Author: mybirdwalks

Mary birds, walks, takes photos, and talks

Landmark on Dark

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

MONTGOMERY

953′

(#30/100 North Carolina county highpoints)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a highpoint that is an actual…thing, like a peak or hill, or as in this case . . .

DARK MOUNTAIN

ha ha, just kidding.

Montgomery County’s “Dark Mountain” is a little less imposing.

It’s there, an unremarkable bump in the forest.

The trailhead is in the Uwharrie National Forest near Ophir.

We follow the well-marked and oh-so-modern trail for about a mile.

I mean, seriously well-marked.

The trail climbs for about a mile to a saddle and continues up to the west.

But at this point we leave the trail and head up to the highpoint which lies to the east.

Every now and then I look back downhill for distinguishing trees or rocks to help us find the trail again on the return trip.

This is a “false summit”–there’s one more little hill before reaching the top.

Now we can see the “true summit” of Dark Mountain.

Now THIS is all that a highpoint should be!

After a short rest we find our way back down to the trail without incident–and with the occasional pause to enjoy a few natural treasures among the leaves and rocks.

The trail is equally well-marked in the other direction!
Although I first read this as “ZIM,” it actually is “21 miles,” which is the distance from the southern end of the Uwharrie Trail system.

Back at the car we enjoy a picnic lunch.

Yay! for Papa John!