Pete's Rock
A short distance past the turnoff for Marlene Path, the side
of Sugar Hill turns rocky and precipitous. As you round a small
bend, Pete's Rock rises up beside you, tall and dry on the sunny side of Sugar
Hill. The cliff is a perfect spot to explore the plants that can
survive dessication --- ferns like Purple-stemmed Cliff-Brake and Wall-Rue are two good examples.
On one of my
first visits to Sugar Hill, I was thrilled to see a bird nest glued to
the side of Pete's Rock. Despite being passed by several hikers a
day, the nest was full of tiny birds --- probably swallows that make a
living skimming insects off the surface of the nearby river. Who
knows what you'll find sheltered under the craggy overhang?
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