A confluence of rivers

This morning was a beautiful, frosty start to an early November day, and I was fortunate to join a guided hike at the White Pines Nature Preserve hosted by the Triangle Land Conservancy. The preserve is located in the lower foothills of the Piedmont Plateau region of North Carolina, near the town of Sanford, and includes the confluence of the Rocky and Deep Rivers. The hike was led by Steve Gartrell, who focused our lovely walk on identifying the different kinds of pine trees that can be found throughout the Piedmont region. What makes this site unique is that it is one of the few places where you can spot five different types of pines (loblolly, white, long leaf, short leaf, and Virginia) that are found in various parts of the state.

Hike leader Steve Gartrell talks about the various kinds of trees that are found along the river.

The hike started with us all meeting in the trailhead parking lot, with brief introductions and mentions of where we are from in the area. We also had a chance to mention where we each grew up, and it was clear that this group represented people from many different parts of the U.S. that have all ended up in this part of North Carolina at some point in our lives. A fair number of people in the group were non-native transplants!

An older white pine stands tall on this hillside, with a wonderful view of the softly rolling Piedmont hills in the distance.

Our group stopped occasionally along the trail to examine and discuss unique features. On this particular stop, it was revealed that this trench is the location of two separate geologic “plates” that are moving ever so slowly in different directions. This rift zone is part of a larger system of rift basins along the east coast of the U.S.

Stopping to view a geologic rift zone feature. No earthquakes were felt during the making of this photo!

Once we arrived at the Rocky River, our hike leaders told us the about how long ago Gade Bryant, a successful dairy farmer on the north (opposite) side of the river, gave land for the New Zion school, the only school serving the Black residents of the region in the 1930s and 40s. Two other families with 9 children between them lived on the bluffs of what is now the White Pines TLC Preserve, and the children had to get across the Rocky River to get to school. The local community on both sides of the river pitched in to build both the swinging bridge and the later cable ferry. Gade's daughter Margaret Bryant Pollard (for many years a Chatham County Council member) gave TLC members much of the history of the crossing, which is commemorated with the School Kids Trail in the preserve.

A view of the Rocky River

As we continued our survey of pines along our walk, it became clear that some of the pines are more rare than others. For example, we knew from other hike reports that there were just two known long leaf pines in the whole preserve. We found the first clue that we were close to a long leaf when someone in our group spotted a long leaf cone on the ground. Here it is in my hand, for size reference. The white-ish tips you see are where pine pitch, or sap, has collected at the ends of the cone scales.

Me holding a ginormous long leaf pine cone!

We found the tree, about twenty yards away from where we found the cone. It towered high in the canopy, and seemed to have the space all to itself compared to how close any adjacent pines were concerned. In other parts of our walk, we noticed how loblolly pines would aggressively crowd each other and try to take over any newly opened space, and how they compete for light and other resources in very close proximity to the white pines, which were fewer in number.

One of two majestic long leaf pine trees we found on our hike. Notice how there are no other pines close by.

We eventually came to a highlight of our walk: the confluence of the Deep (at right) and Rocky Rivers (entering from left side of photo). I’m always amazed at how all the creeks and rivers eventually connect within a watershed and river basin. It’s fascinating to me to know that some 60 miles northwest of this spot I’ve paddled different forks of the Deep River closer to where it originates, in places where it’s not much wider than 5 or 6 feet. After these two rivers meet here, the Deep continues a short distance to join the Cape Fear River, and from there it’s a winding ride through the rest of North Carolina until the river meets the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington.

But on this morning, confluence was about much more than just rivers. It was about (mostly) strangers coming together around a common passion, people of various ages and backgrounds who share a common passion to explore nature and experience land that many people have worked hard to protect. Hikes like these are also a personal confluence of sorts for me. It’s always a chance for me to reflect on my own life – where my own past and present meet, how all the paths I’ve taken so far have led to where I am. And these kinds of peaceful outings in nature always offer me a chance to reflect on the wonderful place where I live and to be thankful that I have access to beauty such as this and the ability and health to get out and enjoy it.

The confluence of the Rocky and Deep Rivers.

But clearly I wasn’t the only one moved by this place. One of the assistant hike leaders from, Bob Sowa, made it known that he had been so impressed with this site that he crafted a song about this confluence some years ago, and he wanted to share it with us. I did the best I could recording the impromptu performance with my phone, and I was just thankful that it wasn’t windy which would have rendered the sound useless lol. I’ll end this post with his lovely gesture and clear love of nature and that place.

Triangle Land Conservancy’s Bob Sowa sings a song he crafted about the confluence of the Deep and Rocky Rivers in the White Pines Nature Preserve.