Hiking Options

[Puma concolor]

Mark, do you know—and if so can you describe—the exact location of the District of Columbia's high point? My son and I went to the fort when we were in Washington several years ago, but couldn't figure out if the high point was inside the chain link fence or not. Or where it might have been if along the fence anyway.

I saw a list online that had the latitude and longitude coördinates, but that's no help to GPS-less me.

I have not visited Fort Reno myself but most of the "summit photos" I've seen are outside/along the chain link fence. There is an obvious rise at the corner of Fessenden and 39th that leads to the highpoint. Gotta get there one of these days ... it's not high on my priority list though since it's not a "state."

Hope that helps.

http://americasroof.com/dc.shtml

 

[percious]

I want to try and visit this next time I am in DC. Emily's parents live near baltimore, so we often take a trip out to the city.

-percious

 

[jfb]

For people who've conquered all the major peaks relatively early in their hiking careers, how do they wile away the remaining scores of hiking seasons in their lives? (especially if they don't want to keep climbing the same peaks ad nausem?)

After becoming proficient at hiking and backpacking, I learned technical rock climbing, then ice climbing, then was able to travel out west and do some serious alpine climbs.

 

[Umsaskis]

I had the fortunate opportunity of moving to upstate NY after finishing the NE 100, and began tackling the Catskill 35 and ADK 46, which leads to the Northeast 111. But now that I'm back in New Hampshire, I'm climbing everything else I never climbed before while I was focusing on the lists. For example, Paugus and Chocorua, Wolf, Cube, and anything else I can find on the map. There are a plethora of lesser-hiked peaks out there, which are really beautiful and remote. And revisiting peaks I've already climbed is always fun too.

 

[Nate]

After the 4k and NEHH lists (and ADK 46 and NE-111), what other "official" peakbagging lists are there for the northeast? What other lists out there reward patches for those who complete them?

 

[RoySwkr]

After the 4k and NEHH lists (and ADK 46 and NE-111), what other "official" peakbagging lists are there for the northeast? What other lists out there reward patches for those who complete them?

Catskill 3500
NY & NH tower quest
End-to-end on Long Trail
Trailwrights 72 and SRKG Greenway have certificates but maybe not patches
You can buy NH100 and 3K patches although they are not official lists

You can get the [NH] tower quest patch in 5 short hikes.

You can get it in one short hike & 4 driveups, or 0 hikes and $5

 

[Nate]

For the NH 100 and NH 3k, if there are patches, is it expected you hike all the peaks before buying either, or are they used more as a fund raiser? If it's the former, are there lists of the peaks they expect you to climb that are posted anywhere?

 

[jn316]

"heightism"

Perhaps this thread is the place to attack, at long last, the pernicious practice of "heightism", the tradition of listing mountains by their height, which clearly discriminates against lower mountains.
Perhaps we need to have lists that rank other attributes, such as length (in NH this would place Moose Mtn. high on a list)
or width (Moosilauke?)
or...?

 

[Puma concolor]

Well, there is the P2K list of mountains in the Northeast which lists mountains of 2000 feet of prominence or greater. This includes "low" mountains such as Black Mountain in the Adirondacks.

 

[sierra]

go west young man

There are alot of great ideas if you stay in the east. a few yrs back, I had reached the "saturation point" in NH. I decided to move west. I chose to climb and hike in the Sierra's first, then moved to the Rockies in CO. I tell you this, when I bought the guidebooks for both those ranges, I felt a sense of excitement and opputunity that fired me up in a way I hadnt felt in years in the Whites. I had a hard time figureing out what to do there where so many options. In CO, I climb the 14ers by range, that way I become knowledgeable about individual areas and peaks as I go. AS for the Sierras, its hard to do just 14ers, although IM working on the "14" there, I will not hesitate to "bag" smaller peaks that attract me along the way.
I summerize CO and CA like this, CO is a HUGE area with many great mountains, the 14ers rule here, although many "13ers" are very worthy. Ca and the Sierras are by far the most beautifull mountains in the country, soaring granite monoliths of white granite, high alpine lakes everyhere, great "crosscountry" travel opps. The 14ers there are a split, some are easy,some are very demanding ie. the Palisades will inspire all but the most impassionate souls.
To those who feel the "East" is home and its hard to make the move out west, I dissagree. I made the desision in about 2 weeks, loaded up my truck and just went. Granted I have know kids and stay unmarried, but that is by design, mountain climbing is my TOP priority, with that mindset in hand, decisions are made easiley. IM back east now and it only took 3 months to get bored to death. Ill stay for the winter because the "season" out west is ending, but come June 1st, IM gone, one month to aclimate and train at altitude then, I plan to assault the 14ers in CO with a vengence.

