November 7
The southern boundary of Congaree NP is the shoreline of Congaree River. Both are named for the Congaree people who lived in this area for many centuries, dying away in the 17th and 18th centuries. One opinion is the diseases brought by the European settlers contributed to the decline. What has not gone away are the wild hogs which those settlers let loose in the region. To this day you can find wild hogs in the park. A ranger today mentioned there will be a “hog roundup” in a day or two. This is done periodically when the population gets too high.
This area could be titled “Floodplain City.” The rangers said recent weather has been dry, so not much standing water in the floodplain, but it is easy to see that if Cedar Creek and Congaree River get too high, the 2.6-mile long raised boardwalk is the only thing which will keep you dry once you venture into the flood zone. There were many new boards mixed in with older boards, so the ranger staff has been keeping up on maintenance.
Harry Hampton, a local newspaper editor, led the efforts in the mid-20th century to protect this land. Logging ruled in this land of giant trees until the early 20th century, but after five decades of inactivity the resurrected prospect of continuing the devastation finally got people to listen to Hampton. Congress established this park as a National Monument in 1976 but changed its designation to National Park in 2003. The 26,000 acres will be protected for decades to come.
I met two NPTC members today, Peter and Benjamin (with his two daughters), at the park. Thanks for coming out to see me.
I talked to a couple of rangers and a volunteer. One ranger said the postcard I had left inside the VC looked familiar, because she had seen one in Yellowstone. She was working a seasonal assignment in the Old Faithful section of Yellowstone back in August when I had visited. I happened to have left one of my postcards at the Old Faithful VC. She is now assigned to Congaree.
The other ranger I had talked with had a very important task today; giving the Jr. Ranger Oath to three young girls. The Dennis family was visiting the park. Peter and I had met them on the boardwalk by Weston Lake (there is a section which extends to a viewing area of the lake). The girls were filling out their Jr. Ranger books. I have enjoyed this year during the Quest watching six or seven groups of youngsters take this oath. As I have said before, they are the next generation of stewards for our country’s parks and lands. Bravo!