Vermilion County High Point Trip Report
Four areas
Date: April 21, 2001
Author: Jobe Wymore
The county has a total of 4 areas that Andy Martin's book says have to be visited. It's one of those counties
where one of the spots is on one quad and the other 3 are on another. They are in separate areas but close by.
one tiny area (795+ ft)
To reach the 1st of the 4 areas, following these directions, you're gonna have to get to the intersection of
IL136, IL119, and IL1. Once there, hit the odometer and head west on IL136. After 12.4 miles the road
comes to a "T" intersection as it merges with IL49. Hit the odometer again and take a left (south). About
5.2 miles later the road starts to swing westward and shortly thereafter (about half a mile) it will swing
southward again. At this point before the road swings south again, there will be a lesser paved road
extending west. Take this lesser road and continue west for only 0.3 mile where 170E will appear on your
right. Hang a quick right onto this road and follow it as it gains a little altitude and crests 0.6 miles later.
Just a little bit farther is a wood post with a telephone hookup box at its base. Park here. The lone small
area (795+) is about a little over a quarter of a mile due west through a corn field. Later in the season when
the corn is high this would be a wide-awake nightmare to negotiate. HP is obvious and is not posted.
three areas (790+ ft)
Retrace the way you came back to the point where you left IL49 and got onto
that lesser road (just 0.9 miles away). Continue on it like you never got off heading south until you come to
the small town of Hope. The town comes up on you pretty quick since it's only 1/2 mile south. There will
be the Hope United Church on the West side of IL49 and right across the street will be 235 N (east side).
Take a left onto 2350N and follow it for 2.1 miles until you come to a home with a bunch of garages, 3 large
gray silos, and all sorts of stuff on your left. It'll have a few different houses/garages to knock on to gain
permission cause you'll definitely need it for these 3 spots. I found the owner in one of the huge green
garages and he let me head out into his field, no problem.
The Collison Quad shows a rough dirt road that stops short of the southern most of the 3 areas in this
group. This road actually extends all the way through the southern area and the owner gave me permission
to drive it. I headed up and parked again as the road crested. The HP of this area is about 150 feet to the
SW from the crest in the road in a corn field (obvious).
Now for the last 2 areas. They required me to strike out NW through the field from the point where I
parked the car. I maintained a due NW heading and after around 550 paces reached a fence line. As you
approach this fence it appears to have a tire hanging on it but, as you get closer it turns out to be a roll of
fence wire. The smallest northernmost point is along the fence line and it's a slight rise in the fence (obvious).
For the last area, I walked east along the fence and after about 100 paces or so struck out SE in the direction
of my car and went right over it. Another obvious spot. This spot is obviously higher than the small spot by
the fence. Hand-leveling confirms that.
Anyway, lots and lots of fields to cover on this one. Muddy in spring and later in the growing season the
farmer might not be so willing to grant permission. Might want to pick your timing accordingly.