Union County High Point Trip Report

one small area 1.5 miles east of Luttrell on county line (2,300+ ft)

Date: September 8, 2001
Author: Ken Oeser

I checked out the shorter, but steeper routes from the west first, but even the driveways were posted private, no trespassing, and keep out, so I didn't bother. I went back to Lea Lake and talked to a fellow named Ron, who told me where to park and hike from, which is the east end of Wildcat Spur, just north of Lea Lake.

This is a straight-forward hike along the ridge all the way to the top. The hike is about 1.75 miles one-way with 1,380 feet of gain. It took me an hour up and 45 minutes down. The first part of the ridge is steep, but after 1,600 feet, the hike is pretty gradual. In several places I dropped off the ridge crest to avoid briars and thick vegetation or pine trees. An old ATV road was found at about 2,150 ft and leads almost to the summit, at which point I hiked north uphill about 20 vertical feet to the top. It is wooded at the summit, with not much view, but 100 feet northwest I could look through the trees and see the valley below across to a large quarry operation.

Due to a large thrashing animal heard last time below the ridge, and seeing turned-over rocks, I asked Ron about bears. He says footprints have been seen, but no bears, and a 450 lb. boar was killed up there a few years ago. I carried my ice axe in case I needed to fight! This route is actually shorter than hiking from Signal Point and doing both as one hike, plus eliminates some ridge bushwhacking. Permission is also a plus.

Total vertical gain for both points is 3,240 ft, with 8.5 miles total round trip.