I had started the day with the Georgia state highpoint at Brasstown Bald, and a hike up Rabun Bald, also in Goergia. South Carolina's highpoint, Sassafras Mountain, was up next. It was a short drive mileage-wise but lengthy because of all the curvy, one-lane mountain roads I needed to follow. But I enjoyed the scenery, marveling at all the green. I was lucky if I could average 40 mph. By 3 pm I was inside the South Carolina state line and near Sassafras, which actually sits on the South and North Carolina state lines. There is a road to the top, which is steep in places, but easily accessible. A short walk from the parking area to the summit, and I had state highpoint #28 done. I didn't much care for this one since it was trashy. A couple of guys on quadrunners were out and about. They didn't realize they were at the state highpoint when I told them. Back to my car, and back into North Carolina.

The plan now was to drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina's apex. However, I found myself slightly confused as to how to get on the Parkway. The BRP is a 470-mile long, 2-lane road that winds through Virginia and North Carolina high in the mountains and is run by the National Park Service. As such, it's not designed for fast travel and there are only a few entry/exit points along the route. And I couldn't find an entry to it. I found myself getting lost in Asheville before I finally found an entrance to the BRP. But as I drove to the Mitchell area, the weather really fouled up severely with dense fog, rain and ominous dark clouds, so I retreated to Asheville, where I took a hotel. I decided to come back to Mt. Mitchell a couple days later.