 

[ADK4Life]

Just hearing you speak of the Sierra makes me want to go back. The place is pure beauty from Lone Pine all the way up to Tahoe.

 

[anita514]

we've made up our own sort of list - climb all the 5000+ footers in the north east. granted there are only a few, they are the peaks that interest us the most.

the time I would spend doing the 48/46/111/100/etc. would be time taken away from climbing out west and planning trips abroad. so forget it.

 

[Mr. X]

The topic came up recently of what one should hike once they've completed the New England Hundred Highest list. Shooting for the remaining peaks on the Fifty Finest list was a popular suggestion, but it begs the question: what do people usually move on to doing once they've completed the NEHH? There's certainly no shortage of mountains and natural areas to explore in New England, but after completing the major lists, what is there left for a peakbagger to do? For people who've conquered all the major peaks relatively early in their hiking careers, how do they wile away the remaining scores of hiking seasons in their lives? (especially if they don't want to keep climbing the same peaks ad nausem?) Do they simply move out west to where there are more challenging peaks than they could ever hope to finish in their lifetimes?

I always thought the next step was...?

 

[sierra]

base camp

This thread got me thinking. When I move out west in the spring, IL live near Boulder CO. Anyone on this board that wants to hike in CO can come out and stay with me and Il gladly take you up some 14ers, but they have to be on my list. To some who have never hiked out west, this might help as Ill show you around get you up and down and promise youll be hooked from then on. Hopefully Ill still be on this board at that time, I have somehow managed not to get booted, yet

 

[ADK4Life]

I will be taking you up on your offer this June/July for sure. I want to take care of Longs and Castle.

 

[RGF1]

If some one is interesed in the Elks I hope to be ther in June or early July I should have recoved enough to climb but maybe not back pack by then .
As for list or what not . I am glad my father and I climbed the then 46 4 k peaks mostly I go back to my favorite places such as Crag Camp other RMC places , the Great Gulf or the Maroon bells and Pryamid Peak in Co now because I like them and enjoy being there. Not to mention I am not good at sticking to a list. But to each thier own Lists are just another way some people enjoy hiking .
ADK4life I know Castle peak very well and have a route on it that is not in a guide book a bit shorter but steeper than the routes in guide books but more fun It is probably the easiet Elk 14er .
If some one wants, a more interesting hike climb I would be happy to do a Maroon Bells traverse or Capitol peak If I am up for it . If not Just the class 4 route on Prymid is usually thriilling and dangerous enough for most people and it is a day hike as the route leaves from the Crater Lake trail the tralhead is a huge parking lot at the end of Maroon Creek road same thing for the South Ridge route on South Maroon. Only catch a 3 am start .

 

[ADK4Life]

I would love to get on the ridge on Capitol.

 

[sierra]

adk4life,
That would be great if we could hook up, Castle is one of the peaks sitting at the top of my list as are all the ELk range. One thing to keep in mind ( you might already know this) JUne can still be early depending on the winters snowpack, this last year for example had all the high 14ers covered until July, not that I mind snowclimbing mind you but the av danger and approaches become serious issues early in the season, by JUly what snow is left is well consoladated and can make for some great snowclimbs and glissades for sure. If I lived in the east I would plan all trips to the west starting in July to insure a higher chance of success.

 

[ADK4Life]

July is probably best for me too, I want to hit CO, WY & CA over 3 weeks this year.

 

[RGF1]

July is probably best for me too, I want to hit CO, WY & CA over 3 weeks this year.[/QUOTE


The week after the 4th is a good time as there is a bit of a break after the holiday . July is a good time for wild flowers . Yes there was alot of snow even in late June this year. I was postholing at 13 k in what was probably over 6 + ft of snow on the way down North Maroon on the NW ridge . ! I would start looking for flights now and if you are planing on staying near Aspen you will want resevere a place before March at the latest unless you have a lot of money to burn.
I usually check every other day.
If you guys are interesested maybe we should either start a new thread or take it off the forum . I would be very interested in hiking with people on the VFFT out in my home away from home.
ADK If you want ot do Capitol If I am able I am up for it . The Knife edge is both spectular and in if you fall you are either dead or very seriously injued . catagory .