Dewitt County High Point Trip Report
Date: February 9, 2002
Author: Tim Worth
Andy Martin's book lists 12 areas, but 1 of these is a spill-over shown on both quads, thus there are 11 total
areas of interest. They are laid out as follows: 1 in (20), 9 in (21), 1 in (15). In the field I was able to cut
the number of areas down from 11 to 5. There is very little relief to any of these areas. A hand level was a
vital piece of equipment.
Directions: From Champaign, take I-74 NW, exit at US136 south of LeRoy. Take US136 west until you
hit 2000E, head south to the Dewitt/McLean county line where the road changes to 1400E. Continue a mile
south to 1500N, then go another half mile to an obvious ridge which is the location of the 811 spot elevation.
Look for posts (indicating the fence line) on each side of the road. I arrived just at daybreak.
Areas 1-10 are in corn and oil fields, desolate and empty this winter morning.
Area 1 is in section 20, to the west, beyond an old water pump. It is much lower than area 2, the site of the
spot elevation. Area 3 is just to the south on a rise in the road, with an oil rig to the east. It's close, but
leveled lower than area #2.
Areas 4, 5, 6, and 7 are in the field directly to the east. I've marked 4, 5, and 7 as the smallish areas running
from northwest to southeast, area 6 is the slightly larger contour that touches the (21) on the topo. I found
4 and 7 to be lower, 5 was close but lower, and 6 was inconclusive, all compared to area 2.
Drove south to 1400N, then made a left (east). There are oil drills on each side, the third rig on the left is at
the end of a gravel road which is at the edge of another high contour, I've marked as #8. The HP is north in
the field. Area 9 is to the east, and leveled lower than #8. Area 10 is in line with a group of houses on
1400N, to the northeast of #9. Look for a post in the field. #10 was higher than #9 but I couldn't ascertain
an elevation difference with respect to #8.
Area 11 is in section 15, southwest of two barns at the end of a dirt road in a field.
It is obvious. Need a professional survey to compare to the others.
After all the dust settled, areas 2, 6, 8, 10, and 11 remain as candidates.
I'd be interested in future cohpers' observations.
Walked about 1.5 miles total in the fields and took 2 hours.
Topo chart of all 11 areas