Goal - Climb the Highest Peaks in Each 50 States

byDrewnation

148 followers

8 years ago

So I received an advertisement in the mail from Eddie Bauer and in it there was a challenge to climb all the highest peaks of the 50 United States. Instantly I was like, I have to do it. What a great way to see all 50 states, plan vacation time and stay in shape. I asked my wife, Lavene, if she was up for it and her reply was, “I’m there baby’. That’s why I love her. She reminded me that we already had several of them under our belt such as Mt. Whitney, CA, the highest in the continental US and Mt. Rainier in Washington which is the 2nd highest in Continental US. The picture attached is Lavene on her way down from Mt. Rainier. We have also visited Denali National Park in Alaska but I am not sure I am up for summiting Denali. It is breathtaking to bask in her glory even from a distance.

Although on the surface this may seam like a simple goal but like most things in life that are hard to accomplish a lot of planning and preparation go into it and if not set on a realistic time table will never be accomplished. If you planned one of these adventures every month it would take you 5 years to complete. Many of these would be considered day hikes and are easily accomplished. You could complete Florida, Georgia and Alabama in one weekend but going to Hawaii will take time and cash. If you are planning on actually going to the top you will need to get special gear and plan your trips with a guide. Such is the case with Mt. Rainier. To go to the top you climb all day and camp at Camp Muir which is about 12,000 ft. You get up at midnight and go to the summit while the ice is frozen for safety reasons and you go with a team. So unless you are a seasoned climber start easy and work your way up.

Another consideration is the time of year you do this. Many of these locations are too hot or it is too cold or it is raining or snowing. Doing your research and checking with park rangers before you even leave town is a must. They can help you and in many of these hikes you must check in before leaving with the ranger station and check back in on return as the weather changes quickly above 10,000 feet. People freeze to death (hypothermia) in the middle of summer going to the summit of Mt Whitney when it is 95 degrees on the desert floor below.

Another aspect of this that I love is you get to go to REI or what ever your favorite outdoor store is and get all the super cool light weight, high tech camping and hiking gear. I don’t know about you but I love that stuff. Yes I was a Boy Scout as a matter of fact. Again, starting out easy with a nice day pack, not too heavy, some walking poles to save your knees on the way down and a good supply of Cliff Bars. I ready to go just thinking about it. Before you know it you will have a full blown back pack, sleeping bag, tent, cook stove, cooking kit, bear spray, mosquito repellent, topographic maps and on and on.

I hope you will accept this challenge and please share with me your adventures and pictures as we enjoy this wonderful country, The United States of America.