Audubon County High Point Trip Report

eight areas (1,540+ ft)

Date: March 12, 2004
Author: Bob Schwab

From the intersection of Routes 44 and M-66 in Kimballton, drive north on M-66 for 4 miles to F-37 (dirt). Turn right and follow F-37 east for 1.5 miles to Crane Place. Turn left (as does F-37), and go north about 0.4 mile to a white house and red metal shed on your left. This property is posted with unfriendly signs and was abandoned. To the east is an opening up into a grassy field with mowed paths. Over on the southeast corner of this section (Dove Avenue and 220th Street) I had seen "No Trespassing" signs along the fence, but this gateway is not posted, so I parked here and walked east to visit the first two areas. The first (larger) contour seems to be the highest one, but hand level checks are hard to do when the grass is still standing 2-3 feet tall. When I spooked a big deer out of the grass, I started to think that this property may be some kind of nature/hunting preserve. That would explain the mowed pathways that wander around in here.

Continue north almost another 0.5 mile to a grey/tan house on the right (#2126). No one was home except a big friendly black dog. Across the road is an opening into a cornfield with a "No Hunting" sign. Park here and hike southwest into the cornfield to access four areas that sit northwest of the "unfriendly" abandoned property. The third contour feels the highest.

To visit the final two western spots, drive south 0.75 mile to 220th Street and then west for about 0.8 mile. Pass Crane Street (dead ends north into the holler), ascend over the crest in the road and find a place to park about 300 feet west of the crest. This spot provides access across the ditch to the cornfield to the north. Hike north up the draw to the ridge, then north on the ridge through both a cornfield and hay/long grass to a small contour located in hay. A second spot is about 0.25 mile to the northwest (also in hay). You can easily see the larger contours to the east, but hand level checking isn’t reliable due to the varying height of the hay/grass.