LARGEST EUROPE LAKES

When on a river cruise on the Volga between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the prospects for bagging geo-extremes are few.  Just go along with the group and don't fall overboard trying to be different. This trip was made last summer with Grand Circle Travel.  The upper-right picture is from the dock on Kizhi Island with a far view of the Transfiguration Church, the island's historical, dominating structure.  Kizhi is located on Europe's 2nd largest lake, Onezhskoye (Onega). Continuing NE on our sail, Lake Laatokka (Ladoga) was next, The Big Kahuna, Europe's Number One.  It was nearing dusk and no dockings were made.  The bottom-right photo is the definitive geo-shot, then, including a spit of southern lakeshore and a "sailer" at the bow of trusty Russian river-cruiser, Rossia.  Again, the question is asked: Is there a future for Lake-Pointing?  Links:  L. Ladoga ;  L. Onega ; Europe Lakes

U.S. NORTHWESTERN-MOST POINT

Of the contig 48, i.e...


This GeoXtreme aquisition was part of our U.S. NW trip focused on attending the OR12 HP Konvention.  We landed in Portland in advance of the meet date then rental-car-rolled CW along the Pacific coast covering this site and Mt. St. Helens via Seattle.

Reaching Neah Bay fishing village via Rt112 and beyond bordered on rustic though super-scenic. Destination:  Cape Flattery, a.k.a., The Point.  The 3/4 mile trailhead had a nice parking area plus clean toilets.  The trail itself was too-cool:  a wonderful forested  path much of which was a neat, well-maintained winding "boardwalk."  Once arrived at The Point, we enjoyed a non-pariel view of the Pacific and it's rocky-gnarly edging. Follow Cape Flattery Road out of Neah Bay about 4 mi. to the traihead.

A tad below The Point is Cape Alava, the western-most point of the 48 contiguous. It's just slightly more west than CF. Reach Ozette, also, via Rt 112: turn left 5mi west of Seiki and follow Hoko Ozette Rd. 21 miles to the Cape Alava trailhead.  This 3 mi trail, too, consists of boardwalks which lead to the Pacific coastline.  Links:  Cape Flattery ; Cape Alava   Of course, Google for more info.

 

LAKE TAHOE
Reno trip, cont.Is there a future for Lake-Pointing? Our Reno trip took us to beautiful, cold, clear Lake Tahoe. In our Chev Cobalt rental, now approaching 1500 added odometer miles, we circum-drove 80% of the lake, catching the essence of the area 100% while trying to ignore the commercialism/hype and the sight of expensive homes we could never afford (jealousy).

Lake Tahoe's geo-stats are impressive: deep, wide, long, etc., and a contender for the highest U.S. lake, or alpine lake, "of it's size" depending on which stats you read. At 6225ft at surface level, what are the possibilities for wet GeoXtremes?

Below are nitty-grittty info links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe
http://www.virtualtahoe.com/Community/TahoeFAQs.html
http://ceres.ca.gov/tcsf/tahoe-local/facts.html
http://www.bluelaketahoe.com/page.php?p=pkf&l=1

U.S. LOWEST POINT
Er, not really...

Bagging Boundary Peak, the highest point in the state of Nevada was a bust but not the country's lowest point...sort of. In Death Valley, there's a sign on the wooden tourist deck at Badwater which reads -282ft but, somewhere in all the DVNP literature, we read that Bw is the lowest point you can "drive" to. The actual lowest point can be reached by hiking several miles west into the basin. So, how low can you go there? -290ft? What?

I bought this (see pic) little pewter-looking USGS DV Lowest Point Bench Mark pin (because I wanted it to decorate my Death Valley cap...and it cost $4.95 and, no, it wasn't on sale and neither was the cap - $19.95 which I also wanted, both purchased in Furnace Creek).

Afterwards, w/an inquery, we stood in a long line at the FC Visitor Center info counter to ask Smokey the DVNP Ranger clerk where the actual marker could be located. He kinda brushed us off with something like, "There isn't one. Next!" We then gave way to a jabbering group of Germans - seemed like there were more foreigners than natives in these parts.

