Category: High Points

Driskill MountainLouisianaJune  2012 Returning to the summit from exploring the dead end of a nearby trail, I log another first.  Perched up there, in the shadow of the eave of the signboard marking the summit of Driskill Mountain in Louisiana, is a black spider with a red mark on the back of its abdomen.  Hmm,… Continue reading Black Widow

Mount MitchellNorth CarolinaJune  2015 I have come upon many obstacles in the tens of thousands of miles I’ve hiked.  I’ve stumbled over downed trees, shimmied over boulders, fallen down gullies, dropped down steep inclines, nearly had my boots sucked off my feet by mud and slid down hills on my arse.  I’ve faced bear, wild… Continue reading Stop on a Dime

Driskill MountainLouisianaJune  2012 Back to our summit hike, here on the formerly French land of Louisiana.  To the right of our hiking path halfway to the top of the state is a beautifully formed, 30-inch high baldfaced hornet hive.  The baldfaced hornet, like the bald eagle, is not bald.  Its face has a pattern of… Continue reading Bald Faced Hornets

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. 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 magazine exploding,” or words to that… 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