State Highpoints

skibum1321 · Jul 6, 2006, 9:12 AM

It just seems that the whole point of highpointing is to get some sort of satisfaction. Is there really any satisfaction in driving your car up a mountain?
For example, whenever I see a bumper sticker claiming that a car climbed Mt. Washington, I can't help but think who cares? There is absolutely no sense of accomplishment in that.
This is all coming from someone who hates roads up mountains and thinks they ruin the mountain. Take it for what you want.

**Greg** · Jul 6, 2006, 9:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skibum1321

It just seems that the whole point of highpointing is to get some sort of satisfaction. Is there really any satisfaction in driving your car up a mountain?
For example, whenever I see a bumper sticker claiming that a car climbed Mt. Washington, I can't help but think who cares? There is absolutely no sense of accomplishment in that.
This is all coming from someone who hates roads up mountains and thinks they ruin the mountain. Take it for what you want.

No sense of accomplishment for you. But for somebody else simply saying that they have been to every state, not to mention to the highest point, may be an accomplishment to them. Remember, not all state highpoints are mountains, and not all are remote enough to need to hike to. Therefore, I don't think that state highpointing is inherently a hiker's endeavor, necessarily.

pizza · Jul 6, 2006, 9:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skibum1321

It just seems that the whole point of highpointing is to get some sort of satisfaction. Is there really any satisfaction in driving your car up a mountain?

Sure..

Look, after climbing Gannet Peak, Granite Peak, Borah Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, and Denali, is it really going to bother you that you drove up Mt. Magazine in Arkansas? Not me. If I need to prove something to myself, Gannet Peak will prove it better than any mountain in the east.

Now if I have time to plan something, I'll go ahead and hike a state highpoint. I intend to hike Mt. Washington in August, for example - not because I'm opposed to driving, but because I just want to hike Washington. But I am planning a weekend just for that.. If I were to plan a weekend for every highpoint, it would take decades to complete the 50. So I drive up a bunch. And I have no problem with that.

skibum1321 · Jul 6, 2006, 12:23 PM

I just don't like the idea of toll roads in general. I think mountains should be remote places and there is no need to develop them like we do everything else. We are taught about Leave No Trace ethics and yet, we build roads and railways up mountains and build summit lodges. That is making a bigger impact on the environment than pretty much anything an individual hiker could do.

Back to the original topic, I have no desire to highpoint so I guess I'm just or a different mindset. If I did highpoint, I think that I would want to reach it by foot, even if it was a puny hill. As Greg has reiterated though - different strokes for different folks.

**thetrailboss** · Jul 6, 2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pizza

Sure..

Look, after climbing Gannet Peak, Granite Peak, Borah Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, and Denali, is it really going to bother you that you drove up Mt. Magazine in Arkansas? Not me. If I need to prove something to myself, Gannet Peak will prove it better than any mountain in the east.

So you have climbed up Rainier and some of these mountains? Or you will be doing so at one point? I just was on your site and didn't see any pics or reports.

**thetrailboss** · Jul 6, 2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skibum1321

I just don't like the idea of toll roads in general. I think mountains should be remote places and there is no need to develop them like we do everything else. We are taught about Leave No Trace ethics and yet, we build roads and railways up mountains and build summit lodges. That is making a bigger impact on the environment than pretty much anything an individual hiker could do.

Most of the roads and buildings are actually quite old and were things that were built in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's.

**Greg** · Jul 6, 2006, 12:36 PM

Interesting. I always thought Pike's Peak was Colorado's high point...

Mark S · Jul 6, 2006, 8:16 PM

I would expect that folks on a hiking website would tend to snub mechanical/motorized means of attaining highpoints and that appears to be the case here. I was a peakbagger long before I got into highpointing so I've always leaned in the that direction but have tried to be creative with highpointing. I've hiked most of my HPs, but have biked several summit roads as well (TN, NC, SC, WV, MA). On the real easy ones (NB, KS, OH, IN etc.), I'll usually just park a few miles away and walk or park a little further away and bike. Driving up holds no appeal for me.

