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Greetings!
Welcome to the Blue Wall Weekly, your source for what's going on outside along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. Feel free to share your own photos, videos, and adventures along the Blue Wall by sending them to the email address at the bottom of the page, and we'll do our best to make you (locally) famous!
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How DARE they!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled mellow nature observation for a very LOUD and ANGRY rant directed towards whatever senseless human desecrated an age-old rock on the Whitewater River this week. A person of such profound immaturity and disrespect does not deserve access to Jocassee. Who brings a can of pink spray paint onto a boat unless they have this ugly act in mind? The utterly blatant stupidity of such an act is almost beyond comprehension, and the defiling of an ancient rock – one which supports a lichen eco-system at least hundreds of years old, if not more – unleashes deep, dark anger. If you ever witness such an act in the Jocassee Gorges – or any place where nature’s beauty reigns supreme – get photos, and get the law involved. Sadly, this was probably the impulsive act of a young person who may remember and regret it later in life. One would hope so. ~K
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What appears like white icing on this rock is lichen, and the pink is obnoxious spray paint... not even artistic.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
WITH JOCASSEE LAKE TOURS
September 29: 6:00-8:00 PM
October 1 & 15 : 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
PRIVATE TOURS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE!
FISHING ADVENTURES WITH CAPT. ZACH
Call to Book!
CALL OR BOOK ONLINE TO RESERVE SEATS
Bald eagle over Lake Jocassee this week.
Photo by Geary Hughes
THIS WEEK!
SEPTEMBER 25
STATE PARK EVENTS
Oconee Station State Historic Site
Originally a military compound and later a trading post, this Historic Site offers both, recreational opportunities and a unique look at 18th and 19th century South Carolina. A self-interpretation station is available at the park office.
Table Rock State Park
September 30: 3:00-11:00 AM
Be an extra early riser and take a unique moonlit hike up to the end of Table Rock Mountain. After experiencing the nocturnal aspects of the forest we will enjoy the pre-dawn sky from the outcrop as we anticipate the beauty of a new sunrise.
Photo by L.H. Poole
OTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS
Conestee Nature Preserve
September 25: 9:30 AM-1:00 PM
Each group will explore for unique plants and critters and get an up close view of the parts of their bodies that help them survive in their environment. (Ages 5-11).
Highlands Biological Station
September 27: 8:00-9:00 AM
Birders of all skill levels are welcome to join us as we take an easy walk around campus to find our feathered friends.
HBS Photo
GNHA
September 30: 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
This S/VS hike begins at the parking lot on Bad Creek Rd. off Hwy 130. We’ll have lunch at the river, a beautiful spot with many waterfalls and rocks for resting.
SC BOTANICAL GARDEN EVENTS
September 30: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Discover how and why native plants have the potential to transform traditional horticultural practices with Jon Fritz, owner of Bluestem Landscape Design.
READY TO RAMBLE A LITTLE FURTHER? CHECK OUT WHAT THESE FRIENDS HAVE TO OFFER!
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL
WILD CHILD!
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WEEKLY EVENTS
WITH JOCASSEE LAKE TOURS
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Saturdays: 5:45-7:45 PM
Sundays: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Sunday Afternoon Tours
THIS WEEK ON LAKE JOCASSEE
SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
First of all, Happy Autumn! What a wonderful time of year is upon us. It’s been eagle week on Lake Jocassee. We seem to have 4 or so bald eagles that reside with us for the entire year, including one breeding pair, but in winter our numbers go way up. Last year we counted 16 during the annual nationwide bald eagle census, a record for us. This week I saw one mature eagle resting on the highest snag on Eagle Ridge, and one other boat saw a whopping 6 eagles in one 4-hour tour. I think every tour saw at least one this week. No new loons were sighted, but we did see one new horned grebe. And yes, we are still swimming. The water temperature is still delightful. It’s been a good week on Lake Jocassee. ~B
STATE PARK EVENTS
Devils Fork State Park
October 7: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Table Rock State Park
October 14: 2:00-6:00 PM
OTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS
SCUMS
October 2: 6:00-9:00 PM
Conestee Nature Preserve
October 5 & 19: 3:00-4:30 PM
Conestee Nature Preserve
October 5 & 19: 4:00-5:30 PM
Blue Ridge Backpackers
October 7: 8:00 AM - October 12: 12:00 PM
Friends of Jocassee
October 7: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
GNHA
October 8: 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
Friends of Jocassee (FOJ)
October 9: 12:00-2:00 PM
SCNPS Upstate
October 9: 12:00 AM-October 15: 6:00 PM
Hagood Mill Historic Site
October 11: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Highlands Biological Station
October 11: 11:00 AM
Mushroom Mountain
October 12: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Oconee History Museum
October 12: 12:00 PM
GNHA
October 14: 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
SCNPS Upstate
October 14: 8:30-11:00 AM
KOBA
October 14: 9:00 AM
Conestee Nature Preserve
October 14: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
Friends of Jocassee (FOJ)
October 15: 3:00-5:00 PM
Conserving Carolina
October 17: 5:30-7:30 PM
SCNPS Upstate
October 17: 6:30-8:00 PM
Upstate Hiking and Outdoor Adventures
October 19: 10:00-11:30 AM
Greenville County Bird Club
October 21: 8:00-10:30 AM (Shorter Walk)
October 21: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM (Longer Walk)
Conserving Carolina
October 21: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Oconee History Museum
October 21: 11:00 AM
October 21: 2:00 PM
Conestee Nature Preserve
October 21: 12:00-2:30 PM
SC BOTANICAL GARDEN EVENTS
October 13: 2:00-6:00 PM
October 14: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
October 14: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
October 21: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
BORROWED GLIMPSES
A recent Jocassee Wild Naturalist class on Native Plant Communities and Conservation Efforts with Keith Bradley, SC DNR Botanist
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DID YOU KNOW?
Study on lichen growth shows that most species in temperate areas grow 0.5– 8 mm a year and that both seasonal and annual variation is large. Availability of moisture and temperature has the greatest effect on growth.
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ABOUT THE BLUE WALL
Spanning three states (North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) and encompassing 859,000 acres, the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, known as the 'Blue Wall' by Native Americans, contains some of the highest natural diversity of rare plants and animals found anywhere in the world.
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Thanks to Sheryl White for compiling the Blue Wall Weekly calendar,
and to all JLT GUIDES for photos and continuous inspiration!
Phone: 864-280-5501
Jocassee Lake Tours Depart from the Main Dock at Devils Fork State Park
PLEASE CALL 864-280-5501 AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS!
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Enjoy this Lake Jocassee peaceful hideaway.
CAMP GLAMP!
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Love Jocassee? Help protect and preserve the beauty of Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges by joining FOJ!
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.png) Visit Oconee Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Your Portal to Paradise!
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Lake Jocassee
&
Lake Keowee
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