Tuesday, April 17, 2012

April 12 Sunset Stroll around Pilot Knob


This evening, Pilot Mountain State Park Superintendent Matt Windsor led a group of members of Friends of Sauratown Mountains, around Pilot Knob just about sunset. The stroll began with a look at one of the new interpretive displays at the park. A vandal-proof display board of the Blue Ridge ridgeline, naming most peaks is a real nice addition to the park. We spent a considerable amount of time identifying the various peaks which included Grandfather Mtn, Three Top, Mt Rogers and others.



Matt spoke of the history and geology of the park and how it differed from the Blue Ridge. Pilot Mountain is sedimentary rock, having been created by the pressure of an ancient sea. The rock may have been 8-10,000 feet below the surface. Most of the surrounding rock has eroded away, leaving Pilot and a few neighboring mountains. The Blue Ridge is volcanic rock which was pushed up by a tectonic event, the collision of the North American and African continents.   


It grew darker as we worked our way around the knob. The lights in the distance became brighter. With binoculars I was able to make out Mt Shepherd just to the right of Winston Salem

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Oct 28 Edwards-Franklin House

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