Category: High Points

Panorama PointNebraskaJuly  2013 Oh, did I not mention the buffalo? After crossing the border between the two Dakota states — <Dakota> is sort of a Sioux word meaning “allies” or “friends” — we drive right through Buffalo, a town of 330 residents.  Not far from the center of town, and past the Tatanka Plaza, is… Continue reading Where the Bison Roam

at homeMay  2014 To try to be ready for high places, which terrify me, I clean the windows on the third floor of my house, leaning out one sash window to get to the adjacent one. I’m not sure I’m getting the hang of it, this going up high stuff.  I have to ask my… Continue reading Practicing

Mount MagazineArkansasJune  2012 The origin of the name Mount Magazine comes in a rather uninspired way.  You could also call it uninspired.  Seems that in the old days, French explorers were making their way around this area when a landslide occurred.  One of the Frenchmen exclaimed, “Great leaping toadstools!  That sounds just like an ammunition… Continue reading Mount Kaboom

Cheaha MountainAlabamaNovember  2013 None of the hiking trails on Cheaha Mountain take you to the summit.  They all bypass it or end on a road which requires at least a half mile of pavement walk.  The best hiking route I can find is the Lake Trail.  Since this is a linear trail, out and back,… Continue reading The Cheaha Shuttle

many mountains It’s not uncommon to hear about a hiker’s ambition to conquer a mountain, to not let the mountain gain victory over their desires to summit. What is this “conquer the mountain” idea and where did it come from!  No.  This is not the way to approach it.  The mountain is fine, whether we… Continue reading Conquer the Mountain

Stockton SpringsMaineMay  2015 Our next stop is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory in southeast Maine, south of Bangor.  What brings us here to the bridge is its design of modern cable-stayed construction.  One glance tells any one of us that it is modern cable-stayed construction.  Right?  Instead of the usual method of bundling cables… Continue reading Penobscot Narrows Bridge

Harney PeakSouth DakotaMay  2015 When we summit our high points, we like to get an early start, usually at daybreak which often happens before most restaurants begin breakfast service.  We like to get an early start to our hiking because, well, we like to start early.  Also in these midwestern states, thunderstorms often come up… Continue reading Breakfast at the Hill City Cafe

WythevilleVirginiaJuly  2011 We approach Wytheville from the east, after having climbed Mount Rogers, the high point of Virginia.  Huzzah! As you see, Wytheville, Virginia, shows its true colors, what with its diversity water tower.  (Don’t tell them.) On second thought, do tell them.

Black MesaOklahomaMarch  2013 We sit on the sturdy stone bench several feet from the native granite obelisk, the marker indicating that this is the highest land point in the state of Oklahoma.  How thoughtful of the Boy Scouts to have built this comfortable sitting area, this bench.  It’s lunch time and the air is clear… Continue reading Hooker

Spruce KnobWest VirginiaMay  2014 We are hiking to the peak of Spruce Knob, the summit of West Virginia.  What better song for us to be singing than If You Wanna Be Happy by Jimmy Soul.  As the music winds down, Rod and Diane tell us about the monkey balls. They were vacationing in Manuel Antonio… Continue reading Monkey Balls II