Iowa County High Point Trip Report

two areas (940+ ft)

Date: July 13, 2002
Author: Bob Schwab

Leave Interstate 80 at Exit 205 and head north 1.5 miles to an intersection signed B Avenue and A Diagonal. Turn right and drive east about 0.5 mile to the crest in the road. There is an iron gate on the north side of the road. The contour crosses the road here, but the highpoint is out in the field to the southeast roughly 0.25 mile. You can either hop the fence and hike southeast, or continue east to a brown and stone-faced house owned by Merle Smith. If he grants permission, you can approach the highpoint by going through his yard. I think the highest point within this contour is southeast of his metal shed, not far from the line of telephone poles that cross the field north to south. The beans were growing, but I could still walk between the rows when I visited.

To visit area 2, return to the intersection of B Avenue and A Diagonal, and continue north 1.33 miles to a T-shaped intersection in the town of Victor. Turn left and go west 0.6 mile to County Line Road (Route 419) which heads north out of town. Turn right and go north 2.25 miles, crossing US Route 6. Just after passing the intersection with 370th Avenue, watch for a long driveway to an abandoned white house on your right. Turn in on the drive, and look for a farm lane that heads south from the house. Most of this large contour is covered by an alfalfa field which had just been harvested when I visited, so it was easy to pick out the most likely high spots in this area. Mr. Smith told me that he thought this (second) area was the highest spot in the county (he had not known that his field was also a candidate). He told me that the property is owned by a Mr. Kemmerling, but obviously he doesn't live here.