But that's only one aspect of highpointing. A lot of folks get into it to see the country and that's also a large part of it for me. I couldn't much care how others choose to attain HPs as it has absolutely no effect on me. The guy that founded the Club (Jack Longacre) didn't place restrictions on how to do it, so that's the way it is. Cheers.

pizza · Jul 6, 2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetrailboss

So you have climbed up Rainier and some of these mountains? Or you will be doing so at one point? I just was on your site and didn't see any pics or reports.

I *will* be doing all that stuff.
I might dayhike Elbert in September.. depends on what kind of shape I can get myself into by then. I have a marathon in December, so the training for that will help.

**Mike P.** · Jul 17, 2006, 11:55 AM

When I was thinking of highpointing it was more of a hobby to pursue that would get me to travel more, not hike. The hiking part was a form of exercise. Along the way life changed & the thought of being away from family to see Arkansas & Mt. Sunflower in KS (or IL, OH, IN, MI & IA which would be worse IMO) became unpleasant.

I'd probably call Highpointing & travel goal for people who like being fit (As Pizza mentioned no easy way up ID, AK, WA, CA, NV, AZ, WY & CO high points) & who think traveling to each MLB or NFL park is a fat man's travel goal. (or a real fan of the games goal)

Jul 6, 2006, 9:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
skibum1321 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Malden, MA Posts: 1,349	It just seems that the whole point of highpointing is to get some sort of satisfaction. Is there really any satisfaction in driving your car up a mountain? For example, whenever I see a bumper sticker claiming that a car climbed Mt. Washington, I can't help but think who cares? There is absolutely no sense of accomplishment in that. This is all coming from someone who hates roads up mountains and thinks they ruin the mountain. Take it for what you want. __________________ Fear should be treated like fire - it's a good thing that can keep you warm but it can also burn down the house

Jul 6, 2006, 12:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
skibum1321 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Malden, MA Posts: 1,349	I just don't like the idea of toll roads in general. I think mountains should be remote places and there is no need to develop them like we do everything else. We are taught about Leave No Trace ethics and yet, we build roads and railways up mountains and build summit lodges. That is making a bigger impact on the environment than pretty much anything an individual hiker could do. Back to the original topic, I have no desire to highpoint so I guess I'm just or a different mindset. If I did highpoint, I think that I would want to reach it by foot, even if it was a puny hill. As Greg has reiterated though - different strokes for different folks. __________________ Fear should be treated like fire - it's a good thing that can keep you warm but it can also burn down the house

Jul 6, 2006, 12:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Greg Nassahegan, CT: 9/20 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 21,120	Interesting. I always thought Pike's Peak was Colorado's high point... __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs.

Jul 17, 2006, 11:55 AM	#20 (permalink)
Mike P. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: CT Posts: 1,479	When I was thinking of highpointing it was more of a hobby to pursue that would get me to travel more, not hike. The hiking part was a form of exercise. Along the way life changed & the thought of being away from family to see Arkansas & Mt. Sunflower in KS (or IL, OH, IN, MI & IA which would be worse IMO) became unpleasant. I'd probably call Highpointing & travel goal for people who like being fit (As Pizza mentioned no easy way up ID, AK, WA, CA, NV, AZ, WY & CO high points) & who think traveling to each MLB or NFL park is a fat man's travel goal. (or a real fan of the games goal) __________________ Happy Trails, be safe & Good Luck Mike P.

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Jul 6, 2006, 8:16 PM	#18 (permalink)
Mark S Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 10	I would expect that folks on a hiking website would tend to snub mechanical/motorized means of attaining highpoints and that appears to be the case here. I was a peakbagger long before I got into highpointing so I've always leaned in the that direction but have tried to be creative with highpointing. I've hiked most of my HPs, but have biked several summit roads as well (TN, NC, SC, WV, MA). On the real easy ones (NB, KS, OH, IN etc.), I'll usually just park a few miles away and walk or park a little further away and bike. Driving up holds no appeal for me. But that's only one aspect of highpointing. A lot of folks get into it to see the country and that's also a large part of it for me. I couldn't much care how others choose to attain HPs as it has absolutely no effect on me. The guy that founded the Club (Jack Longacre) didn't place restrictions on how to do it, so that's the way it is. Cheers.

Jul 6, 2006, 9:12 AM
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