Midwestern Highpoints: August 14th-August 19th, 2024

The second half of my roadtrip out west was hampered by a declining health due to my sickness as well as the stress of driving so much and feeling unable to escape the heat - the midwest in August is no joke. Nevertheless, despite these issues I was able to do four more state highpoints and four more prominent and isolation points! By the end of it, I was happy to be at higher elevation with no humidity as I'm now giving myself some time to rest and recover in Northern New Mexico

Richland Hill, August 14th

Richland is a simple drive up along the state highway, nothing much to add there!

Campbell Hill, August 15th

For Campbell, the college was clearly having a summer high school program that had just ended, so there were dozens of cars picking kids up. Not wanting to weave through these, I parked at the Loves and biked up from there. Nothing much more to add to that tbh - weird that this little hill is one of the most isolated peaks I've ever climbed

Hoosier Hill, August 15th

Hoosier hill is a simple pulloff from the highway in an unusually wooded area in the middle of corn and soybean fields.

Washington Hill, August 16th

The highpoint of Washington County requires a walk for the last little bit from the road, which requires you parking in front of a no trespassing sign and in front of someone's driveway. Considering there was a thunderstorm I decided not to go to the tippidy top of the highest point in the area with metal infrastructure abound

Pilot Rock, August 16th

Pilot rock from the highway has an old path with cinder block steps leading up the first half of it, with some light scrambling through a notch on the second. Delightful views at the top!

Williams Hill, August 16th

Williams was a simple drive up, with all but the last tiny bit being a paved road - and the last tiny bit being easily doable in a sedan

Taum Sauk, August 17th

I drove up from the highway to the state park and walked that last 0.2 miles of paved path to the summit, which was wooded but delightful!

Butler Hill, August 18th

The top of Butler County is on a wind farm that has a sign kindly asking not to trespass - a kind of kindness that is kind of ambiguous tbh. Anyhow, this peak is atop a massive grassy expanse that really makes you feel like you've hit an isolated point

Mount Sunflower, August 19th

Sunflower was a long drive up good dirt roads with almost no reception - and windy!