Lawrence County Highpoint Trip Report

one point on Morgan/Lawrence County line (1,320+ ft)

Date: October 13, 2006
Author: Ken Oeser

This point is about 2 miles east of Moon, Kentucky.

From the junction of KY 172/KY 706, drive east 3.7 miles and pass the junction with KY 171 on the left and, at mile 5.2, we knocked at the house on the left at the head of the hollow south-southwest of the highpoint. Mr. Ray Hutchinson lives here and he has no problem with people hiking on his property.

We hiked behind his house in the yard to its end then fought our way up the left bank through vines and shrubs to a strip-mined level that we followed northeast 0.4 mile to the second hollow on the left. This area is belly-high in weeds but there are several deer trails that make travel OK. We followed an ATV trail north up this side hollow, then hooked right to the ridgeline headed north straight to the highpoint. We followed this fairly steeply uphill for another 1/4 mile to the top, which is flatter than we had expected.

There is an ATV trail along the summit ridge, so we gridded both sides of it at the high spots. There is one odd spot higher than the others on the right side but it seems unnatural, like dirt pushed aside for some reason, although there is no reason for it to be there. We took pictures and headed back the same way.

Back near the house along the strip-mine level, we jumped a very large buck with at least 8 points, more likely 12, which bounded through the weeds and uphill in front of us from only 30 feet away to start. The worst bushwhack of the trip was getting the 100 feet back through the jungle here to the mowed lawn. According to Mr. Hutchinson and another neighbor, this point could also be hiked from the hollow to the west, from where one could possibly drive a little closer.

Round trip is 1.5 miles with a gain of 560 feet.