A Guide to Adventure

On the outskirts of Charleston, SC hidden in plain site is a lost and forgotten national park. Castle Pinckney is currently being lost to the sea in the Charleston Harbor.  The story of this forgotten fortress began in 1791, when George Washington visited Charleston, South Carolina , saw that a little island in the harbor (Shutes Folly) was strategically located, and ordered that a fort be built there. The good people of Charleston, who were tasked with funding and building it, decided that it should be named Fort Pinckney in honor of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney , a local planter, Revolutionary War General, and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Castle Pinckney played no role in the War of 1812 and was demoted to “secondary line of defense” status in 1826. The very next year, the construction of Fort Sumter , a bigger and better fortification, got underway at a more strategic location across from Fort Moultrie at the harbor entrance. By the late 1820s it was a...

As a regular camper/hiker I have quickly learned how to not take for granted how easy life is a home. Fresh water, a warm bed, showers, and a kitchen full of food. The further I trek into the wild, the more I realize how easy it would be to get lost, have limited to no cell service, and only have the items in my pack. Here are some important things you need to know in order to survive if you get lost or injured on your adventure, and return home safely! Know what S.T.O.P means Don't panic if you’re lost. Panic is more dangerous than almost anything else, because it interferes with the operation of your single best, most useful and versatile survival tool: your mind. The moment you realize that you are lost, before you do anything else, stop. Take a deep breath and stay calm. Before you act, follow the tenets of the acronym STOP: S = sit down T = think O = observe your surroundings P = prepare for survival by gathering materials X Marks Your Spot Get oriented. Wher...