Pilot Mountain, Monadnocks, and Metaphors

We recently uploaded the first postcard of Pilot Mountain to the North Carolina Postcards digital collection.  Otherwise known as as Mt. Pilot to the viewers of The Andy Griffith Show, Pilot Mountain is a popular destination for rock climbers and one of the state’s most distinctive geological features.

Pilot Mountain is a monadnock – a small mountain that abruptly rises out of an otherwise planar surface.  It’s name derives from the translation of its Native American name, which means “guide” or “pilot.”  Because the mountain was visible from great distances, it became a popular landmark for people traveling.  The name signifies the mountain’s role.