| |
| |
|
Outdoors Information |
|
|
|
Highpointing: It's Not Just For Mountaineers
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier High Point, Indiana. They may not have the name recognition of Mount McKinley (Denali), Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney, and Mount Hood. And they certainly are far, far easier to get to! But all these places have something in common. Each is the highest natural spot in its state. Welcome to the world of Highpointing. Thousands of otherwise sane people have set out to drive, stroll, hike, or climb to the highest point in each of the 50 states. Many never plan to make it to the tougher highpoints like Denali (in Alaska), Rainier (in Washington) or Granite (in Montana), but they've discovered the fun in planning trips to locate the unusual "summits" of Sunflower (located on the flatlands of Kansas), Ebright Azimuth (yes, a suburban neighborhood can be the site of a state highpoint), Hawkeye Point (located at the end of a feeding trough on a farm in Iowa), and Lakewood Park (turn right at the restrooms, and stroll a short way along a path in a Florida park). Of the 50 state highpoints, 14 are drive-ups. You drive right up to the highpoint, or so close to it you could toss a rock and hit it. Probably 8 more are extremely easy, involving a round-trip walk or hike of 30 minutes or less. In fact, only about 9 or 10 of the state highpoints involve more than a hike along a good trail. OK, some of these trails require long hikes that may gain a fair amount of elevation. Still, if you're in good condition, and can walk for many hours, you can manage to check off about 40 state highpoints! Why do people get into highpointing? It's a great way to see our country. You'll find highpoints in popular resort areas (Mount Mansfield at Stowe in Vermont), National Parks (Clingmans Dome, in Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee), and State Parks (Mauna Kea in Hawaii; Harney Peak in Custer State Park, South Dakota). But many highpoints are well off the beaten path, and will take you to beautiful and interesting parts of the country that you may have otherwise overlooked. Eagle Mountain is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota. Oklahoma's highpoint, Black Mesa, is near the very tip of the panhandle. Taum Sauk Mountain in Missouri is in a beautiful region of the Ozarks. Visit when the autumn leaves are at their peak, climb the nearby Lookout Tower, and prepare to be thrilled. There are also many interesting things to see and do near the highpoints. Take in a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Looking for something less cultured? How about the Boll Weevil Monument in Florida? Or the Wisconsin Concrete Park, featuring concrete sculptures of horses, soldiers, and heroes? If food and drink are more to your liking, don't miss a tour of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Vermont, Great Adirondack Brewing Company in New York, or stop in at the Hilltop Restaurant in L'Anse, Michigan for the most decadent (and largest) sweet rolls you can imagine. Happy Highpointing, everyone! About The Author Diane Winger is co-author of "Highpoint Adventures - The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints", and other guidebooks. Visit www.HighpointAdventures.com to learn more about hiking, climbing, and travel adventures in the great outdoors. Diane Winger 2004 All Rights Reserved.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Bird Safaris: Timbavatis Most Desired Plumage Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The spotlight or limelight is traditionally on lions, cheetah or elephants. Should You Buy a Used Inflatable Boat? There are two types of used inflatable boats for sale - those that have never been patched before, and those that have been repaired. Repaired boats are worked upon by factory technicians using the same glue and same techniques used for a new boat, and hence are as good as new ones. Cycling in Europe: There's More to the Tour de France than Lance For the 92nd time, the Tour de France has started. This three week cycling race is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and undoubtedly the toughest on the individual participants. Japanese Garden of Monaco Have you ever seen an authentic Japanese garden? Well, I had the chance of seeing the one in Monaco and was really impressed too. Wanna taste a little Japanese culture? Stepping on this ground is escaping from the real world into a fantasy land. How to Save Money AND help the planet Don't all of us love to have the money to do the fun things that bring us joy? Not that all fun things require money, mind you, on the contrary! But have you ever wanted to read that awesome-looking new book, eat at that new green restaurant in town or throw a party for friends and family.. Improving Your Aim If your aim is not good, or is not quite what you want it to be, there are several ways you can work to improve it. Most people can hit the target almost every time when they are not rushed in any way. No Artificial Ingredients Indeed Back from our family's vacation to Costa Rica, I am left feeling extremely grateful for not only the well-received rest and relaxation with family; I enjoyed exhilarating experiences previously unimaginable.Costa Rica's ad in this Sunday's New York Times includes the tagline "No Artificial Ingredients. Bird Watching Journals - Preserve Your Bird Watching Experiences Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your bird watching experiences can fade with time. What Do Cowboys-n-Campfires Have in Common? I bet you're wondering where the heck this articles going. After all what could cowboys-n-campfires have in common? Well lots actually!Cowboys are full of wonderful tales from their travels and their work. Unforgettable White Mountains Vacations - The Most Scenic 100 Miles in New England This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire has a gorgeous vista at every turn, oodles and oodles of family vacation fun, and a visit to the home of the world wind speed record. Just keep reading to discover a remarkable trip on your White Mountains vacation. Discover Eaton Canyon In Pasadena California Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, Ca. Survival in the Wilderness: What to Do, What You Need Summer is for picnics, hikes, outdoor concerts, barbeques .. Solo Backpacking Have you ever gone solo backpacking? If you have, you'll probably agree that it isn't a matter of it being better or worse than backpacking with friends. It's just a different activity altogether. GOA - A Carnival of Beaches The state of Goa on the West coast of India, is located in the coastal belt known as Konkan. While this tourist magnet has much to offer: old churches, carnival atmosphere, Portuguese flavour, wildlife, nature and tantalizing cuisine, yet, mention Goa and the first, often only, image that flashes in one's mind is of the BEACHES. Campsite Meal Planning and Recipe Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals are one of the most memorable aspects of any camping trip and if one meal is a disaster you will never hear the end of it. The Wandle Trail - Map and Illustrated Guide The Wandle offered wonderful trout fishing up to the latter part of the last century. The Wandle Trail was established by the Wandle Group in association with the Wandle Industrial Museum in September 1988, launched with a walk with over 200 participants, led by Colin Saunders. Planning Your Own Gorilla Safari Will Save You Money - Heres How Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of the best wildlife experiences left in the natural world. Many people describe it as an overwhelming and awe-inspiring experience and worth every penny they spent on making it happen. Boston Vacations: Four Ways To Experience Beantown Boston is a great destination city for a vacation. There's plenty on tap to see and do, and it's an easy city to get around on foot. 10 Tips to Planning Your Dream Road Trip Everyone has a travel dream. For many it is hitting the road for a relatively unlimited time, either here or abroad. Hiking Shoes Versus Hiking Boots Hiking shoes versus hiking boots? Hiking shoes win. Okay, next issue? No, really.
|
| home | site map | Ocean Photography |
| © 2006 |
