Black Mtn., KY
(4,139') - 8 May 1994
 |
| No views here--too many
trees. I didn't feel brave enough to climb the rickety-looking tower
plastered with "Keep Off" signs. |
|
Taum Sauk Mtn., MO
(1,772') - 9 May 1994
 |
| Contrary to what the
guidebooks say, this high point is now quite developed (even has a
paved sidewalk from the parking area). No views from the summit but a
pretty drive to and from. |
|
High Point, IN
(1,257') - 11 May 1994
 |
| It's not hard to believe
that the high point of the Hoosier state moved when a local farmer
plowed the old one
into oblivion. Only the modern science of precision topographic
measurement could have found this high "point," a flat place surrounded
by flat, flat farmland. |
|
Campbell Hill, OH
(1,549') - 11 May 1994
 |
| Located on the campus of a
Vo-Tec school. The drive to the "peak" must be the steepest road in the
county, if not the state; the hill seems to jut out of an endless flat
plain. |
|
Mt. Davis, PA
(3,213')
- 17 June 1994
 |
| The view from the nearby
observation tower creates the illusion that surrounding peaks are
higher. Nice, but
not spectacular. Photo by Mike Wiggs. |
|
Backbone Mtn., MD
(3,360') - 17 June 1994
 |
| No views here, except
nearby trees. Oops, forgot my date sign in the car. A little
bushwhacking required. Seemed like the area was about to be developed
into a "keep out if you don't own a summer home here" type of place.
Photo by Mike Wiggs. |
|
Spruce Knob, WV
(4,861') - 19 June 1994
 |
| Unlike many of the eastern
high points I have visited, this one felt like a high point.
Everything you
could see in all directions looked much lower. Very nice views from and
of the top. Photo by Mike Wiggs. |
|
Mt. Rogers, VA
(5,729') - 3 July 1994
 |
| Took me two attempts to
bag this one, the first resulting in a cold, wet, forced-bivy night
alone when my headlamp failed after a half-day of getting lost on
unblazed trails. Photo by friendly high-points rival and climbing
mentor Mark Kochte. |
|
High Point, IA
(1,670') - 22 October 1994
 |
| Its amazing remoteness
from large population centers and major roads made the trip to this
high point unexpectedly long. My wife came along for her very first
high point. Photo by Crystal and me. |
|
Harney Pk., SD
(7,242)
- 6 September 1995
 |
| A splendid hike through
surreal geologic beauty. I wonder how hard it would have been to get
there if the stairs
near the summit had never been built? Photo by Steve Cooper. |
|
Borah Pk, ID
(12,662')
- 11 September 1995
 |
| Simply the steepest trail
I have ever hiked. Switchbacks? We don' need no steenking switchbacks!
But what a view! That's fellow Illinois survivor Greg Blair on the
right, Steve Cooper on the left. |
|
Panorama Pt, NE
(5,424') - 15 September 1995
 |
| Ironic that from this
place there are a number of obviously higher points visible, in other
states, of course (CO and WY). Totally forgot to grab the date sign, in
the car about 20' away (must have been the altitude)! That's Steve
Cooper on the right. |
|
Charles Mound, IL
(1,235') - 22 October 1995
 |
| A very nice view. The
photo doesn't do it justice. A funky little setting too (chairs and
all). My wife came along for her second high point. Expensive homes
nearby made me wonder whether access will continue to be unrestricted
in the near future. Photo by Crystal and me. |
|
Timms Hill, WI
(1,951') - 17 December 1995
 |
| My one and only winter
high point so far. My wife and I chugged through snow on a very mild,
calm winter day, disturbed only by the incessant whine of snowmobilers
in the woods. Photo by Crystal. |
|
King's Pk., UT
(13,528') - 5 July 1996
 |
| My longest hike to date,
high pointing or otherwise. Saw my first mountain goat, got to practice
plunge-stepping down a snow chute, and discovered that guidebooks are
sometimes a poor substitute for going with your gut instincts. In the
original photo, you can see my
hair sticking out from the static (the rocks were sizzling
audibly)--yikes! Photo by someone else braving the electrical
potentials that day--I was in too big of a hurry to leave to ask their
name. |
|
Eagle Mtn., MN
(2,301') - 11 August 1996
 |
| The route was obvious
right up until the summit, at which point we just figured "It must be
this way." No views at the top, but nice ones en route. Photo by Greg
Blair. |
|
Mt. Arvon, MI
(1,979')
- 12 August 1996
 |
| Took the vehicle as far as
we could up the rutted logging road, then walked the short distance to
the top. Pretty unremarkable, except that it was easier to find than
the guidebooks intimated. Photo by Greg Blair. |
|
Magazine Mtn., AR
(2,753') - 9 August 1997
 |
| I'm guessing there are
some great views on the way--we were socked in with fog. Photo by Steve
Cooper. |
|
Woodall Mtn., MS
(806') - 9 August 1997
|
| Foggy again. This high
point was strangely reminiscent of Black Mtn. KY. That's Steve Cooper
on the right and Headless Greg in the middle. |
|
Clingmans Dome, TN
(6,643') - 10 August 1997
 |
| Fog greeted us once again,
spoiling our view from this popular high point. Turns out I hadn't
visited this one as a little kid, as I had thought I remembered (must
have been some other observation tower in Great Smoky Mountain National
Park). Photo by Steve Cooper. |
|
Mt. Mitchell, NC
(6,684') - 11 August 1997
 |
| Once again, fog plagued
us. We had gotten to the point on this trip where finding the high
point was
easy--once you get close, drive toward the only peak mantled in clouds.
