Trek for Connectivity: Segments 8 & 7 ~ Roadways, reservoirs, and the Sauratown Mountains!
As I left the Greensboro area, I would find myself hiking through lake reservoir habitats and alongside over 40 miles of roadways through working lands and communities until I reached Hanging Rock State Park to begin a challenging portion to the end of segment 7!
I enjoyed my time hiking in the mixed forests that surrounded the rich, aquatic life supported by the reservoir system in Greensboro before finding my way back to the roadway portion where I found myself wanting to make a u-turn to get back to the beauty of tree canopies and trails! These roadway miles would be less frequent on the segments ahead which gave me the motivation to pick up my pace towards the Sauratown Mountain range!
While covering miles and miles of hilly roadways, the iconic peak of Pilot Mountain came into view with its 1,400 foot quartzite monadnock. Some of the land I would begin to pass would be land acquired and protected from development adjacent to two of our most visited state parks in North Carolina, Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain State Park. Organizations like the Piedmont Land Conservancy are helping to increase land protections throughout this area and you can learn more about this work in the link below:
As I entered into the Sauratown Mountains, I entered sacred ground. The range was named after the Saura tribe who created settlements alongside the Dan River that winds its way through the Hanging Rock area. As I began to hike the technical terrain that would bring me to the top of this state park, I couldn't help but wonder if members of the Saura tribal community took similar steps to explore the higher elevations of the place they called home.
Hiking through hardwood forests, rock outcrops, and alongside small waterfalls and cascading streams deep within the habitats here brought into focus the variety of habitats and wildlife that thrive throughout the region. Birds and deer seemed to be the wildlife who made an appearance throughout my hike but many more wildlife species call these places home. From salamanders to snakes, bears to river otters, and fish to amphibious wildlife, an array of wildlife species is supported in this area which lends itself to the need for the protection and preservation of this incredible ecosystem.
Stories & Images by: Cassia Rivera