Van Wert County High Point Trip Report

Date: April 6, 2003
Author: Bob Schwab

This county isn't as bad as one might think, because 20 of the 21 areas are clustered along the Van Wert - Auglaize County line. A two or three hour field hike can net most of these areas during the winter months when the fields are bare and frozen. Things get a bit sloppy and muddy if you wait until April as I did. Many of these spots are spill-over contours from the south (Auglaize County) and most have very little, if any prominence. I found 13 areas in the field and woods between Venedocia - St. Mary Road (County Line Road) and McConnell Road, and another 7 areas in the fields to the east of McConnell Road. Finally, there is a solitary (and more prominent) area about 12 miles west in another cornfield. Andy Martin reports a total of 20 areas, but I believe the county line dissects a "V-shaped" area to the east of McConnell Road which I counted as two distinct areas.

20 Areas 1 to 1 3/4 miles southwest of Monticello in Section 17/18-4S-4E (860+ ft)

From the intersection of US 127 and Ohio Route 117 (11 miles south of Van Wert) turn east on Route 117 and drive 6.5 miles to Venedocia - St. Mary Road (County Line Road). Turn right and drive south on County Line Road for 2 miles to a field pull-off on your right. Park here next to a fence running west, and the northern border of a wooded area extending to the east. You are at the corner of three counties (Van Wert, Mercer, and Auglaize). Several areas extend into the cornfield to your east from the woods to the south. There are a total of 13 areas in the field to the east between County Line Road and McConnell Road, and you can hike a rough circle from here to net about eleven of them.

Leaving your car, hike directly east along the edge of the field next to the woods. Right at the corner of the field is a small circular spot (area 1). To the northeast about 500 feet is a larger area (# 2) with obvious higher elevation. Area 3 is another spill over contour that barely makes it out of the woods right along the county line just before you encounter a place where the woods juts out into the field to the north. Enter this wooded protrusion and exit on the east side onto a fairly large area that extends out into the cornfield to the north and east (area 4). This is definitely one of the higher areas, with the highest point being somewhat northeast of the wooded protrusion. Continue hiking east along the southern edge of the cornfield to a concrete post which sits on top of a very small area right on the county line (area 5). This spot also marks the point where the field to the north switches over from corn to beans. Hike a short distance farther east along the county line to an area somewhat west of another concrete post (area 6). At this point, I turned north and began hiking northwest across the bean field to yet another visible contour just west of the corn/bean dividing line (area 7). From this point, I could see another obvious contour to the northeast (area 8) that was about due west of a large farmhouse over on McConnell Road. A smaller and much less distinct area (# 9) lies to the northwest of area 8. From here, I continued north to the northern edge of the field right where the corn/bean line meets the woods. A natural contour (area 10) straddles the edge of the field and the woods here. There is a dirt/rubble pile in the woods which is obviously man-made and another dirt/rubble pile which is quite high at the corner of the woods to the west. The two small areas shown on the topo map in the woods to the north are indeed depressions. Enter the woods right at the bean/corn line and you will find the remnants of an old railroad right of way (not on topo). Hike east-northeast on this grassy path for a short distance and watch for a concrete "stump" (an old BM?) on the left side. If you go by an old oil tank, you've gone too far east. Back at the concrete "stump", enter the woods to the north and find an area (# 11) near some old rolls of fence and junk. Return to your car by hiking southwest across the cornfield.

Drive your car south for 0.5 mile, turn left and proceed east another 0.6 mile, turn left again and head north 0.5 mile to where the county line crosses McConnell Road. There are concrete posts on both sides of the road here and there's a man-made pond on the east side of the road. I went to the house on the east side and asked permission to park my car near the pond (posted). After getting permission to park and wander the fields, I hiked a short distance west along the county line and then north out into the bean field to visit the last two areas between McConnell and County Line Road. Area 13 is another protrusion from the south and area 12 is farther out in the field to the northwest.

Returning to my car near the pond, I hiked east and observed that area 14 had been altered when the pond was dug. The highest natural area now seems to be southeast of the pond, right near the county line. On this side of the road, the county line has a bean field to the north and a wheat field to the south. Walk east on the county line to another protrusion from the south (area 17) which extends out quite a distance into the bean field. This is one of the highest-feeling areas on the east side of McConnell Road, and you will have to hike way out in the field to the north to thoroughly explore it. While you're out there, watch for two smaller, less distinct contours more or less to the north-northwest (areas 15 and 16). These areas can also be accessed by hiking due east from McConnell Road, and they appear to be lower than area 17. From the top end of area 17, hike due east to another fairly high contour (area 19) that sits north of area 18. Then hike south and get on another contour that protrudes from the south (area 18). There is a post with a yellow collar on it that sits on this contour at the county line. Note the dip that separates area 17 and 18. If you look carefully at the topo map, you will notice these two areas almost connect at the county line. I believe Andy counted areas 17 and 18 as just one area, but in my opinion the dip looks deep enough at the county line to suggest that they should be counted separately. Future visitors need to come, look, and make their own conclusions. Area 20 is roughly another 0.25 mile east, just north of the county line and east of the section line. You will pass a double concrete post at a drain and another concrete post at the section line to get there.

In my opinion, the highest areas west of McConnell Road were areas 2, 4 and 8, and areas 17 and 19 seemed relatively high on the east side. I won't swear that these are the highest spots since I didn't lay in the mud fields to verify these conclusions with my hand level. I was able to visit all 20 of these spots in about 2.5 hours, so future visitors should probably do the same to claim this county.

one area 1/4 mile southeast of Mount Zion Church in Section 31-3S-2E (860+ ft)

This one area has more prominence than the twenty spots over near Monticello. From Van Wert, drive 9 miles south on US 127 to Route 81. Turn right on 81 and go west about 4.8 miles to a white farmhouse on the south side of the road. You should be able to see an obvious rise in the cornfield to the south of the property. If you get to the Mt. Zion Church and cemetery, you've gone too far west. I knocked at the house but no one was home. I went west to the church, parked there, and hiked the entire way out and back in incredibly sticky mud (a couple pounds on each foot!). If you can get permission at the house, hiking across their back lot will be much shorter with a lot less mud.