Photo by Steve Cooper. |
|
Sassafras Mtn., SC
(3,560') - 11 August 1997
 |
| South Carolina must not be
very proud of their high point. Without a guidebook you'd never be able
to find it; once there there's no indication that you're at the high
point of the state. A nice trail leading to and from it, though. Photo
by Steve Cooper. |
|
Brasstown Bald, GA
(4,784') - 12 August 1997
 |
| We got a few glimpses of
distant terrain through the fog. A really nice museum and visitor's
facility at the summit. |
|
Cheaha Mtn., AL
(2,405') - 13 August 1997
 |
| The views beyond the
mountain were nice, but the summit was a mess. A dilapidated stone
building surrounded
by ugly utility buildings and towers. All the more disturbing since
they charge a fee to get there. Steve Cooper, Headless Greg, and me
(L-R). |
|
Britton Hill, FL
(345') - 16 August 1997
 |
| A-lo-hi from Florida! Nice
little wayside with a well-made stone marker (not located exactly at
the true high point, however). What better place to strike the Tenzing
Norgay pose, ice axe, snow pants, parka and all (in 100°+ F heat)?
Photo by Steve Cooper. |
|
Driskill Mtn., LA
(535') - 17 August 1997
|
| A nice hike through the
heat and humidity of the Louisiana summer brought us to this very
typical eastern high point. Steve Cooper on the left. |
|
White Butte, ND
(3,506') - 12 October 1997
 |
| To quote Buzz Aldrin:
"Magnificent desolation." The same wind that blew volcanic ash here
from Yellowstone
650,000 years ago was still going strong. Despite the rain, wind, and
cold, three other hearty high-pointers (two very nice folks and their
dog) from
Anchorage were on their way up as I descended. |
|
Granite Peak, MT
(12,799') - 8 August 1998
 |
| Second time's the charm,
and a charmed trip it was! Unlike last year's trip, when high winds
chased us away, the weather was nothing short of spectacular. Tom
Miller, Mark Kochte and I comprised the first of many that summitted on
this beautiful, calm, sunny day. My most difficult high point so far;
this one should not be attempted by the inexperienced or ill-prepared!
Photo by Mark Kochte. |
|
Mt. Elbert, CO
(14,433') - 17 September 1998
 |
| My highest so far was
steep and challenging, but blessed by superb weather. We hefted full
packs to the summit, unnecessarily, as it turns out, since our plans to
take a different route down were misguided. That's Steve Cooper on the
right. |
|
Mt. Sunflower, KS
(4,039') - 19 September 1998
 |
| What a funky little place
this is. Kudos to those who imbued this high point with such whimsy and
fun. Well worth the visit. We sat and ate our raisin bran in the
shelter near the "shrine" after our grueling summit bid. Steve Cooper
on the left. |
|
Black Mesa, OK
(4,973') - 19 September 1998
 |
| Never seen so many
different varieties of grasshoppers in all my days as on the way up.
