Pulaski County High Point Trip Report
Date: February 10, 2002
Author: Bob Schwab
two small areas in section 13-29N-1W (780+ ft)
From the junction of Indiana Routes 14 and 17, drive south 5.8 miles on Route 17, passing through the town
of Kewanna. Watch carefully for the junction with Star City Road (not well-signed), which is about 3 miles
south of Kewanna. Turn right and drive 3 miles west on Star City Road to the Fulton/Pulaski County line.
Turn left on the county line and drive south on 700 E Road for 1 mile to a driveway to the right (6489 S 700
E Road). Jim and Shirley Burns live here in the tan house just west of the drainage ditch. Area 1 is a
wooded knoll in the woods southwest of the Burns' house. They gave me permission to park in their yard,
but Bob Jones (the white house just south of Burns' on the right) actually owns the property.
As you leave the Burns' driveway, turn left and drive north on 700 E Road for 0.5 mile to a long driveway
that goes west into a field and then turns abruptly to the south. Drive in and meet Ed and Patty Gudas
(5999 700 E Road), who have built their home on top of area 2. The small spot was obviously bulldozed
and I think their living room is about where this spot was located. The highest remaining natural ground is
in the circle of their drive near some trees. Very nice setting, a lovely place.
three small areas in section 12-29N-1W (780+ ft)
Return north 0.5 mile to the intersection on the county line of Star City Road and 700 E Road. Turn left
and as you ascend the hill to the west (this is now 550 S Road), note the large old white house to the north.
This is the home of Tom and Tressa Capper (6900 E 550 S Road). Mrs. Capper graciously gave me
permission to visit the three areas that sit on their property. Area 3 surrounds their home, so you've already
got this one just by going up to the door to ask for permission.
The other two areas are out in the field on the sand ridge that runs south of the road. Drive west just a short
distance from the Capper home and park in a field pull-off to the south. Hike mostly east in the cornfield to
the top of the sand ridge. They have recently bulldozed some of the trees there, and it appears that the
highpoint of area 4 is actually very close to a pile of debris left on the crown of the hill. Area 5 is roughly
600 feet south of here and consists of a small rise on the south end of this sand hill. Hand level checks of
these three areas indicates that area 4 is clearly the highest of the three.
one small area in section 2-29N-1W (780+ ft)
From the county line where Star City Road and 700 E Road intersect, drive north 1 mile on 700 E Road to
the junction with 450 S Road. Turn left and proceed west for 1.6 miles to a crest in the road. Area 6 is in a
field on the north side of the road near this crest, but there isn't any place to park here, so keep going about
0.15 mile to a field pull-off on the right. Walk back up the road and find an opening in the fence to gain
access to the field. The topo map shows this area to be wooded, but the highpoint is near the eastern edge
of the field. One other thing to be aware of, the topo map seems to indicate a similar small area exists on
this ridge, more or less north of where you parked your car. This northwestern contour is actually much
lower (765 feet) and can easily be confirmed with your hand level. This area is very close to the boundary
between two quad maps: Star City and Grass Creek. The Grass Creek quad is drawn in 10 foot contours,
while the Star City quad had 5 foot contours. If you're using a seamless map taken off from the web,
this can cause confusion.
one small area in section 35-30N-1W (780+ ft)
From the junction of Indiana Routes 14 and 17, drive north on Route 17 for 3.1 miles to the junction with
300 N Road. Turn left and drive west on 300 N Road for 3 miles to 600 E Road where the road bends north.
Drive north for 0.25 mile and turn left (west) on 325N Road. Follow 325 N Road west for 0.7 mile.
It will turn south and then bend abruptly west. Stop and park at this bend in the road but do not block the
field access road that goes to the east. Hike due south across this large cornfield and head toward the
corner of the woods where the rise is most evident. When you get close, you will discover a path that leads
into the woods, then bends gently southeast and ascends the hill. The highpoint (area 7) is in the pathway or
just to the east of the path at the top of the hill. This land is owned by Richard Smith, and I had the good
fortune of meeting his son, Rory while he and his son were walking the field. They gave permission for me
to enter, and even accompanied me to the top. At the time, I did not realize that Rory actually owns the
next two areas reported here, so he is definitely someone you will want to make contact with if you intend to
visit these spots.
three small areas in section 24-30N-1W (780+ ft)
Backtrack to the intersection of 325 N Road and 600 E Road. Turn left and drive north for roughly 1.4 miles.
Watch for a long driveway to the right that appears to go into a small cluster of trees. As you
approach this area, you should also be able to spot a very nice log cabin style house. Drive up this long
drive and you will find that Rory and Stephanie Smith live here (4654 N 600 E Road). Thus, this is the
place to get permission to visit not only area 7, but also areas 8 and 9, which are behind their house across
the field and in the adjacent woods.
From Rory's house, hike southeast across the field. Head for the back corner of the field. As you approach,
you'll find the highest ground is right near the woods on the eastern edge of the field, perhaps 150 feet or so
north of the corner (area 8). Walk to the southern edge of the field and enter the woods. In the winter the
briars aren't too bad and you should be able to spot a low mound in the woods (area 9). This spot is only
about 350 feet southwest from the corner of the field, but briars will make the going a bit sticky. From the
edge of the woods, I was able to see both areas and a hand level check seemed to imply that area 8 is a bit
higher than area 9.
As you leave Rory's driveway, turn right and continue going north on 600 E Road. Turn right on 500 N
Road and turn right again when you get to 700 E Road. Drive south on 700 E Road for a bit more than 0.4
mile and watch for a white barn on the right and a looping driveway that formerly serviced a home that is
now gone. Pull in here and hike west through the weeds to a spot behind the small fruit tree orchard that
still remains. This is area 10 and you will notice that the soil has been bulldozed when the house was destroyed.
Thus, I am uncertain whether much natural land remains (other than in the fruit orchard).
You can also walk back to a fence that was used as a cattle runway that seems to be undisturbed.