Berrien County Highpoint Trip Report
one area (930+ ft)
Date: April 1, 2005
Author: Bob Schwab
This is an update to Mike Schwartz’s original trip report. When I first visited
this site over four years ago, this contour was a 0.2 mile hike into the woods
(and the property was for sale). Today you will find a large new house just
south of BM Bertrand.
From the intersection of US 31 and US 12 west of Niles, drive west on US 12 for
2.1 miles to a traffic light at Redbud Trail. Turn left and drive south another
2 miles to Curran Road. Turn right and continue west on Curran Road for one mile.
The road will crest, then drop down. Watch for a black mailbox on the
right (#4335, Roberts) and turn north into this driveway. The driveway drops down,
bends left, then right, then ascends steeply as it passes an old metal shed,
bends hard right again and crests in the yard of Tim Roberts.
He was cordial and allowed me to re-visit the highpoint which is still
undisturbed but is now an easy walk north from Tim’s house. The benchmark
(BM Bertrand, 1877, 1932) and sign (shot up) are about 200 feet north of the house
and 40 feet east of an old woods road that ascends the hill just before it
abruptly turns west. There is also a square cement marker with the initials
U.S. about 30 feet east of the BM. NGS data sheets indicate the elevation at BM
Bertrand is 938 feet but slightly higher ground is just north of the BM under
some tree branches.