Category: High Points

Guadalupe PeakTexasMarch  2013 You won’t ordinarily find the Guadalupe Mountains on lists of “windiest places.”  And yet, the Guadalupe Mountains are known by some to be relentlessly windy.  How windy is it? I think back to my telephone conversation with Ranger Hal.  I called him weeks before our trip to get some preliminary information.  It… Continue reading Wind

here and there, cow country cow #1 Matthew Calbraith Perry was an American naval officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.  He was a big deal military guy in numerous other conflicts and gained a stellar reputation.  Among other accomplishments, he helped to establish the curriculum… Continue reading Five Cows

Spruce KnobWest VirginiaMay  2014 On the trail, I told my hiking buddy this story. “Rod, last fall, I had some chest pain.  After undergoing a number of tests, I came out clean as a whistle, whatever that means.  A gastroenterologist suggested that my chest nerves were irritated.  My regular doctor responded, ‘You know what that… Continue reading Guesswork

Humphreys PeakArizonaJune  2013 On our hike down from the summit of 12633-foot Humphreys Peak, we encounter an animated group of college-age hiker gentlemen.  We can’t help but overhear their conversation.  They are discussing Goldschläger, a cinnamon schnapps invented by the Swiss.  It is a liqueur of 43.5% alcohol content or 87 proof.  We’re talking headbanger… Continue reading Goldschläger

MissouriJuly  2012 Politicians in Missouri usually alternate between pronouncing the state’s name as Missouree and Missouruh.  The Missouruh pronunciation favored in the southern part of the state and by older, conservative residents, is often used when candidates speak to rural audiences. I quote this paragraph from the Week Magazine, 10 26 12, which in turn… Continue reading Those Who Have Dugout Canoes

MassachusettsMay  2014 Very close to us when we are on the summit of Mount Frissell, the high point of Connecticut, is Bash Bish Falls, a 60-foot waterfall which is the climax of cascading water as it tumbles through a series of gorges.  The original Bash-Bish was a person, a Native of excellent babe-osity.  She had… Continue reading Bash Bish

Mount FrissellConnecticutMay  2014 A group of hikers is parked at the nearby pullout.  One guy, the loudest one, the one with the New York accent, is holding forth on the terrain, the history and the trails of the area.  As there are at least three different trails that go off into the woods here, I… Continue reading The (Secret) Name

Mount FrissellConnecticutMay  2014 Isn’t this the way it always happens!  Well, no.  But it did this time. This Highpointing trip includes the summits of Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Most of the time we are hiking on rock.  Rock and rocks.  Not just picking our way through a rocky footpath, but climbing, hand over hand up steep… Continue reading The Head

Sassafras MountainSouth CarolinaMay  2013 We’re back at the car after our summit hike.  I’m looking through my paperwork, notes about how to get where we are going next.  Two women approach us, just as polite as can be.  “Excuse me, but I wonder if we might be able to hitch a ride with you.  We… Continue reading Getting Stood Up

Humphreys PeakArizonaJune  2013 Y’know what’s great on the trail?  Potato chips.  Like that magical food bacon, potato chips always taste good.  The salt doesn’t hurt either on a day as strenuous as this one.  We’re at 11 800 feet, on our way up, and it’s potato chip time!  I take the package out of my… Continue reading Fire Assisted Rear Transport