Anyway, we wandered west into Badwater basin about .2mi looking for a defining post or the marker that didn't exist and set the Magellan on the ground. It danced about an elevation reading of -282ft or so, close enough for tourists and purists. Somewhat disappointed, we took our pictures and moved on.

Death Valley is a quite worthwhile experience. Expect to spend big $$$ to lodge in FC, but dining is more reasonable. Campers and RVs are also accommodated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley

"SOUTHERNMOST POINT" OF THE U.S. 48
Myth Busters, eat your heart out....

Having recently bagged the U.S. 50 southernmost point at South Point on the big island, Hawaii, the U.S. 48 point remained to be had. At the intersection of South and Whitehead Streets in Key West, a formidable black, red, and yellow "Nun Buoy" marks the spot. Depending on when arriving here, you may have to wait your turn to pose with the marker for your album shot. This landmark, dedicated on Sept 10,'83, is probably the most photographed site in Key West. Try getting there early while the tourists are still sleeping off hangovers from late-night bar hopping on Duval Street.

If you go: Traveling the last few miles of US 1, you'll know you've arrived in this historic, quaint town when you pass the Home Depot on the left. Take a big bagful of quarters to feed parking meters (1 quarter = 10 min.). Generally, take plenty of $$$ (credit cards) because you'll be nickeled and dimed to poverty here. Despite a plunging stock market, Key West operates on it's own economy. Obama might want to consider it as a loan source to bail out the rest of the U.S.

Oh, and the Nun Buoy at N243246/W0814750 is not REALLY the southernmost point on this key. That's at N243238/W08148178 to the right of the marker at the dump site on the public-inaccessible Truman Annex Naval Air Station, strategically located to best control illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Anyway, the vandal-proof buoy is pretty neat.

It gets better, geo-extreme purists: Western Dry Rocks off Key West is the southernmost at low tide; nearby Ballast Key, privately owned, is continuously above water. Google these spots.

Note: From the graffiti/bullet-resistant, pseudo marker, go east on South Street to reach more important coordinates N243249/W0814747. Those would be for the Southernmost Beach Cafe and a cold victory (sort of...) drink.

LEBANON KANSAS
The 48-State geo-center?

Which just happened be conveniently close to the intersection of 2 roads. This was akin to the 50-state center which stole Lebanon's thunder w/newbie states Alaska and Hawaii. That marker was originally along US85 north of Belle Fourche, SD then transported to the BF Visitor Center in for display in front.When it's post broke, the sign was stored in the basement.

"Could we take a picture of it, we asked the Visitor Center "clerk." "NO, you can't!" was her sharp response. Oh, well...so much for driving all this way for this sort of reception. According to a local brochure we obtained, the actual site was on "Old Hwy 85" a number of miles north. We did find a new metal sign there, but the actual brass survey disk, set in concrete, was over the fence in a field, these details unknown to us then.
[Note: Just inside the front entrance of the BF VC was a formidable concrete MT/WY/SD tri-point stone. What was it doing there, anyway? When we inquired about reaching that tri-point (assuming it was re-stoned), we were told (by the same clerk), "'Nope, can't go there...private land." To which we replied that we were going there, anyway. "Pffft!" But, time constraints on this trip prevented that. Back to Square-1 and repeat $$$ trip to this area for our quests.].

Recently, Belle Foucher's (or whomever) constructed an elaborate, more convenient 50-marker within the city limits. After all, that's where the souvenir shops, restaurants, and motels are located, not 22 miles out of town off a dirt road. Exploiting tourists reigns over geography in South Dakota. Back to 48/Lebanon - not exactly an accurate example of what's happening in the U.S. since prosperity is, for sure, not centered here. But, you can purchase basic souvenirs (bumper sticker shown) at the basic, bare-bones general store. Other than that, there ain't much doin' in dishelved Lebanon, not unlike too many plains towns along historic Kansas Rt 36 which I traveled tri-pointing and geo-extreming back to PA. Big farming has taken it's toll thataway. Good-bye nitty-gritty rural America, at least on this stretch of a past-times, 2-lane road that took us to places also past.

