Pilot Mountain State Park-Spring Ledge Trail

Three time's a charm, not that the other two times I visited Pilot Mountian were a failure, but I have two of my favorite people with me, my sons.

 We looked in awe at the rock climbers ascend and descend the rock face called Three Bears.

From the parking lot, we traveled down the Spring Ledge Trail for 0.30-miles to the Three Bear Trail. All of us climbed down a rock-like staircase to where the Spring Ledge Trail takes you beneath the cliffs.

A typical view of the cliff that hung over us most of the way.

It did not take long before all of us were hot and sweaty. The Spring Ledge Trail descends 800 feet in a half mile. What goes down must come back up.

We found a perfect resting place tucking ourselves under the shade of the cliff.

I stayed pretty much on the trail, but boys will be boys and they climbed on rock ledges every chance they could.

Logan, Aaron, and Gypsy were waiting for me to catch up among the Dogfennel.

Logan spotted this Eastern Fence Lizard.

Aaron has a bad habit of removing his clothing on hot days. He walked with no shirt or shoes for most of a mile despite a continued plea for him to put his shoes back on.

Gypsy usually has her ears flapping in the wind and Aaron is a continue chatterbox, but they just weren't themselves on the ride home.  

White Pines Nature Preserve-White Pine Trail and River Trail

 The White Pines Trail and the River Trail combined equaled just under 2-miles of hiking. Because of this it was possible for me to take along my youngest son Aaron, who was eager to put his new hiking stick that his grandfather made to good use.

Living in Michigan most of my life and with the White Pine being the state tree it wasn't all that intriguing to see White Pines. It is unusual to see White Pines in this region because of the warmer weather that occurs east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But because of a North-facing slope of the preserve that creates cooler temperature as much as 10 degrees the White Pines can survive and grow here.

The name of this river is Rocky River, which is entirely appropriate. Aaron and Gypsy could cross the river in spots simply by hopping from rock to rock. 

At the "Y" where the Deep River and Rocky River meets this rock slab bench is situated so to view the junction of the two rivers.

I love trying to identify trees, and that isn't alway easy. At first I thought this was a Shagbark Hickory but I'm not entirely convinced now.

We were admiring this mushroom saying how we thought it look like a miniature nuclear explosion. Later we discovered this was a Destroying Angel aka Death Angel one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world! Death Angel is the cause of a significant portion of Mushroom-related fatalities.

This hike could have taken less than an hour. But having a 10-year-old who not only likes looking at rocks, trees, water, also loves climbing on rocks, wading in water, and touching the bark of trees. He found interest in things I would never have given a second thought of such as a large pinecone or a nut he has never seen before. We spent two hours enjoy this nature preserve.

Piedmont Environmental Center

The Piedmont Environmental Center (PEC) is practically in my back yard; well 2.6-miles away to be more exact. The PEC is my go-to place for my daily walks. The Center is a 376-acre preserve with 4-miles of trails along High Point City Lake.

I usually walk the Bill Faver Lakeshore Trail and then take an excursion on the Raccoon Run Trail around the peninsula. To keep from getting bored with the same scenery, I'll mix in the other smaller trail on occasion.

There are countless picturesque views of High Point City Lake, particularly during the autumn season when you see the reflection of the colorful trees off the water of the lake.

The center has built a half dozen benches for hikers to have a rest or for those wanting to meditate while they bask in the peaceful waters of the lake.

I am surprised at some of the unusually large trees that have grown here.

The forest is mixed. The picture shows four different trees grouped together. The variety of what you'll mostly see here are Tulip Popular, Swett Gums, Red Maple, Longleaf Pine, Sourwood, and Red Oak trees.

During the hot summer, the creeks become dry creek beds.

At the intersection of the Bill Faver Lakeshore and Dogwood Trails, there is an open area that was at one time a homestead. It shows some of its remains from parts of a foundation and metal from a roof. Now it is a field covered in Kudzu.

In this small forest, I have seen beaver and spooked deer. I've heard the hoot of an owl and the bark of a fox. Coming from the woodlands of Northern Michigan it's no wonder why I love spending so much time here. 

Many of the towns we considered moving to didn't have a natural wooded area close by to walk my dog. When I discovered the PEC, that became the final piece of the puzzle when taking into account all the other considerations like schools, nearness to work, church, affordable housing, crime rates, etc. In 1972, there were some citizens of Jamestown and High Point, who had some foresight when they procured this acreage of land. 

Salem Creek Greenway

Gypsy and I started our walk on the Salem Creek Greenway at the Salem Lake West parking area. After crossing the bridge, we turned right. Turning left would have taken us on the Salem Lake Greenway.

Starting at Salem Lake and going toward Winston-Salem the Greenway begins with more of a country look and feel. You walk closely by Salem Creek, overlook a golf course and pass through shaded canopy of trees.

While looking across an open area choked with kudzu, a train slowly rumbled by which only added to the charm of the greenway.

As you approached Winston-Salem, the scenery becomes urban. You pass under viaducts and by a water treatment plant, colleges,  playgrounds, and baseball diamonds. 

Once you cross the pedestrian bridge and Main Street, there is a section of the greenway that is lined with purple flowering Crape Myrtle trees. 

The tallest building in Winston- Salem (460-feet) is the Wells Fargo Building at 100 N Main Street. 

The beginning of the Salem Creek Greenway at the Marketplace Mall located in the back left of the parking lot.