View from the Valley

by mybirdwalks, posted in Birds, High Points, North Carolina

DAVIDSON

1188′

(#32/100 North Carolina county highpoints)

High Rock Mountain is the Davidson County highpoint, and from the information at my go-to website, Peakbagger.com, this looks like it could be a lot of fun. A long ridge of hills overlooking High Rock Lake with no designated trail system. Time to explore!

But we soon discover that Peakbagger.com needs to update their map, because that ridge now looks like this:

The entire ridge has been purchased and broken up into 2 and 5 acre lots, including the section that includes the highpoint.

So no adventure, but at least we can do a quick stop and take some photos.

Or not…

Because this new community is GATED!

Well, darn it.

And it looks so pretty in there, too.

One option is to wait at the gate until a resident pulls up to enter and then ask for permission to follow them in, but I’m just not in the mood…for either begging or rejection.

So, Plan B.

We look at our road atlas and try to find a place to at least SEE the highpoint.

We pull onto an unmarked gravel road with the most likely line of sight.

While Loren birds the area, I walk up the road a bit.

So there’s a glimpse, anyway, of High Rock Mountain.

Despite this disappointment, our memory of Davidson County remains favorable, because earlier in the morning we had several hours of really terrific birding at Lake Thom-a-lex.

Enjoy!

Eastern Bluebird
Double-crested Cormorant
Louisiana Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Tree Swallow

One thought on “View from the Valley”

  1. Even though this was a disappointment, Thanks for pursuing your goal- to see or photograph the “high point” for Davidson County.

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