Hooker County Highpoint Trip Report
three areas - including spot elevation 3817 (3,800+ ft)
Date: August 10, 2004
Author: Bob Schwab
Find a paved single-lane road heading south from Route 2, about 1 mile west of Whitman. Drive south on
this road for 16.5 miles to an intersection and turn left (east). There is a "Vinton Land and Cattle" sign here.
Follow this dirt road east for almost 2 miles and bear left at the fork. Initially, this road looks like a ranch
driveway but follow it anyway for 10 more miles to a sharp right turn
where there is a sign to the Furrow Ranch (left).
At this point, turn around and retrace your route by driving south 1.2 miles (from the sharp
right bend in the road). Watch very carefully for a faint track (two tire marks) that go off to the west.
Turn right and follow the track west for 0.6 mile to a windmill. Drive around the south side of the "pond" at the
windmill and you'll find the faint track again. I followed it for another 1.3 miles beyond the windmill
(a total of 2 miles from the dirt road) and parked in front of a gate.
From here, I continued to hike along the track, which swung south, then west, and then disappeared when I
got out on the flat pasture. From here, I could see the high ground, about 1.25 miles off to the west.
The large contour and spot elevation are the high ground. The route that I described is shown on the topo map
as a trail and, if you drive in to the gate as I did, it will save you at least 4 miles of walking.
Be careful to keep your bearings when coming off from the high area because there is a tendency to
head northeast instead of east-southeast.
This area is remote. Make sure someone knows where you are when visiting this area.