The unnecessarily meandering trail below the mesa was a little silly,
but the obelisk was nice. Just don't sit on top of it, unless you want
lots of dried bird droppings on your pants. Oh well, it amused Steve
(at left) for the rest of the day. |
|
Wheeler Peak, NM
(13,161') - 20 September 1998
 |
| Yet another case of
switchback aversion on the part of the trail-builders made this one a
bear. What a slog, and what a contrast in temperature from base to
summit (where it was 15º F with wind chill). A big boo-hiss to the
snotty clerk at Taos Ski Valley lodge who refused us water because we
weren't staying at their resort. Sadly, the entire area is being
ravaged by a frenzy of vacation-home building. Steve Cooper, shivering
in shorts on the right. |
|
Guadalupe Peak, TX
(8,749') - 29 September 1998
 |
| The very picture of a
well-made trail: plenty of switchbacks and a joy to hike. But what's
with the monument at the summit placed by American Airlines and the
U.S. Postal Service? Weird! Nice top-down view of El Capitan,
too. Steve Cooper on the left. |
|
Humphreys Peak, AZ
(12,633') - 2 October 1998
 |
| Yet another well-made
trail that made for a delightful day of hiking. Great views of the
Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater, Flagstaff, etc. A fine way to end a
high-points trip completely devoid of bad weather. Steve Cooper at
right. |
|
Boundary Peak, NV
(13,143') - 15 August 1999
 |
| Had far more problems getting to and
from the mountain than actually climbing it: One flat tire, another
destroyed (yes, they were Firestones, and yes, my truck is a Mazda
Navajo (aka Ford Explorer), but this trip was before the problems hit
the news), outrageous gas prices and stuck overnight in a tourist-trap
town in the eastern Sierras. But the climb was idyllic. Calm, clear,
warm weather prevailed, the approach was straightforward, and the
trails on the scree slopes required a minimum of scrambling or
boulder-hopping. Anyone who found this high point to be particularly
grueling was either badly off-route and/or had best avoid high points
like Granite, Borah, or Elbert. Photo by a gentleman whose name I
didn't catch. |
|
Mt. Whitney, CA
(14,494') - 6 July 2000
 |
| Wow, what a trail! I've never seen such
a massive trail-building effort. Over 200 switchbacks from trailhead to
summit. No wonder they have to limit access. Add to that perfect
weather and no bear problems (one encounter, but of no consequence) and
you get a trip that's hard to beat. From left to right: Steve Cooper
(Scooper), Greg Blair (head included), me (holding sign) and Steve
Clegg (Sclegg) made for a superbly memorable high point adventure. |
|
Mt. Hood, OR
(11,239') - 8 July 2001
 |
| Perfect weather, meeting and climbing
with new friends (Rick, Mike, and Gary from Maryland), and a superb
guide. Got off the snow cat just before midnight, made the summit at
the start of morning twilight. Stayed at the top to watch sunrise, and
got back to the Timberline Lodge for breakfast by 9:00am. Mark Kelsey,
our guide from Northwest School of
Survival, made it seem easy, but I can see how people who don't
play by the mountain's rules can get themselves into trouble. That's me
kneeling in front holding the date sign. |
|
Close, but no cigar:
Crater rim of Mt. Rainier, WA (~14,200) - 11 July 2002
 |
| Unusually warm weather and high winds
prevented us (Mark Kochte,
Fabrizia
Guglielmetti, Bob Brundige, and yours truly) from reaching the summit.
We slogged through wet snow that had no chance of firming up overnight,
reaching the crater rim pounded by 70+ mph winds. The 1/4 mile traverse
to Columbia Crest (at top center) seemed ill-advised. We shall return.
That's me on the left, clutching my date sign to my chest while Bri
digs in at right to avoid being blown away. Photo by Mark Kochte. |
|
Ebright Azimuth, DE
(442') - 12 August 2002
 |
| Heat and humidity welcomed me back east
from the start of this highpointing adventure almost to the end. Steve
Cooper once again accompanied me. To those who say the high point has
"migrated" to the nearby mobile home park, I say it's impossible to
tell where the "natural" high point is precisely in such a developed
landscape. Get as close as you can and call it good! Me on the left,
Steve on the right. |
|
High Point, NJ
(1,803') - 12 August 2002
 |
| It was still beastly hot, but at least
this one was obviously higher than the surrounding terrain. Pity that
they weren't allowing access to the obelisk, but the lakes and woods in
the area were pretty nonetheless. Me on the left, Steve on the right. |
|
Mt. Frissell (south
slope), CT (2,380') - 12 August 2002
 |
| For this high point, we parked our
bikes at one end of the trail, hiked in from the other end, then rode
back to our vehicle. What fun, although the heat and bugs were a bit
bothersome. The humidity kept the views short also. Steve on the left,
me on the right. |
|
Mt. Greylock, MA
(3,487') - 13 August 2002
 |
| The original plan had been to bag this
one on the same day as DE, NJ, CT, and RI, but it just took too darn
long to wind
through the little towns strung out like beads on the rural New England
roads. We got to the State Reservation late on the night before, then
drove up for morning views. Nice, but again obscured by humidity. Me on
left, Steve on right (yes, both still wearing the same clothes from the
day before, in true road trip tradition). |
|
Jerimoth Hill, RI
(812') - 13 August 2002
 |
Although there was a time when not
getting to the actual high point (or at least within a few feet of it)
would have bugged me, I was content to respect the wishes of the
landowners who don't want people crossing their land to reach the true
high point. It's only a little higher than the marker on the road, it's
in a woods without great views, and if I should find myself in Rhode
Island on a holiday weekend some summer when access is not trespassing,
maybe I'll go and make it "official." Steve on the left, me on the
right.
