Ok, it's more a 'hike' than a 'climb'.
And the 'mount' is really a bridge - the Arthur Ravenel Jr.
And, yes, it's 5 1/2 miles only if you round trip it from one end to another.
But for an exciting hour or so - with one of the greatest views in the state - you can do what seemingly half the town's population does on every day or night.
And it's completely free & much healthier than eating a Po Boy.
The Arthur Ravenel Jr.
Built 5 years ago, this eight lane cable stayed beauty spans the Cooper River joining Charleston with Mt. Pleasant & - for a while - was the biggest of it's kind in this hemisphere (now it's #2, but it really tries harder).
The designers wanted this baby to do more than simply move motorists so they added a very wide walking/biking sidewalk that is a solid wall away from the four wheeled traffic.
About 2/3 of its non-motorized width is for bikes & 1/3 for pedestrians. Each side is clearly labeled & separated by a solid line. For those walkers who leave their bifocals in the glove box - you stay on the water railing side.
A couple dozen parking spaces (2 hour limit) are available at the Mt. Pleasant gas station directly at Jr's base. They fill up fast, so you may have to leave your Edsel off street in front of a park (Patriot's Park Road) just few feet away.
Make sure you carry a bottle of water, wear the proper clothes/shoes & possibly a towel. Even though there's usually a great breeze - prepare to sweat.
A bartender at 'The Point Grill' (176 Patriot's Park - a local watering hole just a few steps from the free parking) guaranteed this is in a very safe part of town & that adults, teens & children make the 'climb' all hours day & night without incident.
He also guaranteed that a few celebratory PG drafts was best way to end the climb.
He was right on all counts.
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