About

On average, about 150 people successfully climb Mt. Everest every year. But only 155 people have climbed all fifty state high points — ever. Granted, this includes such piddling summits as the lowly Britton Hill in Florida (which tops off at a dizzying 345 ft. above sea level), but it also includes real bruisers like the 20, 320-ft. Denali in Alaska, in addition to many other mountains that kill people. Those are usually the only ones anybody cares about.

There is something both epic and absurd about setting out to climb all the highest points in the United States, especially when I’ll get frostbitten extremities at the top of one and a Wendy’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich on another. Through this ill-advised endeavor, I hope to glean some insight into the mentality of each state via its high point, and maybe learn what’s so existentially important about getting to the top of things, to the exclusion of everything else. I’ll publish training diaries, gear reviews, expedition reports, and hopefully run into enough freaks along the way to keep things interesting. I’ll also delve into the unique psyche and subculture of The Highpointer on my way to becoming one. (Did you know there’s a guy who drank a beer on top of every 14er in Colorado? True words.) And, since this is a blog, from time to time I’ll air my dirty laundry with emoticons and links to shitty emo bands.

Or maybe I’m just doing this for a f***ing book deal. Who knows? Blogs are so hot right now.

But ultimately, why would a novice climber embark upon this fool’s quest? Perhaps the answer can be found in mountaineer George Mallory‘s famous quote on his reason for climbing Mount Everest:

“Because it is totally awesome.”