Highpoint: South Dakota. Harney Peak (7242 ft). July 19, 2010

[TrishandAlex]

Copied from http://www.trishalexsage.com
Accompanying pictures can be found there.
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Trail #9
6.8 miles, 1600 feet elevation gain.

Harney Peak, the third "tough" highpoint of our summer. When planning this trip, I had worried that this hike might be too long and steep for Sage. I needn't have fretted...my youngest daughter took on this highpoint with enthusiasm and easily kept pace with Alex. She actually led the way most of the time.

'Twas a wonderful "walk in the woods."

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Next stop: North Dakota.

 

[eddie]

Hi Trish, what a tour of the US of A! BTW, how many high points have you and the girls gotten so far? How many miles have you driven?

 

[TrishandAlex]

Hi eddie,

We're now up to 29 highpoints, including the four states we visited before this road trip (we're ahead of my TRs, I've still four reports to post to bring the record up-to-date). We've still four to bag before we return to NH. After we're home, we'll make a day trip out of Vermont, which will bring our grand total to 34.

Next year we'll get Maine and NY, which will bring us to 36. The remaining peaks are bigger and badder, so I've no idea if all three of us will continue after next year, or if it'll be just me in the future. I'll wait and see what the girls want to do.

As for miles...not sure. I think, including side-trips, we've driven close to 9,000.

 

[Christa]

I really enjoyed Harney Peak when we hit it a few years ago. Unfortunately, it was pretty foggy that day, so we didn't really have the views, but it was a nice hike. Amazing how different the trails are out there from the ones here in NH, isn't it? The Trailhead for Harney Peak is nearly as high as Mount Washington, but not nearly as rough. Did you guys see the blazes/number 9's cut into the trees? They have a completely different method/definition of "Wilderness" than we do here.

 

[TrishandAlex]

Hi Christa,

Yes, we did see the image of the number 9 cut into the trees. Made me a bit squeamish, as I don't like to see anything carved into live wood. You're right, they do have their own way of doing things out there.

The trail was nice -- very smooth, compared to the Whites.

 

[mirabela]

Wow. That's superb.