Two thorough reports here:
Click here: Geographic center of the 48 states
Click here: Geographic center of the 50 states

VISIT THE METEOR CRATER
But be careful out there....

We thought it would be wider and deeper but, oh well, we got a reduced rate to circum-trek the entire hole. The HP Club arranged for this special guided tour as one of the AZ08 events; otherwise, walk-in tourists are offered only a short out and back rim hike. The 2 1/2 trail is undulating, rocky, and rugged w/the AZ sun beating down - not a walk in the park. From everywhere on the rim, the hole looks pretty much the same, but it's real claim to fame is "the deepest depression in Arizona." And, it's more like 4100ft across, not a mile as often advertised - "nearly a mile" - which begs the difference. Depth = 570ft. The visitor's center is quite nice, containing interesting exhibits, a 20-min video, and a souvenir shop with a plethora of crater-related stuff to take along.

Get on a perimeter hike if you can but, hey!...watch your step.

Official site: http://www.meteorcrater.com/index.php
For hole collectors: http://oldadit.googlepages.com/big.hole.txt

Also: Click here: The Meteorite Exchange, Inc. - Meteor Crater, Northern Arizona, USA

ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK
Door County & Eastern-Most Wisconsin

As a post Konvention travel stop, Door County, that northeast WI peninsula, turned out to be a great area to visit and explore. Called the "Cape Cod of the Midwest," it's both touristy and laid-back. Two ferry rides transported us to Rock Island, via Washington Island, for a moderate perimeter circuit hike on the 912 acre state park. Some relief from the high temps was had on this mostly wooded isle with it's shaded trails and Lake Michigan breezes. No automobiles or bicycles are allowed - foot traffic only. Reserved in advance, a handful of primitive overnight campsites are available.

A well-kept 1836 lighthouse (the first in WI and the 3rd on the Great Lakes) occupies a high bluff on Potawatomi Point and is open for tours. Volunteer tour guides live in the lighthouse, taking turns at 1-week stints. A 1-mile gravel tourist trail leads to the lighthouse; other of the islands hiking trails are rustic, rocky, and rooty. The Thordarson Loop Trail runs close to the lake shore and, with a GPS (pic), you can locate a point on the rocky beach that is the eastern-most point of Wisconsin (N45 24 28, W086 48 18).

Click here: rock island state park review - wisconsin hiking trails - thebackpacker.com
Click here: Door County Wisconsin: Your Midwest Vacation Destination

"THE CENTER OF THE NORTHWESTERN WORLD"
Poniatowski, Wisconsin?
One of the events scheduled for the Highpointer Club '07 Konvention was a visit to Poniatowski, a few miles west of Wausau. Why?: About 1 mile northwest of the town, you'll find a formidable marker designating "45X90" or, the geographical point where you can stand halfway between the equator and north pole, and the Greenwich Meridian and the International Dateline.

Pictured are the 45X90 participants, led by Roger Rowlette (tallest), and includes HP Club President Tim Webb (2nd tallest).

A brass benchmark set in concrete designates the spot though it's a tad off to the south and east by mere seconds. Our Garmin Nuvi 350 read N 44 59 57.3/W 090 00 14.3 here. By walking Meridian Rd. about 100ft north from the marker's plot entrance, we reached N 45 00 00. W 090 00 00 was behind, or east, of the formal marker, and appeared to be in the vicinity of a tall dead tree next to the cornfield. We decided not to bushwhack through the planted farm field to pursue it. A Degree Confluence Project (http://www.confluence.org/) team seems to have located it in the cornfield on a winter visit. Click here: DCP: 45 degrees north, 90 degrees west (visit #5)

Some references to the Poniatowski marker:
Click here: Halfway between Equator and North Pole
Click here: 45th Parallel
http://americasroof.com/45x90.shtml

Note: Gesicki's bar in Poniatowski no longer exists, nor does the "45X90" Club under the Gesicki's. It is believed that Mrs. Gesicki passed away not long after the bar closed.

MONTGOMERY'S CORNER & THE 30 MILE POST
A new blog category: GeoGlitches

In days of old
When surveyors were bold
And GPSs weren't invented,
They bushwhacked through the wilderness
And sometimes soon relented.
(Modification of a risque limerick of old).

