August 15, 2004: It took longer than I expected to complete the Pine County High Point, so I got a late start at Kanabec. There are two hills that could claim top status in this county, one between two gravel pits, the other well into the woods on marked private property. While searching for the nearest road access to the second one, I stopped by to visit the first, then went on the recon the second, before proceeding to Mille Lacs County.
September 4, 2004: I finished Kanabec, climbing the northern hill, for my fourth and last completion of the day.
I came from the north on Mille Lacs County Road 131 and drove past a locked gated road on the left with a warning sign. About 50 feet past that was another road, ungated and unsigned that went into another gravel pit, which is south of the high point. At first I parked in an approach on the opposite side of the road from the ungated road, intending to hike from there. Then I decided to park in the gravel pit and walk over.
I came from Minnesota State Highway 23, and turned right onto S.H. 18, which I followed for about 28.7 miles, and turned left onto Aitkin County Road 60 (in fact, I overshot the road by over a mile and am estimating the distance). I followed that road south for 5 miles into Kanabec County. I came to a right angle turn going west (Delorme shows a road going east a mile to meet up with Munkelwitz Road--there may be a road there, but it appears to be a private driveway, is gated and posted "No Trespassing"). I turned west there on 380th Avenue for 1 mile, then turned south on Mille Lacs County Road 131 (on the Kanabec-Mille Lacs County Line). After 0.8 miles I turned left into the gravel pit entrance road, and at 0.2 miles further, parked in an open area.
I could see the high point about 400 feet north of where I parked. This photo was taken from the ground just below the high point.
It was a short walk to the top, only the ititial gravel slope to get around (on the right side in the picture), and then the summit hill itself:.
There is no Geological marker nor Registration book, it is a hill marked by tall grass and other plants:
.After walking around the top, I decided that this is the highest spot:
This small area is, as yet, untouched by the shovel, but if the gravel business continues excavating north, they will eventually dig out the high point, and it will be difficult to tell what is natural and what is man-made.
I returned the way I came.
I got back in my truck and continued south on C.R. 131. (From here I was searching out a route to the next point). At 0.3 miles, I turned left onto Haggberg Road, then at 0.5 miles, turned around, then at 1.1 miles, turned left onto 10th Street, then at 1.5 miles, turned left onto S.H. 27, and at 3.7 miles turned left onto Munkelwitz Road. At 4.7 miles, the road narrowed to one-lane and less maintained. At 5.4 miles, I stopped because the road ahead had water puddles across it at a dip. There was a "No Hunting" sign posted for the woods to the right. On the left were a number of apparently abandoned buildings. At this point, I was 0.72 miles from the high point, with potential swampland to cross. I did not want to slog any more that day, so I turned around there, with the intent to return again.
The shortest route would have been:
From the gravel pit, turn left onto C.R. 131. Go 0.7 miles.
Turn left onto
S.H. 27. Go 2.2 miles.
Turn left onto Munkelwitz Road. Go at least 1.7 miles.
After completing Mille Lacs County, I wanted to hurry on this one and get back home to help watch the kids. They were having a rough time for the photographer and were in need of special attention.
I returned to the same spot that I had turned around at on my previous visit, and saw that the road ahead was passable, the water across it shallower than before. I was able to drive 0.07 miles further, and stopped at this sign:
Although I could have simply moved the branch and driven farther, I figured it was left there to dissuade further encroachment. There are several reminder "No Hunting / No Tresspassing" signs along the road/trail on both sides
I walked up to the nearby house (about 100 feet north), which appeared to be inhabited, even though there was no response to my knock. There was no vehicle around, but I did see a can recycling barrel outside the front door with non-rusted pop and beer cans in it.
The trail is an old vehicle road, which may get more traffic at other times, but was blocked by the fallen branch and a fallen tree. Were it not for those, it could have been driven all the way to the swamp lake just below the summit hill. In several places, there are puddles of various sizes on and across the road.
The main road curves off to the left (west) on the section line, but the trail goes straight north:
Shortly after the road turns, the trail passes through a clearing. This shot shows the approximate direction of the HP.
Shown on the topo map as a swamp lake, it is shallow enough to support marsh grasses, except in this spot through which the trail passes.
This is still a decent vehicle trail, but I do not know how most of them could continue through here. It is at least 10 feet long, and thigh deep in the middle, with at least one tottering rock on the bottom. I tested a bypass route on each side, but did not appear to be any better than going straight through. It took about two minutes for me to cross this, as I tentatively took each step wondering just how deep it was. Fortunately none of my electronic equipment got wet.
Then, back on trail, where it kept its habit of being straight and dry with occasional wet areas. Then it entered the woods at about the base of the summit hill. I intended to follow this straight trail until it went as close to the HP as possible, but, I decided to take a different route, an improvised trail around the south edge of the hill:
I kept hoping that it would turn left, uphill, but didn't. After I had passed the tangent line to the top, I just headed through the heavy brush. It was, in fact, the heaviest brush I have hiked through on any of my high point adventures.
As I neared the summit, it became shorter, allowing for more light. It was then that I realized that my clip-on sunglasses were gone. This was the third time I have forfeited a pair of sunglasses on a low-lying branch bushwhack.
The highest contour is quite small and leaves little doubt where the highest point is, though it is still heavily vegetated. I saw no sign that this was it--only the obvious high ground and my GPS "distance to waypoint" data. I only stayed a couple of minutes and didn't bother snapping a summit photo.
I decided to follow my original plan for the return and headed due west from the HP intending to pick up the straight North-South trail. However, within two minutes of my summit departure, I picked up the trail, discovering that it curved toward the east shortly after I had departed from it on my approach.
On this part of the trail, it widened into a large, flat dry grassy area, with a nearby massive muddy area with "fresh" vehicle tracks.
I'm not sure exactly how, but with the right vehicle and conditions, it would be possible to drive to within 200 feet of the HP without leaving a trail. In the wintertime, it would probably be solid enough to drive right through.
My hiking experience on this trip took 48 minutes.
I turned around and went south on Munkelwitz Road, and continued east on S.H. 27. I turned right onto S.H. 65. I picked up my lawnmower which had been in for repairs, and drove it home.
| Family Member | Count |
|---|---|
| Mark | 28 |
This was also my 11th Minnesota County High Point, with 10 in my home glob.
No other trip reports have been posted. It was listed as a virgin county.
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http://www.topozone.com
Minnesota Atlas & Gazeteer by Delorme, 3rd Edition, 2001.
| File Name: | |
| Written by: | Mark Ness |
| Last Revised by: | Mark Ness |
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