Waseca County's 7 highest areas are located in the southeast area of the county, in 3 sections of New Richland Township. I numbered the areas 1-7 in a u-shaped pattern, corresponding to my driving route. I visited them on November 13, 2004, after completing Dodge County.
The areas are conveniently located near Minnesota State Highway 30 between New Richland and Ellendale. I came from the east, passing through Ellendale.
Areas 1 and 2 were probably originally part of a larger hill that was dug out to make way for S.H. 30. As such, it may have been higher than at present. In any event, they are both in fields, separated by the road. I parked on the northern side, just west of the Steele-Waseca county line. I climbed up the northern area (#1), via a foot path right next to the county name sign. As suggested by the topo map, it was steep, but dry enough to not slip. I arrived at the top in 3 minutes. It was a recently harvested corn field, the lower part of which was being chopped when I was there.
I then crossed over the road to HP #2, which was located on a ridge between the road slope and a harvested corn field. There was a benchmark nearby.
The total time out of my truck for these two areas was 11 minutes. I turned around on the road and took an immediate right, south along the county line.
I arrived at area 3 after going south for about 0.8 miles. It was right next to a farmplace, so I parked, walked up and back as fast as I could.
I continued south along the county line road to the "T" intersection where Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties meet. I turned right and continued for 0.35 miles. Area 4 is a liner, rising up from Freeborn county. I parked near it, and hiked it within 2 minutes, then 3 more minutes to get to area 5, both plowed fields.
Area 6 is a large, irregularly-shaped area extending into Freeborn County. I walked over all the high ground in the Waseca County portion. I concluded that the highest ground is near the northwest part, near a red-topped white stake, not far from the driveway.
Area 7 lies north of area 6 about a mile. I got there by turning right on the next northbound gravel road west of area 6 (County Road 63). It is just off the road, behind a broken-down barbed wire fence.
I got back to my truck easily enough, after spending 74 minutes ascending Waseca County's highest points.
I turned around and went south, then west along the county line road, then south on S.H. 13 toward Freeborn County's highest point.
| Family Member | Count |
|---|---|
| Mark | 51 |
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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: |