"Ebright Azimuth" is the name and location officially given for the State Highpoint of Delaware. Although not much of a hill in the traditional sense, and probably not a destination for most peakbaggers, Ebright Azimuth deserves its rightful place on SummitPost by virtue of being one of the 50 State Highpoints. Without this highpoint page, this website would be incomplete in regards to pages dedicated to the State Highpoints list. This page has been created and updated to include pertinent information for this highpoint.

The seemingly unusual name is derived from its location along Ebright Road, located only approximately 500' horizontal distance from the Delaware-Pennsylvania border. Officially recognized as having an elevation of only 448', Ebright Azimuth is the second-lowest State Highpoint (only approximately 100' higher than Florida's State Highpoint, Britton Hill). The highpoint is a virtual drive-up and can be visited year-round.

Three USGS Benchmark disks are located in the general vicinity of Ebright Azimuth. However, technically only one of those USGS Benchmark disks, at a dirt location cutout from a sidewalk alongside Ebright Road, is recommended for visits. A second USGS Benchmark disk is located alongside a nearby private road, and a third USGS Benchmark disk is located in a nearby private mobile home park. In regards to the three USGS Benchmark disks, the Highpointers Club (an organization dedicated to State Highpoints) and the State of Delaware only want the public to visit the USGS Benchmark disk alongside Ebright Road because of concerns by private property owners near the other two USGS Benchmark disks.

USGS Benchmark Disk At Recognized Highpoint

Another USGS Benchmark Located Along Private Road

Close-Up Photo Of USGS Benchmark Located Along Private Road

The State Highpoint is commemorated with an official sign along Ebright Road, stating the elevation of the highest point in Delaware as being 447.85'. However, that section of the sign text is only partly correct. The bottom text of the sign says "the monument is in the vicinity of the highest natural elevation in the state." That section of the sign text is much more accurate.

During 1985, the National Geodetic Survey and Delaware Geological Survey determined the USGS Benchmark disk located approximately 50'-75' left of the now-posted "Ebright Azimuth" highpoint sign has 447.849' elevation. However, the same survey determined a higher point of 450.949' elevation in a nearby mobile home park, approximately 300 yards west of Ebright Azimuth. As described during November 1990 by William S. Schenck, who was Coordinator of the Cartographic Information Center for the State of Delaware, the officially-recognized highpoint of Ebright Azimuth "is not the highest point in Delaware. It is the highest monumented spot in Delaware."

Highpoint Monument Sign

Delaware recognizes its highest point as the location of the monument sign and USGS Benchmark disk along Ebright Road. As such, that location ("Ebright Azimuth") is the only location necessary to visit to claim a successful completion of the Delaware State Highpoint. Some summiters also might choose to explore the adjacent small field, which is currently allowed.

The Queen of Ebright Azimuth

Doreen Kupchick, a local resident, is dubbed by many people to be the "Queen of Ebright Azimuth." This is largely due to her efforts to preserve and recognize the State Highpoint location, as well as her hospitality to summiters.

Doreen Kupchick, the Queen of Ebright Azimuth

For many years, Doreen has lived in a house across the street from the recognized highpoint. Over time, she noticed seemingly random people tromping around the area of what is now called Ebright Azimuth, looking at the ground and maps. Eventually she became curious enough to inquire as to why people were so interested in the area. When she discovered that location was possibly the highest point in Delaware she made an effort to visit with any prospective summiters she saw there. Later, she began keeping a summit register log in her house for people to sign.

One day, Doreen noticed a construction crew paving a sidewalk alongside Ebright Road, on the same side of the street as the USGS Benchmark disk. The crew paved the sidewalk over the USGS Benchmark disk. Doreen immediately contacted local officials and the section of sidewalk covering the USGS Benchmark disk was cut-away to expose the marker. Eventually, a monument sign was across the street from the USGS Benchmark disk to commemorate the State Highpoint, largely due to Doreen's efforts, and later the sign was moved to the same side of the street as the USGS Benchmark disk.

Cutout Sidewalk Section Reveals USGS Benchmark Disk

These unselfish acts of hospitality and preservation help cement Doreen's stature as the Queen of Ebright Azimuth. Visitors are encouraged to try to find Doreen during their visits; it can make the entire trip worthwhile.

Getting There

FROM WILMINGTON, DELAWARE:

1) Drive north along I-95.
2) Take Exit 8 for Highway 202 (Northbound).
3) After 4.9 miles, turn right onto SR-92 East / Naamans Road.
4) After 1.1 miles, turn left onto Ebright Road.
5) After 0.6 miles, reach the street intersection with Ramblewood Drive. Find a legal place to park alongside one of those roads. Walk to the highpoint monument sign and USGS Benchmark disk located near the intersection of Ebright Road and Ramblewood Drive.

NOTE: Doreen Kupchick, who has the summit register, lives near the corner of Ramblewood Drive and Sturbridge Drive. She can see the highpoint from her home. Please be respectful of Doreen and other local property owners.

Red Tape

If driving along I-95 during the approach, expect to pay tolls.

Please respect private property rights. The Highpointers Club and the State of Delaware want summiters to only attempt reaching the monument sign at its neighboring USGS Benchmark disk along Ebright Road. Doing so is recognized as a state highpoint completion.

Images

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