During the latter half of August, there was a glorious stretch of days that hinted to the promise of autumn—more civilized temperatures, lower humidity, and a reduced risk of being carried off by mosquitoes! Fittingly, the staff and I were busy producing this October “Outdoors” issue, and I could almost feel a nip in the air as I dreamed of breaking some cozy sweaters out of hibernation and getting outside and enjoying all the natural beauty that surrounds us. Well, you know what happened: the summer swelter returned—with a vengeance, I might add—evaporating what folks have been calling “faux fall” and my eager plans along with it.
Happily, our hopes won’t be dashed for too long. Fall’s just around the corner, the ideal time for outdoor adventures, including the one featured in our cover story on the Black River. For “Black Magic,” frequent contributor Stratton Lawrence gathered a handful of friends, all seasoned campers and paddlers, to take on 100 or so miles of what he dubs “the wildest river in the Lowcountry” in advance of the Black River State Park’s debut before year’s end. It’s an entertaining narrative, complete with thrills from Mother Nature (lightning storms, feral pigs, and snakes!), as well as an inspiring tale of conserving land and opening waterway access to the public, all made possible by many large stakeholders working together.
For another success story in safeguarding landscapes, read “Saving Place,” in it, editor-at-large Stephanie Hunt relays the evolution of the Edisto Island Open Land Trust, which has protected 52 percent of the rural sea island, including views, environmental buffers, and wildlife habitats over the past 30 years. Read on to learn how its mission has expanded to support and preserve the community and its heritage. If you’ve not visited Edisto, I highly recommend it. Between the wildly beautiful Botany Bay Preserve, gorgeous grand oaks, farm stands, and Serpentarium (snakes again!), it makes a perfect Lowcountry fall ramble.
Enjoy!
Darcy Shankland
Editor in chief
dshankland@charlestonmag.com