On a map of the NC/GA state line there's a bit of a bump at Clay County, NC and Towns County, GA, above Hiawassee - about 661 yards-worth, N to S. Look closely. This glitch goes back to partial surveys begun in 1737 and 1764. In 1796, completion of the line was ordered. GA hired Montgomery; NC engaged Ellicott, whose line extended 30 miles west from the Chattooga River. Montgomery's began from the old Cherokee town of Nickajack. They ultimately did not meet, were simply connected by a perpendicular, and the survey wasn't soon repeated owing to the time and effort required. This state line abberation became downright cause for war over the questionable right angle pair.

"In 1803, Georgia disputed the boundary and went so far as to create a county within the disputed area known as Walton County. This dispute led to battles, riots, killings, and imprisonments. In an effort to settle the matter in 1807, the U.S. conducted yet another survey, completing it in 1808, but Georgia refused to accept it" - from an article in Georgia Backroads, Winter 2004, written by Michael E. Maffett, M.D.

In this excellent research piece, Dr. Maffett includes a description of his own arduous attempts to reach the markers with hopes that they could, indeed, be located. He bushwhacked the woods west of the A.T. from Bly Gap and north of Hightower Bald (4th highest peak in GA) without success, although he went in much better equipped, GPS and all, than Ellicott and Montgomery. Maffett marvels at the abilities of pioneer surveyors despite simpler orientation tools and lack of existing road/trail access.

Copy/paste into your browser and refer to LOGGY BRANCH AND HIGHTOWER ROAD:
http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/mountains/blue_ridge/eastern/
hightower_area_southern_nantahala_wilderness.html#SCATAWAY

Dr. Maffett's resources included Marion R. Hempley's Georgia's Boundaries, The Making of a State (1993), internet accounts of Walton's War, and his personal Southern History library. The GB article (or the Winter '04 issue), can be ordered from Editor Dan Roper at georgiabackroads@comcast.net. Or contact the Trekster here for more info. The GB article is not available as a download.

If you should trek
In to the woods
To seek out these two markers,
Please let us know what you did find
And we'll post it under "Yikers!"

Get started here: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.98985&lon=-83.6202&s=48&u=6&datum=nad27&layer=DRG

ARC CORNER MONUMENT
Go There; Stand There...

To round off your MDP mission, visit the Arc Corner Monument, located .8 miles east of the MD/DE/PA tri-point post. From the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" marker on Rt896, travel south aprx. 1/2 mile to Hopkins Bridge Rd. on the left. Follow this an equal distance to a gated preserve track on the left. Park here. The ACM is across the road in a clearing but somewhat hidden by brush along the road. Reaching it involves a tricky step over a drainage ditch. Pictured is the ACM looking northward where the arc travels in the direction of our van parked across H.B. Rd. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/maps/whiteclaycreek_mini.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-Mile_Circle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedge_%28border%29
http://www.udel.edu/dgs/Publications/pubsonline/info6.html
http://www.destateparks.com/wccsp/index.asp

SOUTH POINT, HAWAII
Key West, upstaged...

HighPointing, TriPointing, and throw in "GeoXtreming." The latter for us being the acquisition of "South Point" (Ka Lae) on our Hawaii, 4-island Globus tour "free" day. While Key West is the southern-most of the 48, it's HI with it's Big Island lava-gnarly rock equator-side shore that qualifies with the southern-most point of the U.S. 50.

West of Na'alehu the 12-mile gradually deteriorating South Point Road takes you past a forlorn stand of has-been windmills. At mile 11 or so go right where the road forks more directly to the shore. Driving this southbound route to Ka Lae was even more challenging since it was also on the car rental off-limit list. Hey...if you rent a 4WD, what do you use it for? Duh.

The route became more and more a non-road, yet doable. Seaside locals fishing the surf directed us to the obvious blinking beacon with black/white checkered square (left). This should be visible from the above fork. Hereabouts, graffiti takes the form of contrasting white coral chunks on black lava (rt. - unofficial sign twixt beacon and surf). If you must, use a GPS for the lowest latitude; otherwise, tiptoe on slippery rocks as far as you dare for your conquest. Purist/techies who need the periodically visible very southern-most rock must venture even closer to the equator, 1500mi. away.

