North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-16
TFrom the Fayetteville Carolinian,J ]

nay At THE PILOT MOUNTAIN,
On Friday October the 4lh: started IN comPa-
nv with CAM. S. w. d., and Mr.. j. H., to ascend
the shaft of the main plnnacte
The morning was CLEAR and bright. Not
sneck dimmed the blue etheria vault, or intercept
ed the vision IN any direction. 1t was just such
day as should be chosen by vlsIters to ascend
the mountain Half the beauty and grandeur of
the scene is lost in less favorable day.
AT 25 minutes past 9, a. m, we commenced as
cending the base of the mountain, at an angle of
45 degrees, passing through dense forest OF
timber, CONSISTING of white black: red, and chest
nut oaks poplar chestnut, hickory walnut of a
large size, aud from 100 TO $50 feet high.
The ascent of the base is divided into steps,
(so called there) or platforms, each becoming
sleeper as you ascend. At the 5th platform, there
is place called walnut cove where the soil is
rich enough to produce 80 to SO bushels of corn
to the acre. The trees along here are so numer-
Gus, the whole view of the Mountain is obstlucted,
and here the wild locust is found, the pods of
which are said to make excellent beer.
By the time we reached the 7th platform, we
were nearly tired down; and here would natural
" be resting place, for the grandeur of the
scene now begins to develop itself -.-.. -.
The 9th and last step brought US TO the foot of
the pinnacle, and 10 what is called talntlng rock :
The circumstance which gave rise to this name
was this a lady in feeble health, in company
with party. attempted to ascend the mountain.
When they reached this place, she tainted. On
reviving, she insisted on the party continuing up.
and leaving her until their return. Accordingly
they did so, but after they bad been up the noun
tain some time they beheld the sick lady coming.
The main pinnacle at this place looks more like
some vast gothic building of antiquity, than any
thing | can compare to. >.....,. -y<
At minutes past ! l o'clock we arrived at the
main pass of the big pinnacle We now ascend
by ladders, and platforms; the ladders five in
number. being generally 10 feet long. From the
foot of the fist ladder to the top of the fifth ladder
being 85 feet perpendicular. r -t
At half past eleven we gained the main pima
Gle, the highes, point. 5-.- .a..a ..
Here have view commanding the sur
rounding country for 200 miles. embracing the
Sauratwon mountains. with their five lofty peaks.
The grandeur and beauty of the scene is far be-
yond my powers ofdtscription and no one can
have correct idea of it without realizing it.
White rock the nearest peak of the Sauraton
range, is miles distant, Steel mountain is 9 miles;
More's Mob I6 miles; Cooks mountain Is
miles; Flat Sboal is 20 miles. At the foot of
the Sauraton range runs Dan river ~
AT distance of so to so miles, is seen Cara
way range of mountains, in Randolph county.
In another direction can be seen the Shallow
Ford on the Yadkin and although it is 90 miles
distant, 1t looks as though it were at the foot of
the mountain. The ford is formed by an island
In the middle ofthe river. r'- " 7 aE.
To the southeast may be seen white ohiectthe
size of water bucket, that cannot be Distinguish
ed with the eye; but by the aid of glass; it can
be seen to be a white house. Il is 25 miles dis
tant. E -.-,. -......,-....
Looking to the east, SO plantations may be coun-
ted in one direction and to the Northwest they are
so numerous is difficult to count them.
Some houses at a distance of 2 miles look so
near as to lead one to believe he could throw
stone and strike them.
Looming in the distance, high above all other
mountains may be seen the Peaks of Otter in sVir.
ginia, distant 100 miles The Blue RIDGE and the
Aleghanies are plainly visible and add greatly To-
the grandeur Of the scene
Mount Airy a small town, is seen Is miles dis
tant ..,,F asss.stt r .r-ss....s-- .- -,,,.
Under shelving rock, is a verv snus nlace.
projected from the weather, which has been called
the post office 4 sess e..s. -. .....-
Capt D. climbed tree from which he saw
with glass, table rock lie miles, and Kings
mountains ga miles in South Carolina.
The main platform on the top Of the pinnacle,
is three in extent, covered with underground
and shrubbery. Corn and wheat could be raised
up here, and apple and peach trees would beal
well, although 1900 feet high.
Descending we went around the base of the
main shaft. 1t resembles vast citadel, with bas
ton after bastion recess after recess assure afel
assure, on the most gigantic scale, and fthe mos
stupehdous height The shaft is $50 yards srouDd
On the south side of the mountain, there is an
echo the plainess that ever heard. gsa.r ssss
The height OF the main shaG is l8Q feet. \
AT the foot of the mountaia is aa excellent pub
lie house, kept by William Gillian, ESQ., whose
amlable and tasty lady makes every body cOmfor-
table and happy who favor het with their compa-
hreis of the most subslantiaL and even delicate
Sp Snd' The house is large and would accommo-
date 80 or 40 persons ''
some 400 yards from the house, is an excel
tent mineral spring. There is fine road to the
mousse and can truly say that no one can visit a
scene more beautifully grand than the Pilot noun