contour seems to be east of this intersection about 200 yards up the highway at the Mabuhay Gift Shop. Drive up and look around at this likely highest spot in the county.

Go back to previous intersection and turn left onto East Owens Drive and go 1 block to the Lydia Church and park again. Walk or drive into the driveway/yard across the street, which seems to be the highest here, but not any higher than the gift shop. We grid-walked the rest of this contour on the many roads which are all 'East' something. Use the topo to hit them all, but no area seems higher than the previously mentioned yard by the church or the gift shop.

We then found a connector road to Lincoln Avenue, a main road that borders the north edge of the 2nd, southern contour. Drive to the road crest and turn left (south) on West Pine or West Broad Street, then park at the tennis courts. Walk around and cross the road to hit the area to the west which still has some trees and stumps on it. From here the whole area seems exceedingly flat, with no obvious rise like the first contour. Watch the topo and work your way west to Boundary Road and pull into the large ball field park on the west side. Again we got out and walked across the road (east) into some woods, and then south along the road and into some woods on the west side a couple hundred feet north of another ball field on the east side of Boundary Road. The highest area here seems to be next to some huge tree trunks on the east side of Boundary Road just across from the large park. We drove around on all the other roads within the contours, but nothing looked higher, and still seemed like lower relief than the first, northern contour. I don't think anyone can grid these any better, but you are welcome to try.

Patriots Point Park was then visited, and we toured World War II destroyer, submarine, and aircraft carrier, with several types of WWII aircraft on board. Alexandra decided she doesn't want to join the navy some day because she hates all the ladders from deck to deck on these ships and the tight quarters. Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter (with boat tours to the fort) are just east of Patriots Point.