Lewis County High Point Trip Report

Date: June 30, 2001
Authors: Ken Oeser and Jon Mann

From Highway 43 just south of the Maury/Lawrence county line, take Highway 240 or 20 west to Summertown. At the far end of town, turn right at the 240/20 split onto Highway 20, drive 1.4 miles and turn right onto Drakes Road on the right. Follow this paved road 1.1 miles, then turn right at a junction. Follow this road and veer right at a farm after 0.3 mile, and go an additional 0.8 mile to a dirt road on the right. Turn and follow this road as far as you can go. We made it about 1/4 mile to a huge mud puddle at the boundary for Willamette Industries public hunting area (great news).

We parked and hiked along the muddy road for 2 miles to the underground pipeline path, then hiked northwest about 0.5 mile to a large cleared area, and then west, following a dirt road into the woods, for 0.5 mile to a northward curve. It passes through private/posted land for a short distance, but reenters Willamette property, so should be a legal right-of-way. After turning north, a dirt road goes northwest after 100 yards; this follows the ridge and leads to the first liner, which seems to be marked by Willamette Industries signs on one side of trees, and private signs on the other sides.

Return to the main dirt road, go north about 0.2 mile to the road crest, then go northwest along the clear-cut land (very bushy), following deer trails, for about 200 yards until the ridge starts descending rapidly just above a very large oak tree. At this point the Lewis county line (and second liner point) has been crossed, and a dirt road can be found on the south side of the ridge that goes back to the main dirt road.

Return the way you came to the southern part of the underground pipeline. The contour entirely within Lewis county is about 600 feet south of this point, just north of the dirt road. It is easier to find on the way back with the pipeline as a reference. It is a fairly flat area with a couple of small rises about 100 feet into the woods. This is just north of two large mud puddles.

Quiz: How do you get totally soaked to the skin, clothes and all, without getting in the water? Two answers. Hike Mt. Guyot without an umbrella or poncho (Ken) or hike Lewis county, TN highpoints without the same (Jon). This road is very slimy when wet, and not pleasant with lightning crackling all around. This is the highest ridge in the whole area.