Pine County Highpoint Trip Report
one area (1,360 ft)
Date: August 15, 2004
Author: Mark Ness
I had intended to follow the trails south, then northeast, then west from the trailhead but the trails were
under swampland so I cut cross-country, slogging through swamp, knee deep in places, aiming for high
ground whenever I could find it, bushwhacking through fallen trees, thick woods,
reached the top in 4.5 hours.
The summit was not marked, but the highest ground has a moss-covered stone sticking up.
Heavily wooded area. Mosquitoes at the top were the worst I have ever experienced.
I decided on a more dry return trip and followed the first west, then southwest, then west-trending ridge,
then bushwhacking north, to get back to the end of the road. I lost the ridge a couple of times and had to slog
but it was not deep. From the end of the road back to the trailhead and my truck was a only a quarter-mile
slow walk on the road. Return time was 1.7 hours. Total time out of my truck was almost 6.5 hours.
Experienced forest ridge-walkers should be able to hike to the top and back, with minimal swamp-slogging,
in way under 3 hours from the end of the forest road.
details and pictures