Expert searches for colonial roads

Dale Loberger, a graduate of Warren Wilson College and NC State, planned on a career in forestry but ended up as a software expert in geographic information systems (GIS) technology with ESRI Business Partners in Charlotte. His love of walking through forests and his computer skills have led him into an exploration of old paths, trails, and roads around Charlotte. He spoke to the Greater Piedmont Chapter of The Explorers Club November 14 on his exploration of Colonial Roads in the Carolina Backcountry.

Using historic maps, surveying methodology, and cartography technology, he gathered information on the wagon roads, high roads, and low roads that existed during colonial times. He analyzed old road engineering such as stream crossings (fords, ferries, bridges), grade control (percentage needed), and surfacing (crowning, cor- duroy, plank). He then digitized the data and applied modern GIS technology to predict the present location of colonial roads.

Loberger's research is still in process, but the results are proving successful. He has been able to locate several of the colonial roads that led from Camden to Charlotte Town.

The Explorers Club meets monthly for lunch and presentations on historic and scientific expeditions. The public is invited. For information, contact Nena Powell Rice at 803- 777-8170 or nrice@sc.edu.