Shelby County High Point Trip Report
Date: December 20, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab
two areas in section 4-14N-8E (930+ ft)
From US 52 on the Shelby/Rush county line, drive north on 800E Road (1000W Road in Rush County)
for 2.9 miles to the intersection with 1200N Road (600N Road in Rush County). A few hundred feet before
you arrive at the intersection, note the large, low-profile rise in the cornfield to your left.
This is area 1, and
it extends west all the way over to the fence line 0.25 mile away, where I think the highest spot is located.
Turn left on 1200N Road and go west for almost 0.5 mile to a small contour in the field (area 2) just south
of a grey house and barn (numbered 8580). I checked this area with my hand level and it appears to be
lower than area 1.
one area in section 33-13N-8E (930+ ft)
From exit 119 on Interstate 74, head east on State Route 244 for 3.1 miles to the intersection with 775 E Road.
Turn left (north) and proceed 1.5 miles to the settlement of Blue Ridge. Continue north for another
0.65 mile to a house that sits off to the right up a long driveway (237 N 775 E Road). This is the home of
Helen Lux, a friendly lady whose house sits on the highest spot within this contour. Given the rise I
detected within this contour, I believe this spot (area 3) is the highest of the three in the Blue Ridge area.
two areas in section 4-12N-8E (930+ ft)
To visit the two small areas in this section, drive south down 775E Road to the crossroads in Blue Ridge
and turn left (east) on Blue Ridge Road. As you drive east toward the crest of a low ridge, watch carefully
for a driveway that goes south and connects with an alley that runs parallel to the road. Take this drive to
the alley and look south of the alley for a beige house with the number 7875 tacked over the door. Area 4 is
basically in the front yard of this house, between their walkway and a white propane tank. Area 5 is a bit
further south near a large tree on the edge of a field. Area 5 is clearly visible from area 4, and appears to be
a bit lower. I parked near the white propane tank and visited both sites in about 4 minutes. Both of these
areas are small and lack prominence.
two areas in the woods in section 17-11N-6E (930+ ft)
Leave Interstate 65 at exit 80 and drive west on State Route 252 for 2.5 miles to 600W Road. Turn left and
go north another 2.8 miles to a road which goes uphill to the right. This is easy to miss, so watch for a
house and farm (Stanton's 8130) which sit on the hill just north of this drive. Just a short way up this road,
you will enter a farmyard and must cross a cattle guard that looks like you're heading right out into the pasture,
but keep going. Follow the road for 0.4 mile from the highway as it bends left, then right, then left
again and ends at a house up on the hill. This is the home of Judy Tolen (8140 S 600 W Road) who granted
me permission to visit the two areas in the woods east of her home. Be sure you have her permission before
you enter the woods, because her neighbor is keenly aware of any visitors to her property. I parked my van
in her yard and headed east. There are two fields with a fence that separates them. Be sure to stay in the
right or southern field and hike all the way across the field to the woods at the eastern edge of the field.
A large tree has broken down the fence right at the northwest corner, and you can easily find a road or ATV
path just 100 feet or so east of the fence. Follow the path to the north and east to a point where the path splits,
with one path heading north and the other continuing east. Just north of this intersection is the
highpoint of area 6. Continue east on the right path for just a short distance to the next little rise where area
7 is located.