Jackson County High Point Trip Report
Date: January 6, 2001
Author: Ken Oeser
Please refer to topos when using this report.
For the 4 areas 1 mile NE of Burristown, drive northwest from Highway 85. Just past the 4 areas, stop at
the first house on the right and ask permission to hike the knobs on each side of the road. He doesn't own
them, but works them and lives there, and is very friendly. All 4 are about the same elevation, and the
one on the north side of the road has a 10-15 foot rise above the saddle (within the contour) on its
southeast side. We parked beside the road next to the northern point, where all were readily accessible.
For the areas around the Antioch BM, the area reached by turning on the first road right just into Overton
county is next to a house about 150 yards down the road. Nobody was home when we were there, but we
essentially parked next to the spot, and got out and looked over at the other areas. This spot is on Hilham
topo; the other area on Hilham topo is along the highway, and is part of the large area containing BM
Antioch, which is higher on the Burristown topo. The highest area here seems to be in the yard of a brick
house on the left side of the highway, just across from the benchmark, which has a witness post. We
knocked on the door and got permission to walk over by their red barn, which seems to be higher than
most of the other points in this area. The woman asked what we were 'looking for' at the highpoint, and
we explained 'just to be on the highest point.' By the look on her face, she will probably not join the club.
The small area across the highway, behind a house, is definitely lower than the red barn.
The area just south of the large area seems to also be lower; there is a driveway to a house on this spot.
We drove over to the house (which is also a beauty salon or something) and turned around; the red barn
looked higher. The next area west, and just south of an intersection, was accessed by knocking at the
house on the west side of the hill and getting permission to hike up. They don't own it, but said it would
be no problem. This area seems the same elevation as the second house, and lower than the barely-visible
red barn. We hiked south to the tiny point, which is definitely lower than the top of the main hill. The
area on the north side of the road from this hill is lower, the remains of the same hill, but separated when
the highway was cut.
The last area, on the west side of Dillon Road, and north of the last-mentioned hill, is also a drive-up to a
house. Nobody was at home, but we walked over next to the house and the highest area; the other areas
are not visible from here due to many trees. The contour seems to be next to the road, so there is at least
about a 10 foot gain to the top. Driving down the driveway, there is another house, and 3 men were
sitting outside, obviously curious who was there. I told them we were looking for the highest point, and
one said people used to say this was the highest. (The people with the red barn also were told this.) They
looked like a motorcycle gang, and one of them had name 'Snake'. They were friendly and talkative
(Snake didn't have much to say), and were getting ready to cut some firewood.
The likely highest area would be the house with the red barn at the benchmark, 'Snake' mountain, or one
of the northwest areas.