Thanks, Bark Eater, thank you so much!

It is funny to think we are taking longer than almost anyone to do the highpoints. We basically do one trip a year for a week max, and skipped several years early on. So it is now 16 years, more than half of Cypress' life, and we are up to 29 states, with all the hardest ones still remaining. We have another 10 years probably even if we do a trip every year.

But I honestly really like it as it gives us a shared goal and a reason to hang out! And for me, who used to live to train and has been so discouraged in recent years by injuries, it is now a big motivator for me to get in shape. And it has been a major part of my relationship with my daughter as we are always making plans or referring to previous trips.

Our next trip I think we fly into Albuquerque Saturday, climb Guadalupe in Texas Sunday, a Chiricahuas hike Monday, Humphrey's Tuesday, hike in Sedona Wednesday, climb a mountain I have dreamed of climbing for 20 years because it just looks so mean nasty and wild called Sierra Ladrones south of Albuquerque on Thursday, hang in Santa Fe on Friday, climb Wheeler Peak on Saturday, fly out Sunday. That's four big climbs with a rest day between each climb. I am excited but worried it will be tough. The twist is we are going first week of April so two of the climbs will be on some kind of old snow, which can take a lot of extra energy.

It's funny, I bet most people on this site and reading this take their fitness for granted. I always did, too. But then a couple of injuries hit you that you never quite get back from, especially if they inhibit your training, can really change your perspective.

Do great things while you still can!

Does anybody have tips on hiking Mt. Arvon in the winter? I tried this weekend and there was 4' of snow blanketing that area. After 12 miles of following snowmobile tracks, I ran out of time and turned around. My TH was due south of the "peak". Is there one with better access?

Thanks Puma. I will have to try that route next time.

I'm liking the Strava heatmaps in my travel beta. Pops up secret routes, shortcuts etc

Here's Mauna Kea in Google Earth.



Here's the Strava heatmap, showing the route used

After a bunch of potential partners flaked out, we are down to 3 Coloradans on an unguided Denali West Buttress expedition leaving to Anchorage on June 1st and lasting until the peak is climbed. We are going to bring food for about 23 days. This will be sweet HP#50 for my son and myself. We can add a fourth person to the permit if someone is very interested in going and has the necessary experience/gear, along with an even-keeled temperament. PM me if interested.

Hello all. Just saw a PBS hour special called Highpointers and it had a teenage girl who climbed Gannett Peak and the episode just took through whole process. Anyways not sure if it’s a series or just this one episode but pretty cool Saturday morning watch. Anyone got any plans for this summer.

I’ll be doing a LA, MS, AR, MO road trip. Lots of driving but I’m planning lots of fun stops on route.

Jow, that's our very own rock star Fallon Rowe from a few years back. She's currently recovering from a rock climbing injury. My local PBS never seems to air that segment.

I'm taking 4th of July week off to go do New York first July 1st-3rd, see some family in Ohio July 4th-5th-6th, then finish off Illinois July 7th.

How is Mt. Marcy (NY) as a day hike? I read a lot of remarks about it make it which make it sound grueling... not sure if it's just challenging for the region or how it compares to Wheeler Peak (NM) or Mount Humphreys (AZ) which have similar 3,000 ft elevation gains that I hiked recently. Still debating whether I want to do a day hike or march in a few miles and camp in the woods overnight. In either case, I bought a campsite for a couple days near the Loj as insurance since I hear it gets packed for the holiday week.

Jow wrote:I’ll be doing a LA, MS, AR, MO road trip. Lots of driving but I’m planning lots of fun stops on route.

I did a LA, MO, AR road trip 10 years ago. Arkansas had some surprisingly good views. And hello fellow Floridian out of Fort Lauderdale!

Marcy is a day trip for sure if your camping can bag another peak on day two. I’d say easier than wheeler and similar to Humphrey without altitude effects. It’s a great hike of course I got lucky and had beautiful weather.

I’m new to Florida I’m originally a Rhode Islander but haven’t lived there since high school

It is fun to see all of these stories about Fallon and Matt. We first ran into Fallon and her mom on Borah... not many kids on that peak. We met Matt in 'Bama during that Konvention so many years ago. Hearing his stories really motivated my son to push harder on the state Highpoints. We had some long, grueling road trips during those seven years working on the CONUS list. I can't wait to be up on Denali in another six weeks to finally get the last check mark. Keep on grinding everyone! It is a fun quest.