Caroline County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: March 24, 2006
Authors: Chip Clark, Don Desrosiers, Fred Lobdell, Mike Schwartz

Note: All coordinates use the NAD27 datum.

The maps for this county are very old and badly need to be updated. If that happens, a number of the areas we visited will probably go away. With the myriad of farm fields that must be visited, combined with the lack of truly distinctive points in this county, your visit should probably be in the winter to very early spring.

The Goldsboro quad contains a LFA (large flat area) of 60 feet with numerous spot elevations greater than 70 feet. Since the Sudlersville quad contained 75 foot contours, we felt comfortable discounting all Goldsboro spot elevations less than 76 feet.

Spot elevation 79 feet (39:05:06N, 75:49:34W) - From MD 313 south of Marydel, go west on Bee Tree Road until just past Bee Tree Honey (#25165). The highest point was a short way into the field to the north and was an obvious rise.

Spot elevation 78 (39:06:30N, 75:48:50W) - Continue west on Bee Line to a right onto Trunk Line Road (dirt), a left onto Hecht (paved), and a right onto Faulkner. Park near the dogleg shown on the topo and walk diagonally across the field to the obvious highest ground. We felt the high spot was closer to the house than shown on the topo.

Spot elevation 77 (39:06:50N, 75:47:22W) - Continue north on Faulkner and turn right onto Zion. Park in the vicinity of the mailbox for #18408. The highest ground was about where the spot elevation is shown on the topo and is now a well for irrigation equipment. The 3 buildings shown on the topo are gone. This point probably does not exceed 74 at the current time. Sighted a red fox.

Spot elevation 76 (39:07:06N, 75:48:07W more or less) - Go back east on Zion Road to Kanes Crossroads. Get permission at the farm to either walk or drive to the point under the power lines (not shown on topo). There are several large irrigation ditches that preclude access from any other direction. We felt the area closer to the woods was higher than the spot elevation.

Area east of Cleaves Forks with a 75 foot BM (39:07:57N, 75:47:20W) - From Kanes Crossroads turn northeast onto Woodyard Road and park at the stop sign at 302. At this point things got very funny. We got out of Fred's van and headed in different directions. Chip picked up a rolled up topo and strode purposefully toward the house shown on the topo. Mike and Fred began to wander at an angle toward the southern edge of the contour. Don took the topo and a clipboard and began walking parallel to 302. A farmer across the street stopped his tractor work and came across to inquire what we were doing. Turned out he was the property owner. Don said we were looking for the benchmark and showed him the topo. Chip is by this time authoritatively kicking the grass near the house. The guy looks over toward Fred and Mike and says, "Where are those guys going? The BM is over here. They're lost." Don glanced over at them and said, "Oh, it's OK. That's just my Dad. I bring him along sometimes just to get him out of my Mother's hair." The guy looks over, shrugs, and completely ignores Mike and Fred from that point on. No sign of the BM, despite the efforts of the farmer and his son to help me. The local high ground was behind the house near some pines.

Area at Cleaves Forks (39:07:58N, 75:47:11W) - From the BM area, this area was obviously lower and was ignored by inspection (IBI).

Large area east of Cleaves Forks (39:07:58N, 75:46:50W) - There is a substantial rise here from the road cut and this is probably the highest point in the county. It is reported that a 1953 quad showed an 80-foot contour. A visual inspection of the land and an interpolation of the contours in the area would seem to support this conclusion.

Remaining 5 smaller areas - Continue east to the area near the intersection of 302 and Templeville Road. Scoping indicates the area south of the large area and the two areas south of the cemetery are clearly lower than the larger area and that the cemetery may in fact be as high as these 3 areas. D riving south on Templeville, it is likewise obvious by inspection that the 2 small areas west of Templeville Road near the edge of the quad are lower than the large area.

In conclusion, while we feel that the area east of Cleaves Forks is the true COHP, a visit to the 79 and 78 foot spot elevations would be required in order to claim this county. Thus, this county can be reduced from 11 to 3 points.