Date: May 19, 1998 • Elevation: 1,235 feet • Prominence: 95 feet • Distance: 1 mile • Time: 30 minutes • Gain: 100 feet • Conditions: Humid, unsettled

Main • PB

Charles Mound is a small hill in northwest Illinois, an "erosional remnant" from the ancient glaciers that covered North America way back when. It is part of a hill complex that also spreads into Wisconsin and Iowa.

I flew into Midway Airport, got my car and headed west. The weather in Chicago was humid but calm. However, farther west, I encountered heavy thunderstorms. Fortunately, these abated as I neared Galena in the mid-afternoon. I also dropped and busted my eyeglasses. Note to self: get that newfangled Lasik done.

Galena sits astride the Mississippi River and has gigantic bulwarks and gates to guard against flooding, giving the place a medieval-fort look. From town, I followed lesser roads to the village of Scales Mound, closest town to Charles Mound.

I parked at the base of the access road and walked the last half mile to the top. There was a sign and lawnchair at the highpoint. I admired the views, then returned to my car, a round trip of 40 minutes. This was the first state highpoint I visited on this trip, and I would visit six more over the next few days.

By now, it was late in the afternoon. I crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and stayed the night in Cedar Falls. The weather got interesting again, perhaps a little too interesting for my comfort level. There were tornado warnings in effect for the surrounding area. All we had was heavy rain, but a twister was a distinct possibility. The next day, I would visit Iowa's highpoint.

(Note: Charles Mound is privately owned, but the landowners allow access on selected weekends during the year. The National highpointers club would have the dates. Please don't go unannounced. When I visited, there was no restriction in place.)