Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 45

CAMPBELL GEOLOGY MUSEUM | CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

ABOVE: Learn about vast fossil records at Bob Campbell
Geology Museum.
RIGHT: Explore mountaintops and deep-pit caves at
Crockford-Pigeon WMA.

add this destination to your upstate
wilderness list. The east-west trajectory
of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment at
this location creates a unique opportunity
to collect moist air from the Gulf of Mexico
and the Atlantic Ocean. The result - a rare
inland temperate rainforest ecosystem.
On the 43,000 acres are old-growth
hemlock, tropical fern species found
nowhere else on the continent and the
rare and delicate Oconee Bell wildflower.
discoversouthcarolina.com/jocasseegorges)

Bob Campbell Geology Museum
If rocks, minerals and fossils are of
interest, schedule a visit to see 10,000 of

CHUCK SUTHERLAND

them at this geology facility. Agates and
geodes, faceted gemstones (including the
largest topaz crystal ever discovered in the
country) and cabochons from generous
donors are on display. Also occupying
a larger than expected amount of space
is the full, life-sized reconstruction of
" Smiley, " the saber-toothed tiger and
the complete skull of a T-Rex. While
visiting, learn how fossilized teeth of the
Columbian Mammoth and giant white
shark and a skull of the largest known
flying bird reveal their presence in this
state. clemson.edu/public/geomuseum

)) Georgia
Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA - and
caves!
Journey to the southern terminus of the
Blue Ridge for a popular rock climbers'
" bouldering " location and an entire
system of caves. Views from atop the
mountains are stunning; and adventures
beneath the surface are breathtaking.
Brave 6.5 miles of subsurface trails and
crawl through the 150-foot Worm Tube
to reach one of the many rooms in
Pettyjohn's Cave. Find the country's
deepest unobstructed pit in Ellison's
Cave (586 feet deep). And, visit Frick's
Cave (only open once per year), which is
home to 10,000 endangered gray bats for
the rest of the year. georgiawildlife.com/
crockford-pigeon-mountain-wma

Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge
Spend the day in the botanical
garden paradise that boasts the largest
rhododendron
collection
in
the
southeastern US. During a one-month
window (mid-April to mid-May) these
plants burst into bloom in a variety

LEFT: Hike rim trails along the dramatic
canyon in Tallulah Gorge State Park.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

45



Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 4
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 5
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 6
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 7
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Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 45
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 46
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Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - Cover4
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