A REDEFINED LOCAL HIGHPOINT
Mostly unknown but always higher...

"Round these parts, that bein' Berks County, PA, it was long thought that the highest point was a rocky outcrop near it's northern tip. This elevation, "The Pinnacle," just off the A.T., has been an ongoing destination for hikers for it's a great 270 degree view of that part of the county and it's rural makeup. This prominence also provides lots of cracks and crevices and boulders to climb around and explore.
In '02, as reported in the Reading newspaper, a local school teacher, Caleb Frantz, intimately familiar with the Blue Mountain east of his Bethel home, pointed out that the true Berks HP was about 20 miles SW of the popular 1635ft. Pinnacle. His highpoint was ringing in at 1680+ft. The geological data doesn't lie. But, not all " high points" afford a breathtaking view, and this nondescript, flat, scrubby area, that rises agonizingly slow to it's rocky loft, surely qualifies.
A geocacher, inspired by the newspaper article on Frantz's observation, using a GPS, located the hp, leaving an ammo box and the start of a cairn to mark the site. To reach it, some bushwhack is involved, but the following describes the so-far most direct route:
Drive to the Blue Mountain crest on Rt183 above Strausstown & park near the yellow gate where the A.T. crosses. Hike southwest, following the white blazes aprx. .6mi , passing the formidable stone Fort Dietrich marker midway. At the red game land sign, discontinue the AT tack & go left (south), following the redundant, blotchy, white game land boundary markings - a good trail. In about .1, there are orange markers, a white arrow, and an A.T. lands marker. Turn right here, going west for about 1.3mi. If using a GPS, go hard south at W076 15 08 for aprx. 300ft. Near this south turn, look for the yellow survey tape flags which roughly follow a vague wildlife path. Once close-in, the hp and cairn will appear, proving to be at the highest prominence, a rocky mound w/cairn, in that flat terrain.
Pix set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11330680@N06/sets/72157603848216518/
TopoZone: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=40.51776&lon=-76.25216&u=7&datum=nad83&layer=DRG
Geocache: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=d7baf0c5-38aa-476a-bd73-560fe0f3dbcf

Note: Caleb Frantz, 86 at the time of the article, is now deceased.