Vilas County High Point Trip Report
Date: December 31, 2000
Author: John Mitchler
Way up in da nortwoods, eh. Right along der border of Wisconsin and der Uewper.
[Webmaster's translation for foreign readers: In the northern wooded countryside along the border
of Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula ("Uewper").]
This cohp is set in rolling woodlands near the cohp's of Gogebic MI and Iron MI. With open access to
Iron, this triumvirate would make a nice triple play.
From US45, get over to Phelps by using either CR E or WI 17, both nice paved roads. Phelps sits on North
Twin Lake. On the north end of Phelps, take WI 17 east out of town, past Military Hill which sports a
lookout tower. After driving 2.4 miles from Phelps, turn left (north) on to Bootleg Road (FR 2201?) and
go 1.7 miles to a dead-end road off to the right. Take this and park on your right after several yards. The
highpoint hill is on your right and up 150 feet through immature forest. The highpoint area is small, the
hill is relatively steep, and you get the sense that you've reached a HP.
Not so with the second area. From the deadend road, continue north on Bootleg Road for another 0.2
miles and just after the road crests over a low rise, watch for a lane off to the left (west) which is not on
the topo. This road can be driven for a third of a mile. The highpoint hill lies to the west. Watch for the
north-south cross road that is shown on the topo. At this juncture, angle off the road to the right into the
woods, going west (bring a compass!) and ascend 90' to the hilltop. The summit is broad and hand-
leveling is needed to counter your psycho-eyesight that incorrectly levels the horizon. The highest land
was quite a bit southwest on the hilltop. Leveling to the other area is not possible. We used snowshoes to
reach these HP areas. There is a bar with food at the north end of Phelps along the lake.
Hot tip: The "i" in Vilas is long.
NOTE ERROR: The second area described above is NOT a highpoint area!
See other trip report for correct area.
I will amend this upon my return to WI to visit the correct area.