Pilot Mountain

Bradley got sick the weekend before we left for our one week with Dad!  Since Bradley had a fever we didn't think he should go to primary and Andy volunteered to stay home from church with him.  I offered to stay if Andy would sub for me and lead the music for the nursery classes, but he passed.

When Daniel, Eliza and I got home from church this is what we found.

Dad and Nathan sleeping...

Bradley was awake and had a low grade fever again.

Daniel was good to help take care of Bradley.  Fortunately Bradley had a good night and felt much better on Monday morning.  We kept him home from school since it hadn't been a full 24 hours since his last fever.  We put him to work helping get packed and on the road.  We picked Daniel up from school about 1:30 pm and headed to our first destination.

Pilot Mountain

We could see Pilot Mountain from pretty far away.

Getting closer!

We drove to a parking lot near the top of the mountain.  (Compared to Utah mountains this is more like a foot hill, but it was definitely higher than we wanted to hike from the very bottom.)

Bradley, Eliza, Nathan and Daniel ready to hike!

Along the trail there were signs with information about the area.  The boys were excited to know that this is a stopping spot for many raptors as they migrate in the spring and fall.  The peregrine falcon was the favorite!  Hawks and eagles also frequent this place.

This is looking down on the valley below from the small pentacle overlook. 

Looking out at the large pinnacle.

That is where the raptors nest since there is no access to the top of the large pinnacle.

Daniel is a natural "king" of the rock!

Bradley still didn't have all his "muchness" back from being a little sick and was much more subdued, but ready just the same.

Pilot Mountain in the back ground.

There is a trail that leads to Pilot Mountain and you can walk around the base of the rocks.

You can barely see the trail just to the right of center.

Another look at the valley before heading down to the trail that would take us out to Pilot Mountain.

Heading down the trail.  They used a lot of big rocks as steps.  It was really pretty!

Daniel and Bradley

I loved seeing all the layers in the rock.  

I just kept thinking Grandma Marvin would have loved this place.

This is looking up the cliff face at one of the buzzards floating in the breeze.

One of the reasons the raptors come here is because there is a pocket of warm air that causes updrafts next the to mountain.  There were a lot of buzzards gliding on the wind.

Daniel, Eliza, Mom and Bradley

As we walked around the mountain we met an older gentleman who told us that back in the 60's they had ladders to get to the top.  Then they discovered some Bald Eagles nesting there and took the ladders down.  No one has been allowed back up since.

This was the perfect spot for family pictures, so we did an impromptu picture.

The kids wanted to stay and climb right here.  Nathan tried to keep up with the others.  It made me a little nervous.

Nathan, Bradley, Eliza and Daniel

Nathan wasn't too excited to have his mom follow him around.  Someday when he has grown to adulthood I am hoping he will be grateful!

After hiking around Pilot Mountain we headed Mt. Airy, NC for the night!

March 23-24, 2014