Nassau County Highpoint Trip Report
three areas 1 3/4 miles east of Boulogne (110+ ft)
Date: January 23, 2006
Author: Michael Schwartz
From US 1 at Boulogne, FL, 0.1 mile south of the state line, take Lake Hampton
Road east for 1.7 miles. Turn right (south) onto Pigeon Creek Road and go 0.3
mile to the Pigeon Creek Cemetery on the left. Along the way, notice a dirt
road between two farmsteads, leading to the point where the power lines veer to
the south-southwest. This is a route to the northernmost area (area 1) and is
best saved for last. Just before the cemetery, take a posted dirt road left
(east) along the northern edge of the cemetery, which eventually turns south,
heading toward the western edges of the southern two areas. Go 0.5 mile on this
road and see a barn and house on the left.
The owner, Richard Wilcox, very graciously showed us the two surface reference
markers for BM Willis, one under a fallen tree and the second inside the barn.
The actual benchmark is underground, according the USGS data sheet, and we did
not find it. Highest ground seems to be along the east-west fence line near the
barn. We walked much further out into the middle area (area 2), both in the
fields and woods, but felt that the area along the fence was highest.
Mr. Wilcox stated that the land north of the fence line, which includes area 1,
was owned by the Walker family, which jibes with the USGS data sheet that mentions
the same family and gives a phone number for them.
We continued south along the main dirt road toward the southernmost area
(area 3) and reached a large trailer home. The owner had no problem with our
wandering around but believed that area 2 was higher. We wandered the contour,
which includes open woods and an open area to the south, and felt that highest
ground was in the southeastern corner of the woods.
It's not possible to hand-level back to area 2.
On our way out, we parked at the end of the previously-mentioned dirt road
between the two farmsteads. This is about 0.15 mile from area 1. We negotiated
an unposted barbed wire fence, crossed a derelict electric fence, and walked the
road toward the power lines and the small bump of area 1. It was now almost
dark and, on our return walk, someone from one of the farmsteads drove out to
our vehicle, checked it out, and returned to the house. We returned moments
later and left without incident. The dirt road used to reach areas 2 and 3
passes very close to area 1 and someone visiting that area from along the road
would be less visible than we were. Crossing the fence and walking out to
area 1 would only take a few minutes.