While I was researching this county, I considered the nine 1740' contours and had trouble finding them all. I tentatively concluded that the contour inside the 1730' contour east of Opdal Cemetary was 1740' because I could find no others. It wasn't until about a week before I went that I contacted Bob Schwab, the first ascender of Lyon County, to ask for clarification. He pointed out that my assumption was wrong, that the 9th 1740' contour was behind the "E" in Shelburne on the topo map, and that it, along with the areas in sections 28 & 29, barely had any rise above their surrounding 1730' areas. Only the areas in the southwestern part of section 20 showed significant rise, more than the one in the northcentral part of section 20. Consequently I only visited the three areas he mentioned, when I visited there on November 14, 2004.
Having just completed the Redwood County High Point, I drove west on U.S. Highway 14 to the Florence area, turning southwest on Minnesota State Highway 23 for 1.2 miles, where I turned left onto Lyon County Road 51 (gravel) for 1/8 mile, where I turned into a driveway whose mailbox was labeled "Erickson". I continued on the driveway for 0.18 miles to its end.
I parked in the driveway and knocked on the door. It was about 8 AM on a Sunday morning. Schwab's e-mail mentioned that her name was Irene Erickson of 1204 County Road 51.
I received no response so I just started off toward the eastern hill of the ring of hills in that field. The crop had been harvested and plowed. I walked in a circle around the ring, hitting the high point somewhere in there. I took 18 minutes to survey this area.
I looked toward the north, to the nearby 1740' contour, and took this picture:
It looked about as high, and I may return to visit there someday.
Since Pipestone County's high point pair is nearby, I continued southwest on S.H. 23 to Ruthton, and on to the west.
| Family Member | Count |
|---|---|
| Mark | 63 |
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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 |
| on: |