|
|
Mt. Katahdin, ME
(5,267') - 14 August 2002
 |
| To Don Holmes, author of "Highpoints of
the United States - A Guide to the 50 State Summits - 1st ed." all I
can say is, I hope you've corrected the entry for this one in the
second edition! We took the Appalachian (Hunt) Trail in, and the Helon
Taylor Trail out, both described as "Strenuous hands-in-pockets travel
on trail" in the aforementioned text. Strenuous, definitely, but the
only person who could make that trip nands-in-pockets" is Spiderman!
Lots of boulder hopping and occasional short stretches of (YDS) class
4/5 travel. The 96º F high for the day didn't help. Nice views
from the top, but again truncated by humidity. Steve on the left, me on
the right. |
|
Mt. Washington, NH
(6,288') - 15 August 2002
 |
A nice relaxing drive-up, with
impressive views along the way. Lots of tourists, but a gentle wind at
the summit
mitigated the heat and humidity. Steve on the left, me on the right.
|
|
Mt. Mansfield, VT
(4,393') - 16 August 2002
 |
Would've been on the trail sooner, but
had to wait for the toll road to open. Still, a nice hike along
the Vermont Long Trail from the Summit Station to the Chin and back.
Nice views of the nearby Green Mountains, but not much beyond, again
due to the humidity. Steve on the left, me on the right.
|
|
Mt. Marcy, NY
(5,344') - 17 August 2002
 |
So far on this trip, we'd been dogged
by heat, humidity, and hazy views, but at least no rain. When it
finally came, it politely waited until after we'd crawled into the tent
for the night. On summit day, the air was cooler and drier, and the
summit views superb. What a fine way to finish the last major
highpoints "blitz" trip in my quest for the contiguous 48! Steve on the
right, me on the left.
|
|
Bonus High Point:
Cerro de Punta, PR (4,389') - 13 December 2002
 |
| Hey, if you're in Puerto Rico, you
might as well do the high point, right? Unfortunately, there was a
pesky cloud hanging on
the summit, preventing us from seeing more than a few yards, let alone
from one side of the island to the other, with the Caribbean to the
south and the Atlantic to the north (which is possible on a clear day).
And wow, the road up was probably the steepest asphalt I've ever driven
on, but our rental car made it without engine or brake failure, thank
goodness. That's me on the left, with my ever-patient Crystal on the
right. |
|
Gannett Peak, WY
(13,804') - 21 June 2006
|
| Near-perfect weather, a route with a
high success rate, and great climbing partners combined to make a
successful summit bid on this, arguably the most difficult high point
in the lower 48. Participants included (left to right) Steve
Cooper, Doug Rice (whose
leadership made all the difference), Aroh Barjatya, Yours Truly, and
Lubos Brieda. |
|
Mt. Rainier, WA
(14,410') - 4 July 2007
|
After 13 years, my state highpointing
goals have been completed. A one-day window of perfect weather
and an easier route than my failed attempt in 2002 allowed Steve Cooper
and I to make the summit without too much trouble other than sloppy
snow on the way down. Still, witnessing two big collapses into
crevasses on Ingraham glacier shortly before we crossed its snow
bridges was sobering.
|
|
What's next? As stated above, I have no
intention of attempting Mt. McKinley (Denali). So, with my state
highpointing days behind me, I have already begun to climb the high
points of my home state of Idaho (25 down, 18 to go).
|
