Traverse County's High Point is in Section 17 of Arthur Township. It was at one time marked with the Leyden Benchmark. I failed to find it when I visited there on November 14, 2004, shortly before sunset. I had just come from Big Stone County, where I partially completed its seven hills.
I followed Michael Schwartz' directions, turning north on Big Stone County Road 51 (there is a big dip at the railroad tracks that parallel State Highway 28--slow down). I went straight ahead at the county line (became Traverse C.R. 55 (gravel)). After 4 miles on C.R. 55, I turned left onto C.R. 4. It curved south at 1 mile. I followed the curve another 1/4 mile or so, and drove on the field road north of the grove. It narrowed a bit, one track actually being in the plowed field, but I stayed with it, up to the summit area. Had I known where exactly it was, I could have driven right to it and stepped out. As it was, however, it required some walking along the summit ridge.
Like Schwartz, I could not find either the witness post or the benchmark, though I looked carefully. The ground around it was short wild grasses--no particular reason to remove it.
It took me 6 minutes of walking to verify that I had stepped on the summit, and that there was no bench mark remaining.
This is a photo of the field road as seen going back from the HP to the road. As I neared the road, I saw a pickup truck blocking the road, then moved aside as I came out. When I stopped on the roadside to write down a note, the driver approached me and asked what my business was. I told him that I had just climbed the Traverse County High Point, and that I was on my way to Stevens. We both went on our ways. Then I considered going to Stevens or Swift, and eventually decided not to try them on this trip. I was tired enough. This being my last county of the day, I just drove home. 21 counties in 2 days without eating made me want to go home. I took U.S. 12 most of the way, which takes longer than some of the other roads, since it slows down for every town it passes through.
| Family Member | Count |
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| Mark | 68 |
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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: |