Mercer County Highpoint Trip Report

four areas (1,620+ ft)

Date: June 9, 2008
Author: Fred Lobdell

Follow Mike Schwartz's directions. If coming from I-80, take Exit 24 and go north on PA 173 to PA 965, where you will turn right (northeast) and go to the crossroads in Henderson. If coming from I-79, get off at Exit 121 and take US 62 for a few miles to where it turns left (north). Instead of turning left, continue straight on PA 965 to Henderson. In Henderson, turn left (northwest) and take it almost a mile to a house on the left near the crest. Continue a short distance to an old logging road on the right (northeast) side of the road and park here. All four areas can be accessed from this spot.

For the first area, follow Mike's old logging road past (or over) a small hill to the significantly higher hill northeast of it. The second area is just a short distance east along the same ridge; a GPS unit will be helpful in locating this second nondescript area. For the third area, opposite the house, I went back toward my car, then took an old logging road that paralleled the state highway until I reached the high ground across from the house. Here I stepped on a stick that broke with a loud report, which set off the dogs that lived at the house.

The fourth area is on the southwest side of the state road. There is no logging road directly opposite to where I was parked, so I walked up the road toward the house and went into the woods on the next logging road. However, I was mistaken. The road described by Mike and which will take you to the promised land, is reached by walking northwest along the state road a couple of hundred feet from your car. From there follow Mike's directions. From the summit, I could see the small farm pond exactly where the map said it should be.