Thursday, June 26, 2014


"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world." - Unknown

I'm Callie, and I'm a high pointer.

A highpointer is a person who seeks out the highest points in a given area. For me, high pointing is hiking to the highest point in each US state. I think that to truly highpoint, you have to make an effort and climb the mountain. Driving doesn't count, but that's just my humble and usually irrelevant opinion. I currently have all six New England States under my belt, and am hoping to raise that number to eleven by the end of the summer, with Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Kansas. I want to reach all fifty by the time I am 30.

High pointing is an incredible feeling. It's so rewarding to stand on the summit of a mountain (or hill, if you're in Rhode Island), look around and know that you are standing higher than anyone else in the state at that given moment. You feel like you're on top of the world. I know that Rhode Island's highpoint, Jerimoth Hill standing at a whopping 812 feet above sea level is hardly the same as summiting K2 or Everest, but to me it's almost magical. I can't describe the feeling I get when I step foot on a summit and see that beautiful US Geological Survey plaque. I get giddy. I have pictures of myself at each high point and in each one, I look like the giddiest, dweebiest human alive.

Some people think that what I do is cool, others think it's weird, but you know what? Climbing mountains is a real cool thing. I think it's because, at any moment, the mountain can defeat you. It's humbling. No human is stronger than even the smallest hill. In order to conquer, you can't be afraid of it. In order to climb it, you need to respect it and know that it always has been and always will be stronger than you. You need to know that you are merely a guest in mother nature's biggest and best playgrounds. Everything that you see while getting to the top has been around for hundreds of years. Every rock, tree and animal has laid claim upon that land years before you ever strapped on a pair of hiking boots.

My hardest hike, mentally and physically, was Mount Katahdin in Maine last September. It is the end (or start, in some cases) of the Appalachian Trail. It is in the middle of nowhere in Maine. The closest town and nearest cell reception is about 30 minutes outside of Baxter State Park. The park has no paved roads or electricity anywhere. It's this magical little park. Katahdin stands at 5,269 about sea level. I had camped with my father right off the AT (super cool for us, we're kinda obsessed with the trail). I slept in my hammock and my dad slept in the tent. It was probably one of the coldest, most uncomfortable nights of my life. But awesome. I woke up with the sun, around 6:30 or 7. We started our hike by 8:30. The first few miles were okay, definitely tough, but doable. We got past treeline and the real work started. I swore I thought I was at the summit about 7 times, only to see the summit miles away. I reached the table lands and pretty much booked it up. Upon reaching the summit I was blown away. It couldn't have been a more perfect day. It was clear and a bit windy and chilly. The visibility was perfect. I could see for miles. I made my way back down with my dad and got down just before dark. I slept for most of the 7 hour drive back home, then slept til noon the next day.

At the summit. Happy Callie.

My dad is the raddest dad.

Another great hike was Mount Washington, New hampshire. It's the highest of the New England High points and such a fun hike. We took Tuckerman's Ravine (also part of the AT, we also feel a connection to the trail). It's 8.4 miles roundtrip, with incredible views. We left home at 9AM (oops!) and arrive at the trailhead around 12. We started right away, reaching the summit around 4PM. We spent some time at the summit and headed back town. We reached the car around 8:30PM, well after dark. It's a good thing we were prepared with a flashlight, as we hiked in almost complete darkness for about 45 minutes. I had always wanted to hike Mount Washington, since I am a New Englander and it almost seems like a rite of passage. We lucked out with fairly warm weather and clear skies.

Beautiful day on the summit.

Mountains make me happy, simply put. I feel tall, despite standing at five feet tall. I feel much more alive while standing on a mountain. It might be the air. It might be walking through clouds. It might be that I can stand where even trees can't grow. I'm not sure entirely what it is, but I love the mountains. Mountains are my happy place.

Happy trails!

Callie

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