technicolorNH - Feb 12, 2021 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Feb 12, 2021
from the visitor center parking lot
The weather was pretty bad which left the plants at the summit sheathed in ice. When a slight breeze blew it sounded like electrical noises nearby, but it was just the ice. I walked/jogged down the road on my return.
I hiked it from the base as Bob suggests and done both the climbing wall trail and the knob trail. Have not been back since the fire, though. Will put up a few picture albumns once I get back to do some top roping when the weather cooperates. See some pics on my article. Climbing in the Southeastern Part of the US section
kteichert - Nov 2, 2011 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2011
Beautiful
Beautiful area with miles and miles of trees and farmland surrounding this prominent pinnacle. Autumn leaves were out in full effect. Great place to visit.
islandborn11 - Apr 19, 2011 9:51 am Date Climbed: May 2, 2008
Sunny day, nice elevation gain
Enjoyed a pleasant day of hiking up and back. Just a cool looking mountain, even from the highway. About ten miles up and back.
Fun loop hike and if you happen to bring some rock climbing gear - the cliffs by the edge of the parking lot have some good routes. Top-rope and a few lead.
Nice climbing crag if you like short top-roped climbs and lots of people, but it is really close to the parking lot. Plus it has a lot to offer various levels of climbing.
I did my first 5.13 here. And by 'did' I mean flailed a lot on top rope until sweaty and delirious I could touch the bottom most part of the anchor. Great climbing though for all levels.
Route Climbed: Grandpa's Belay Date Climbed: May 1995
Various climbs since then in the designated climbing area along the cliff west of the pinnacle. Nice top-roping, with a couple of good single pitch climbs for leading.
Route Climbed: Ledge Spring Trail Date Climbed: June 22, 2004
You can't really "summit" Pilot Mountain, since the top of the mountain is off limits to people. The very top is completely surrounded by cliffs and is prime habitat for ravens and for several endangered plant communities. Other than park personnel and research folk, no one has been legally to the top for decades.
But you can get to the base of the surrounding cliffs via the Ledge Spring Trail/Joemokee Trail. The day I was there, I could only climb as high as the junction of the two trails since the Joemokee Trail was undergoing improvements.
technicolorNH - Feb 12, 2021 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Feb 12, 2021
from the visitor center parking lotThe weather was pretty bad which left the plants at the summit sheathed in ice. When a slight breeze blew it sounded like electrical noises nearby, but it was just the ice. I walked/jogged down the road on my return.
pookster1127 - Jan 31, 2013 2:02 pm
Not since the fireI hiked it from the base as Bob suggests and done both the climbing wall trail and the knob trail. Have not been back since the fire, though. Will put up a few picture albumns once I get back to do some top roping when the weather cooperates. See some pics on my article. Climbing in the Southeastern Part of the US section
kteichert - Nov 2, 2011 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2011
BeautifulBeautiful area with miles and miles of trees and farmland surrounding this prominent pinnacle. Autumn leaves were out in full effect. Great place to visit.
islandborn11 - Apr 19, 2011 9:51 am Date Climbed: May 2, 2008
Sunny day, nice elevation gainEnjoyed a pleasant day of hiking up and back. Just a cool looking mountain, even from the highway. About ten miles up and back.
MaineMountainMan - Jul 31, 2009 4:28 pm
PilotMtnFun loop hike and if you happen to bring some rock climbing gear - the cliffs by the edge of the parking lot have some good routes. Top-rope and a few lead.
AirborneBuff - Jul 12, 2009 9:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2009
Rock Climbing FunGreat day rock climbing with friends
NCclimber - Mar 15, 2009 5:53 pm
Lots of good climbsNice climbing crag if you like short top-roped climbs and lots of people, but it is really close to the parking lot. Plus it has a lot to offer various levels of climbing.
citizen453 - Mar 17, 2008 5:41 pm
First big route & variousI did my first 5.13 here. And by 'did' I mean flailed a lot on top rope until sweaty and delirious I could touch the bottom most part of the anchor. Great climbing though for all levels.
Doehle - Sep 27, 2007 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2004
Always funMany fun trips, proposed to my wife in the shadow of the pinnacle
WoundedKnee - Jun 2, 2007 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2007
Grindstone Trail, various climbing routesFirst real hiking trip for my 11-month old son - he had the best views perched in my backpack. The "big pinnacle" looks pretty cool.
Dec 9, 2007
Finished Pee Break, had problems on some others. Way out of climbing shape.
myles - Aug 16, 2005 2:29 pm
Route Climbed: Grandpa's Belay Date Climbed: May 1995Various climbs since then in the designated climbing area along the cliff west of the pinnacle. Nice top-roping, with a couple of good single pitch climbs for leading.
vanny37 - Apr 11, 2005 9:28 am
Route Climbed: Various Date Climbed: April 10, 2005Beautiful day in NC. Got some good climbing in.
petersbike - Mar 17, 2005 6:45 pm
Route Climbed: Various Date Climbed: 1999Various climbs top rope and lead
jomal - Oct 29, 2004 3:49 am
Date Climbed: 1986-Ah the memories. My first hike EVER.
gato - Sep 2, 2004 4:13 pm
Route Climbed: Many Date Climbed: 1996-1999Lots of good climbing on the cliffs of Pilot Mtn. Nice views, and right outside of Mt. Airy, the real-life Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show.
Alpinist - Aug 15, 2004 12:23 am
Date Climbed: October 1989Hiked as far as we could on a beautiful autumn day. What a great area! The summit looked very inviting.
BobSmith - Jun 23, 2004 10:07 pm
Route Climbed: Ledge Spring Trail Date Climbed: June 22, 2004You can't really "summit" Pilot Mountain, since the top of the mountain is off limits to people. The very top is completely surrounded by cliffs and is prime habitat for ravens and for several endangered plant communities. Other than park personnel and research folk, no one has been legally to the top for decades.
But you can get to the base of the surrounding cliffs via the Ledge Spring Trail/Joemokee Trail. The day I was there, I could only climb as high as the junction of the two trails since the Joemokee Trail was undergoing improvements.