Pilot Mountain State Park -The Grindstone, Ledge Spring, & Jomeokee Trails - Pinnacle, NC
“When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody notices, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.” - John Lennon
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” - Vincent van Gogh
The Preface -
Are there things in your life that you take for granted? I know it’s a loaded question, so let me rephrase. What things in your life do you take for granted? I think it’s safe to say that we’re all guilty from time to time of devaluing certain people or things in our life. For me, it can unfortunately range from disregarding my family and loved ones—to disregarding the very basic functions and necessities of life. And what about the air we breathe? The moon and stars? Or all of the alluring nature in our own backyards? My hike on Saturday at Pilot Mountain State Park was an excellent reminder of the beauty in my own “backyard,” and also that we don’t necessarily have to travel to faraway places (Puerto Rico was really cool though 😂) to experience wonderful hikes and the majesty of God’s creation.
The Story -
Rising conspicuously above the Piedmont, Pilot Knob in Pilot Mountain State Park is an iconic geological beacon boldly greeting drivers on both North and Southbound Highway 52. It is extraordinary, always attracting my attention. I have driven back and forth between Winston-Salem and Mount Airy hundreds, if not thousands of times, yet I admit I have stopped there only once over the last twenty-five years before Saturday. Why is that, I wonder?
Pour The Tea -
On Saturday, Ginger, Sophie, our good friend Natalie and I decided to venture out in our own “backyard” and make the short drive to Pilot Mountain State Park. It was a perfect fall day: the sun was bright, the air was crisp, and colorful leaves lined the sky and littered the trail, crunching under our feet as we started our hike.
Add Some Milk and Honey -
By the end of the day, we had hiked almost eight miles on the moderate to strenuous Grindstone and Ledge Spring Trails, culminating on the Jomeokee Trail Loop around the big pinnacle. We crossed several streams early on, encountered many massive rock formations, and were greatly rewarded with multiple gorgeous views higher up on the hike. We also passed by at least sixty rock climbers scaling the sheer rock cliffs, prompting me to consider adding yet another hobby to my long list of interests.
Spill The Tea -
We started our hike from the Visitor Center and were pleasantly surprised by the relatively few people. However, the number of people drastically increased after several miles—we realized that most people use a different parking area closer to the trail to the big pinnacle. It was still a wonderful hike despite the crowds at the top and is one I will be sure to do again, hopefully again before 2046.
Wrap It Up -
We are blessed in North Carolina to have a large number of quality hiking trails and parks located within our state, and Pilot Mountain State Park is definitely among the best. It is yet another amazing destination that we should not take for granted, even though it's familiar and in our own “backyard".
