OTHER Trip Report 08/05/2012

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Charles Mound - 1235
Date Posted	08/05/2012
Date Climbed	08/04/2012
Author	Fisching

Summitting the Everest...
... of Illinois* Peaks Climbed: Charles Mound via Cornfield Route Start Time: 9:35am End Time: 10:37pm Total Mileage: 2.6 miles Total Elevation Gain: 255ft After volunteering countless hours at my parents house which included servicing 3 cars and painting a room of their house (without their permission), I figured the 14er community would give me their begrudged approval to go climbing after giving back. The Before... The After... Fischer Painting Inc. Available for hire. So after attending a wedding in the middle of a cornfield - and really, that could be ANYWHERE in Illinois - Kim and I headed for Charles Mound. The worst part is finding the damn place. Saying the entrance is "right across from a cornfield" leaves open a voluminous amount of incorrect choices. Thankfully, we weren't the only idiots climbing the Illinois highpoint today as the two cars park on the roadside with out-of-state licenses plates (Washington and Nevada) were a clue that we were in the right place. Park at THIS cornfield. It's like every other cornfield only... F it. They're all the same. Parking The approach: It's like the Lake Como Road only different; it's flat, straight, and gains minimal elevation. The gravel road is truly symbolic of Illinois - it goes straight as far as the eye can see and there's corn. The state of Illinois should promote me to the head of their Department of Tourism. If you look hard, you might be able to see Little Bear. Wildlife!!! Here comes the tricky part: the gravel road winds around a soybean field en route to the barn on the far side of the field. There's also a fork in the gravel road without a cairn, so it becomes quite complicated. A GPS device would be very useful to ensure you're on the correct route. I don't want to be responsible for anyone getting lost on the Bermuda triangle of IL climbs. The tricky part: The Soybean Traverse The road fork. Beware: No Cairns Northwest Illinois Scenery Near the barn, you pass a pond and have the final summit push. Make sure you have a good weather window since the exposure is extreme and the only "ditch" option is to retrace your 25 steps to relative safety. It's like the Knife Edge and Capitol only different. I put in my climbing pacifier and Kim took the lead on this part. High Apline Lake. Swimming NOT advised. Kim free-soloing the 5.13d summit massif. Thankfully, there is a sign for the "summit" on top. Without it, you'd have absolutely no idea you arrive or climbed anything more than a "f**ing molehill" (© Rangerguy123). Summit Sign. I'm gassed. Make sure you properly acclimate. USGS marker. Your tax dollars paid for someone to come up here and place the marker. View North from the summit. I can see Wisconsin (seriously, the border is about 1/4 of a mile north from here) Our hike out was far to straightforward for my take as we didn't take a cirque route due to restrictions; Charles Mound is privately owned. It's like Culebra only different; it's FREE!!! I had to do something with the title to grab people's attention. Otherwise, how else was I going to waste 10 minutes of your life that you'll never get back? Isn't it sad that I actually took the time to make the map??? Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Summitting the Everest...

... of Illinois*

Peaks Climbed: Charles Mound via Cornfield Route
Start Time: 9:35am
End Time: 10:37pm
Total Mileage: 2.6 miles
Total Elevation Gain: 255ft

After volunteering countless hours at my parents house which included servicing 3 cars and painting a room of their house (without their permission), I figured the 14er community would give me their begrudged approval to go climbing after giving back.

The After... Fischer Painting Inc. Available for hire.

So after attending a wedding in the middle of a cornfield - and really, that could be ANYWHERE in Illinois - Kim and I headed for Charles Mound. The worst part is finding the damn place. Saying the entrance is "right across from a cornfield" leaves open a voluminous amount of incorrect choices. Thankfully, we weren't the only idiots climbing the Illinois highpoint today as the two cars park on the roadside with out-of-state licenses plates (Washington and Nevada) were a clue that we were in the right place.

Park at THIS cornfield. It's like every other cornfield only... F it. They're all the same.

The approach: It's like the Lake Como Road only different; it's flat, straight, and gains minimal elevation. The gravel road is truly symbolic of Illinois - it goes straight as far as the eye can see and there's corn. The state of Illinois should promote me to the head of their Department of Tourism.

If you look hard, you might be able to see Little Bear.

Here comes the tricky part: the gravel road winds around a soybean field en route to the barn on the far side of the field. There's also a fork in the gravel road without a cairn, so it becomes quite complicated. A GPS device would be very useful to ensure you're on the correct route. I don't want to be responsible for anyone getting lost on the Bermuda triangle of IL climbs.

Near the barn, you pass a pond and have the final summit push. Make sure you have a good weather window since the exposure is extreme and the only "ditch" option is to retrace your 25 steps to relative safety. It's like the Knife Edge and Capitol only different. I put in my climbing pacifier and Kim took the lead on this part.

Kim free-soloing the 5.13d summit massif.

Thankfully, there is a sign for the "summit" on top. Without it, you'd have absolutely no idea you arrive or climbed anything more than a "f***ing molehill" (© Rangerguy123).

I'm gassed. Make sure you properly acclimate.

USGS marker. Your tax dollars paid for someone to come up here and place the marker.

View North from the summit. I can see Wisconsin (seriously, the border is about 1/4 of a mile north from here)

Our hike out was far to straightforward for my take as we didn't take a cirque route due to restrictions; Charles Mound is privately owned. It's like Culebra only different; it's FREE!!!

*I had to do something with the title to grab people's attention. Otherwise, how else was I going to waste 10 minutes of your life that you'll never get back?

Isn't it sad that I actually took the time to make the map???

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

dmccool	Oh, It's the Midwest? 8/6/2012 2:28am Dislike.
MountainMedic	Great Report 8/6/2012 2:31am Greg, thank you for telling us about your trip. While some people here are swayed by elevation, few understand how difficult low elevation routes can be. For someone who aspires to one day summit the mound, this is some very helpful beta. I'll be sure to bring my harness and helmet when I summit (I don't mean to be presumptuous, when I attempt).
dillonsarnelli	Big Ten Country ! 8/6/2012 3:01am so i liked it
FireOnTheMountain	Well played sir 8/6/2012 4:13am This is an awesome TR. Thanks for the laugh.
Craig Cook	The only way this could have been better... 8/6/2012 4:42am ...is if the cow had chased you to the summit!
tommyboy360	Yawn... 8/6/2012 6:53am This TR style is big time played out and tired. Next? I know a few folks on this site who hike state/county high points but they are far from unoriginal. Try it.
zdero1	+1 8/6/2012 2:06pm Rangerguy reference :)
AndYouSeeMe	Long day! 8/6/2012 5:40pm The terrain must have been gnarly for it to take you over 12 hours to cover the 2.6 miles, pictures must not do it justice. :lol:
fourseasoncyclist	Awesome 8/6/2012 6:10pm Thanks for the TR. Good monday morning laugh
doggler	Impressive 8/6/2012 10:52pm I think a requisite skill any highpointer must possess is a sense of humor.
SurfNTurf	Please be serious 8/7/2012 2:50am I don't want to laugh or smile when I read TRs. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Boring reading is the best reading, I always say!
Matt	Regurgitating Gordon Wood 8/7/2012 12:47pm This banter reminds me of something... Crux at about 3:40. 90s movies rule.
Fisching	@AndYouSeeMe 9/24/2012 3:44pm I think I'll leave the route time as is. Adds to the fun. Tommyboy360, you're more than welcome to try a different spin on a Midwest state highpoint. Anyone whose username references an over-played 90's movie must have some untapped comedic writing talents.

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