If asked to choose from the comparatively little we covered on our HI trip, the South Point area was the most simplistic and laid-back we experienced. Don your straw hat, clogs, go a-fishin' or hike to Green Sand beach. SP just might be one of those best-kept secrets. And, of course, don't tell anyone.

Note: There are no tour buses going to SP. Also, most of the highways on the B.I. are "old-fashioned" 2-lanes so don't expect to roar around Hawaii at interstate speeds.

http://pahoahi.tripod.com/kona/kalae.htm

GOING TO EXTREMES: THE ERIE TRIANGLE
Bagging the Tip of the PA "Chimney"

Once upon a time the very northern, pointed boundary of Pennsylvania was nonexistent until 1792 when the Keystone State gained the "Erie Triangle" with a stretch of lakeshore and important access to the Great Lakes. The resulting tip of PA land converged with New York and Lake Erie though there's a very wet tri-point midway in Lake Erie where PA borders Canada.

Since we were meeting with our Cleveland hiker-couple friends in Erie, we decided to seek out the tip of the PA "chimney" or "tab." Get on Rt5 along Lake Erie until you reach the NY and PA state-line welcome signs. It's suggested that you stop there at the Lakeside Campground office and maybe meet up with good guy, John, the owner/manager. He pointed out the big overkill stone PA/NY marker in the field behind the office and directed us to the near-shore, small square rock marker set inside a wooden-frame. It's accessible via a narrow/knarly path; however, do not venture onto the NY side of this site since the land is privately-owned and definitely off limits.

It's best to reach the lakeshore via the campground boat ramp. Walk west along the lake until you spot the ravine and a faint trail going up the cliff to the square rock marker. Negotiating this path is a bit tricky so use care. On shore, if you want to stand on the definitive tip, you'll need a GPS since the exact longitude is the best you're going to get on this extreme. The 'N' reading is based on how high the lake is, ergo, the water's edge. We settled for a UTM latitude reading of 17T 4680424 northerly (42deg 16min 10sec N).

The NY/PA line longitude (triangle side opposite) = 79deg 45min 43sec W or 17T 602100 easterly. Move east and west with your GPS (or use a way point), near getting wet feet, until you tune in and, tah-dah, you're there.

It was fun to locate this extreme, and we usually meet nice, friendly people when squirreling around in their back yards for these geo-goals. If you go: There are several vineyards/wineries in the area. Have a meal and a drink at Molly Brannigan's on State St. in Erie, summit Bi-Centennial Tower, and explore Presque Isle State Park, for sure.

Erie Triangle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
www.campatlakeside.com

TEXAS WESTERN-MOST POINT
Tx/NewMex/Guadalupe Trip

On a map, the western-most point of Texas isn't a point at all but a squiggly line that meanders along the west basin of the Rio Grande River from Chihuahua to the top of the Texas panhandle. But the extreme western projection of that line is designated by a bench mark located on the edge the driveway of the house Shirley Phillips has lived in all her life. She came to the side door and was most hospitable as we scurried about with maps, GPS, and cameras. She claims that the line divides her living room and bedroom. She's had numerous visitors there including Texas college students seeking the brass marker, which is set in a concrete pedestal, for a research project. If you go, taking a small gift along would probably be appreciated.

From I-10, go west from Exit 2 using E. Vinton, W. Vinton, & S. Vinton Rd. resp. to Rt28. Turn left & go south to Rt273 (McNutt Rd.). Turn right & follow 273 to W. Borderland Rd. Go left .2 mi. to Crawford Rd. (not marked but look for three mailboxes on the left). Turn left & drive .6 mi. to 1st right turn. Follow this road to Phillips house. Or...

From I-10 use Exit 11 to Country Club Rd. Follow this west to Rt273. Turn right and follow 273 north crossing Rt136. Go .5 mi. to W.Borderland Rd. Turn right. See above.

Click here: TopoZone - The Web's Topographic Map, and more!