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Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:04 am
by JeffH
Once again, the "for anywhere" is taken liberally….
I spent a couple days in Omaha for work, so a little checking of the map showed that I was a mere three hours from the highest point in Iowa. Always looking for a nice adventure, I took the rental car out into the cold cold north, where I managed to reach the summit. This is the 15th state highpoint for me, and certainly the coldest - it was 9 degrees and very windy while I was there, and dropped a couple more right after I headed back to Omaha.
Not much to see here, just a lot of corn fields all covered in snow. The spot used to be private property, but the county recognized the significance and purchased a few acres and has even added a campground.
When I left there I went a few miles north to the Minnesota border, where I got a couple more self-indulgent pictures in front of the welcome signs.
Total hiking distance was about a quarter mile, elevation gain about a foot.

A few pics below…


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Not much to see on the drive either - lots of flatlands.

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Sign on the highway points you to the dirt roadway of 130th Street.

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I decided not to drive any further since the rest was covered in snow. Also left the car running.

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That barn is a museum of sorts, but I didn't check out any of the artifacts.

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Summit marker.

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Obligatory selfie. Also proof that I was actually there.

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The posts have signs with direction and distance to the other 49 highpoints.

Re: Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:18 am
by HikeUp
Nice!

Re: Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:43 am
by Sean
JeffH wrote: Total hiking distance was about a quarter mile, elevation gain about a foot.
I assume class 1 terrain?

Looks like a neat place.

Re: Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 12:03 pm
by Phil B
Brrrrrrrrr looks cold, I can relate to tagging Hawkeye because I would have done the same if I was there, 15 state highpoints is not to shabby either.

Re: Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:10 pm
by Elwood
Awesome, dude! BTW, how long did you have to acclimate before ascending to that summit?

Re: Hawkeye Point

Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 6:14 am
by JeffH
Sean wrote: I assume class 1 terrain?
There might have been a couple steeper spots, I stumbled over the cement pads where the picnic tables usually reside. Guess I went a little cross country instead of staying on the trail. Couldn't see it in the snow anyway…

Elwood wrote: BTW, how long did you have to acclimate before ascending to that summit?
I never did get acclimated to the cold, so I just powered up and down before the symptoms got really bad.