2007-07-18 Day trip to the upstate of South Carolina with Barry Rice to find the rare Sarracenia purpurea subspecies venosa variety montana. This is the only location in South Carolina where they can be found. It is a "cataract bog" environment, meaning that the plants grow on the edge of a small stream which runs over a granite gneiss bald. The environment is very fragile, since these plants can be literally washed away if the stream becomes a flooding river.

Barry had visited this location several years ago, so I was excited when he asked if I would like to join him. This location is less than an hour away from where I live, so (of course) I said "YES!". He failed to fully impress on me that we would have to walk almost two miles straight up a mountain to get to the plants (elevation change of 1200' from base to top). Obviously, we both made it and had a blast to boot.

Barry suggested that I include the following paragraph to further impress upon the viewers the sensitivity of this area:

These sites are exceptionally delicate. When Jim and I were on the bald we never used the vegetative sites to support our weight or even as footholds or handholds. We even made sure that in case of catastrophes, we would not have contacted plants on our descent. The preservation of these sites is of utmost importance. Also, while we explored this site, we used a professional-grade climbing harness and ropes. This is a life and death kind of activity, and is not to be taken lightly.

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