Martin County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: January 14, 2007
Author: Shannon Dillmore
While re-examining the topo map, I noticed that area 9 lies within a fully
closed 90-foot contour in Martin County. This would make it 95 feet and would
make Martin County much easier. It also looks like there is another tiny
95 foot contour just south of area 9. I decided to check it out on this trip.
From Scotland Neck, I took NC 125 south for about 12 miles. About 0.8 mile past
the Halifax/Martin border, I turned left onto County Line Road. As shown on the topo,
the paved portion of the road ends and turns into a 4WD road. At this point,
it is posted by the Hobgood Hunting Club as "No hunting." Nothing about
foot traffic. The road was very swampy, so I continued on foot for about 3
minutes to a rudimentary tree stand - basically a ladder and a chair -
and turned left as indicated on the topo. It's easy to miss. Upon turning left,
I was on the edge of a cornfield and soon came to an 8-10 foot deep ditch filled
with water. I crossed the thigh-deep water and kept going. It certainly seems
that this contour is reasonably accurate. In fact, close inspection of the map
suggests that there is also a tiny contour on the other side of contour 9.
This area is covered in thick grass and certainly seems higher than anything else.
The plowed part of these contours seemed to have been eroded by wind a bit but a
rise is still discernible.
I'd suggest that area 9 (and the very small area across the 4WD road) is 95 feet
and eliminates the need to visit the many other 90-footers in Martin county.
There is also no evidence of this area being artificial. I still can't claim
the county, however, as areas 1 and 2 are 28 meter contours and could
conceivably be as high as 98 feet. I couldn't visit these due to having a 2WD
and the poor condition of the dirt roads.