Ascent of Washington County High Point on 2018-09-01| Other People: | Solo Ascent
| | Date: | Saturday, September 1, 2018 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Trailhead: | Car | | Peak: | Washington County High Point | | Location: | USA-North Carolina | | Elevation: | 50 ft / 15 m |
Ascent Trip ReportAfter reading the report on this HP, I was not just nervous, but a bit scared. The descriptions sounded more like a Jack London short story than a march through low lying territory in eastern NC.
I arrived at the RR tracks on Long Ridge road in northern Washington County and pulled off the road. Based on the topo and my GPS it looked like a short hop down the tracks to the SW and then a 150 foot bushwhack would get me to the 52-foot contour. That is still likely true, but the bushes and undergrowth beginning just north of the tracks were formidable. Even with an iron suit and several machetes, I doubt a person could have made it through that narley mess unscathed.
So, I decided to approach from another point just north of the RR crossing along Morris Tram Road which bisects the HP and affords a shorter route. Problem #1 was there was a gate. Problem #2 was the scary no trespassing, bear alert and live gunfire signs. I parked my car in front of the gate and walked south on Long Ridge Road to eyeball whether i could find a way to march through the now heavily overgrown pine tree farm to the HP. Suddenly I noticed a man standing in front of my car, so I rushed back and apologized for blocking the gate. He asked what was my business and when I told him, he responded with a smile, opened the gate and gave me a guided tour down Morris Tram Road to an area of woods approximately .4 miles from the gate. He said he lived and hunted in the area and had heard about "these crazy peakbaggers". After a brief discussion and directions from him, I was able to see the HP and thanked him for his assistance. He responded by saying he had killed deer and wounded a bear in the area I was walking towards, but not to worry. "You are a trip man! Go for it and I will leave the gate open behind me."
I marched along the tree line towards the HP, careful to avoid the nasty dense overgrowth to the east. At 100 yards I turned east and headed into the brush ready for scars and ticks. Luckily, I reached the HP about 30 feet in and marched out triumphant. Best 10 yards I have ever walked.
If you want to attempt this HP, come prepared or you will be in the position Brian Brockhahn describes in his post. Dirty, infested, bleeding and exhausted.
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| Summary Total Data | | Total Elevation Gain: | 10 ft / 3 m | | Total Elevation Loss: | 10 ft / 3 m | | Round-Trip Distance: | 0.4 mi / 0.6 km | | Grade/Class: | Class 1 | | Quality: | 6 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Route Conditions: | Road Hike, Open Country, Bushwhack | | Weather: | Hot, Calm, Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy and Humid Day | | Ascent Statistics | | Gain on way in: | 10 ft / 3 m | | Distance: | 0.2 mi / 0.3 km | | Route: | Bushwack from Road | | Start Trailhead: | Pull off on Maintained Road 40 ft / 12 m | | Time: | 25 Minutes | | Descent Statistics | | Loss on way out: | 10 ft / 3 m | | Distance: | 0.2 mi / 0.3 km | | Route: | Bushwack to Road | | End Trailhead: | Pull off on Maintained Road 40 ft / 12 m | | Time: | 25 Minutes |
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