Fairfield County High Point Trip Report
three areas (1,240+ ft)
Date: June 23, 2002
Author: Bob Schwab
From the intersection of US 22 and US 33 in Lancaster, drive west on US 22 for 4.3 miles to Delmont Road.
Turn left and drive south up the hill for 0.6 mile to where the road forks. At the fork, notice a gated
dirt access road that heads steeply up the hill to your left. Find a place to park here and hike up the road to
the towers on top. Area 1 is covered by three towers, but the spot elevation site (1246 feet) is just west of
the fenced area.
Hike around the north side of the fence and enter the woods to the east. Once in the woods, look for a faint
trace that heads northeast and then arcs gradually to the right, and seems to follow along the northern edge
of the hill. In about 0.25 mile, you will break out into an opening that is absolutely full of low-leaf poison
oak and sumac plants (if you're allergic, you'd better take precautions before visiting this one). This opening
roughly corresponds to the contour that represents area 2. The high spot appears to be very close to the
center of the field.
Return to your vehicle and head north on Delmont Road for roughly 0.35 mile from the gated road. Watch for
a driveway that heads off to the left (west) and meanders up to a house sitting on a ridge (mailbox #3343).
I met Don Reese here, and he granted permission to visit area 3 which is on top of the hill
southwest from his home. He suggested I approach from near his driveway entrance, but he also warned me
that they quarried sandstone from this hill many years ago, and there were likely to be steep areas and cliffs
to deal with. I found the going was steep. Once again, poison ivy and oak are plentiful, as are the bugs.
The highpoint of area 3 appears to be very close to the northeastern lip of the hill, and it is quite possible
that at one time this hill was higher than it is now. I decided to exit by walking down the ridge to the south,
thinking it would be an easier route. Big mistake - there are extremely heavy briars and bushes which are
virtually impenetrable about halfway down the ridge. When I finally battled my way out of the briars, I came
out in a garden Mr. Reese maintains on the south side of the hill. He laughed and said I looked pretty wet
(it was 90+ degrees and very humid). I think future visitors should approach and depart by the steeper
(well-ivied) northeastern route suggested by Mr. Reese.