Rockingham County Highpoint Trip Report

15 areas (1,040+ feet)

Date: May 25, 2006
Author: Fred Lobdell

I would like to thank Brian Bockhahn for his excellent trip report. I did the 15 (actually, 13) areas of Rockingham County, NC by following his itinerary exactly and it worked out very well.

Unfortunately, the links to the topographic maps of the 15 areas are not numbered in the order in which Brian did them. While Brian's report is good enough to stand alone, and his descriptions from a little more than three months ago are still valid, I would like to offer some commentary on these areas. Therefore, the comments below are given in the order in which Brian and I both did them but the numbering system is that of the topographic map links. This may seem a bit confusing at first but reference to a DeLorme state atlas and the maps themselves should clear things up. I will give additional directions in only one or two cases, as Brian's directions are more than adequate to visit these HPs.

Areas 10, 11, & 12: These are the three areas that Brian noted were in the yard of a sawmill. The entire area has been graded and the high area is now in the center of the cleared area on the north side of the road, with the ground sloping down from it in all directions, probably for drainage purposes. There is only one high area remaining and it may well not hit 1,040 feet.

Area 13: This is exactly as shown on the topo. Walk to the far edge of the field and you will see the obvious high ground a few feet into the woods.

Area 15: The gravel drive to the tower mentioned by Brian was blocked about half way up but from there it was only a short walk to the high ground just west of the fenced relay tower. I agree with Brian that Area 14 appeared to be definitely higher than Area 15; I would say Area 14 is at least 10 feet higher.

Area 14: I drove to the crest of the road and up the driveway of the house sitting on top. As it turned out, I should have gone on to the next house, the one that is still under construction. Where I parked I was greeted by a half- grown pup and his mother, both of whom proved friendly, although the mother needed a bit of convincing. I rang the bell and the lady of the house graciously permitted me to walk around her property and through it to the land around the next house east, the unfinished one. The high ground seems to be at a pile of tree sections a couple of hundred feet west of the new house. Future CoHPers should drive over the crest of the hill and start downhill to the next gravel driveway on the right (south) which will take them to the new house.

Area 1: This is a large house with outbuildings and horses in enclosures that are guarded by electric fences. I drove up to the house, where I was assaulted by four half-grown pups, all clamoring for attention. Their mother was a bit unsure of me but I convinced her of my good intentions. No one answered my knock, so I walked around under a couple of trees in the side yard and around a metal shed in the back, where the ground seemed highest.

Area 4: As Brian noted, the high area is east of the gravel road in some woods.

Area 2: This area is in a pasture on the east side of the road. The barbed- wire fence was low enough to step over. I put my hand on the top strand to aid my passage and discovered that, as well as being barbed, it was also electrified.

Area 3: I concur with Brian that the area in the pasture on the south side of the road is the highest. This barbed-wire fence may also be stepped over, and is also electrified. I looked into the woods on the north side but the ground sloped down from the road.

Area 9: I parked in the driveway mentioned in Brian's report and bushwhacked to the HP. The house shown on the topo is no longer in evidence. This was a short but prickly bushwhack; long pants are strongly recommended.

Areas 5 & 6: Here Brian says "from 0.8 - 0.9 mile farther". He measures from the intersection of Victor Hill Church Road and SR 1631, not from Area 9. From the latter it is only a quarter mile or a bit more. I parked by the gate and walked up the dirt road to the summit (Area 5), which has a number of dumped appliances on it. The road passes almost over the summit. Then I returned almost to the gate and followed a dirt track northeast as it came close to the high ground of Area 6. A short bushwhack brings you to the summit.

Area 8: For this area, I parked at a gate on the east side of the road, just a few hundred feet up the road from the previous gate, and walked up the dirt road. A sign warned "Leased Property. Absolutely No Hunting." This was the longest hike of the day; allow at least 10 minutes for the round trip. After following the dirt road for about 0.2 mile, it emerges into an open field, exactly as shown on the topo. The high ground is also exactly where it's shown on the topo.

Area 7: I drove up to this house, where there was a dog chained in the back yard and another running loose. The loose dog apparently felt that I wasn't dangerous enough to attack but not trustworthy enough to approach. He did permit me to knock on the front door, where I got no response.

I did these areas in a little less than an hour and a half. It might take a bit longer if done on a weekend, when the homeowners are more likely to be home.