Summit Date

July 12, 2002, around 1:00 pm

Party

Ryan Cragun

Trip Report

This was my second high point of the day. I had reached Charles Mound, Illinois early that morning and made it to Hawkeye Point at around 1:30 or so. As you can see on the map, there is a marker showing the elevation of 1670 ft. This is in the wrong place on my map program (Microsoft Streets and Trips). Since I was following the directions to that point, I drove around a bit, originally taking 120th St. After realizing that the map point was completely inaccessible because it was in the middle of a field, and knowing that it was supposed to be on someone’s farm, I stopped at a farm and asked directions.

If you’ve seen a picture of me, it’s fairly obvious that my long-haired hippy look doesn’t fit in all that well as un upstate Iowa farm boy. The farmer that gave me directions didn’t even have to ask me what I wanted, he simply asked if I was looking for the high point and pointed out the water tower that sits near it.

I was only a couple minutes away from the farm. I drove up to the farm (a very nice little farm) and saw the sign on the north side of the water tower that says “Hawkeye Point 1/8 mile south”. I grabbed my camera and tripod and walked down the path toward the trough where the high point is. The highpoint is completely surrounded by corn fields and farms for as far as the eye can see. I snapped a few shots, signed the registry and headed back to the car. I was hoping to make it to Nebraska’s Panorama Point before nightfall (I didn’t make it and had to stop by there at another time).

Panorama

Directions