Summit Up

Highpoint 19 of 50, Part 1. Mark Zimmer on New York's highest point.

2010-10-03T22:00:00.000-04:00

Trying to find Maryland's highpoint

2010-08-29T10:31:00.002-04:00

When climbing the highest point in Maryland, I would recommend that you follow one valuable bit of advice: do not be fooled by false summits. I came close to being fooled myself; really close, scary close actually. When I say scary close, I mean that I had taken all of my pictures, filmed my video, packed my gear, and starting to walk down when my co-climber suggested that we check out where a side trail went. It turned out that it went to the summit I was supposed to have been standing on in the first place.

Like many of the other highpoints that I have climbed in the past, Backbone Mountain, sits right on the border of the state. In this situation, it sits on the Maryland/West Virginia border. Part of the hike actually is in West Virginia. It is because of this that there are a few extra markers indicating the state line that look an awful lot like the markers that are used to indicate a highpoint. Add some age and moss to the markers, and you have a recipe for confused highpointers.

The best way to avoid this problem is to use GPS coordinates while hiking. These are available on a number of different highpointing sites. I should have known better on this one, and I won’t be making this same mistake any time soon. A false summit, and finding the correct summit, is a challenge that most don’t think about until they start reaching some of the easier highpoints. When climbing a 14er, there is little doubt on where the top is. Put yourself in the middle of the woods, when the trail goes up and down all the way to the peak, and it gets a little more complicated.

All the best!

Mark

PS The two pictures attached are of me at the summit and the false summit. When I am standing next to the cement marker, I am actually in the wrong spot. Pretty hard to tell the difference, huh?

2010-08-11T16:09:00.000-04:00

2010-07-20T09:41:00.001-04:00

2010-06-02T17:39:00.001-04:00

Highpoint 13 of 50. Part 1, Mark Zimmer on top of Alabama's Highest Point

2010-05-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

How we help

2010-04-29T20:36:00.001-04:00

I would say that the most difficult things over the course of my efforts thus far is to show individuals how what I am doing helps the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association, “to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.” It is a serious mission, and I feel that when I am out climbing mountains, it is sometimes difficult to imagine that what I am doing has any real effect on curing Alzheimer’s. Who is to say that I am not just out trying to get a free vacation?

I am happy to say that this is not the case, and although I guess there is no real way to know if I am telling the truth, one should take comfort in knowing that all scams eventually come to an end. But no, I am not a scammer. So far, every cent put towards my climbs has come out of my pocket. 100% of the donations received have gone to the Alzheimer’s Association. On top of that, my effort to raise awareness by climbing at least triples the amount of planning time for each trip. Contacting media, knowing where I will be each hour,setting up meetings and presentations, it all adds up. I have a great time, I really do, but there is much more to Summit Up than just a vacation.

The true value that I am able to bring to the table comes from the interest in my climbs among people who wouldn’t otherwise have much of an interest in Alzheimer’s. If Alzheimer’s is truly going to be eliminated, then we need the best minds in the country working on it.Often the best minds are still in or just out of college, a demographic not traditionally affected by Alzheimer’s. After each of my climbs and after each time a story is done on Summit Up, I get numerous emails letting me know how my climbs have inspired them to do something to help. Sometimes it is for Alzheimer’s; sometimes it is for something else. Either way, we are making a difference by starting the movement that is necessary for any change to happen. My climbs are surely not an end to the problem, but I hope and continually work to make them the launching point for a young generation motivated to end Alzheimer’s before it is too late for them to do so.
Have a great week!

Britton Hill Stats

2010-03-21T19:21:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned in my post last week, Florida is the lowest of all 50 state highpoints. With an elevation of only 345 feet above sea level, Florida is one of those states where the highpoint is not on a hill of any sort, but just along the road in some random spot. If I hadn’t of been looking for Britton Hill, I would have drove right past.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have Denali which is by far the tallest state highpoint. Since it is the tallest, we hear about it, we name vehicles after it, and come up with all sorts of stats comparing it to other peaks, such as, “When one climbs Denali, they gain more elevation than when one climbs Everest.” Britton Hill, however, is not exciting, so we never get to hear how it stacks up against the other peaks. This is where I come in.

For starters, pick almost any state in the US that does not border an ocean, and the lowest point there is higher than 345 feet. Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, all of them do not get this low. Unless you are reading this post from a surfboard waiting for the next big wave, you are more than likely higher than Britton Hill. The next fun comparison –yes, I said fun, you are having fun right? –is that if you continue south to Miami, there are over 50 building that stand higher than Britton Hill in the city alone. Now, I am not sure how you are going to get to the top of these buildings, but it is worth knowing nonetheless. Finally, and this really makes Britton Hill sound lame, is that you would have to stack 84 Florida highpoints on one another in order to start getting close to the height of Everest.

It is worth the trip, but feel free to leave the bottled oxygen at home for this one.

The "summit" of Florida

2010-03-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

How does one go about making a state like Florida's highpoint exciting? Beats me! Florida has the priveledge of being the lowest of all 50 state highpoints, and as you will see here, it is very un-summit like. If you ever visit Britton Hill, it may be nice to know that you are only about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It is not every state that you can highpoint and be swimming in the ocean an hour later.

Hope you enjoy!

The Windy Summit Of Georgia

2010-02-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

Georgia and the AT

2010-02-02T22:14:00.000-05:00

Should you, in the near future, find yourself heading to Georgia to climb Brasstown Bald, the highest point there, I suggest that you take a small detour. Where you are going to want to divert to is the Chattahoochee National Forest in Central-Northern Georgia. With a name like that, you probably don’t even need a reason to go there, but I will give you one anyhow. You are going to want to head towards Springer Mountain, which happens to be the southern terminus for the Appalachian Trail. If you enjoy being in the outdoors, I am going to guess that at one point of your life, you thought about hiking the AT. I don’t know why, but it enters all of our minds.

Something that I found really interesting is that although you can see the ranger station that all of the AT’ers walk to and finish, the actual finish is 8.5 miles back up the trial. At first I really couldn’t come up with a good reason of why they would have done this. Put yourself in a thru-hikers position, you just wandered in the woods for over 2,000 miles, and you get to a sign that says,” Yay, you finished, now walk 8.5 miles to your ride.” At first this didn’t make sense. Then I met some AT’ers.

Take a short hike on the AT, and you will realize quickly that there is a HUGE difference between thru-hikers and people like me who just jump on and walk a short distance to a highpoint or for simple amusement. The thru-hiker will walk hundreds of miles to see these amazing sites, and become very connected to each other and their surroundings in the process. People like me, on the other hand, drive most of the way, hop out of their car, and skip up to see the view. To be honest, I think they get annoyed by me, and what do they do to get back at me? They put their terminuses a 17 mile round trip away from the closest road. Call me paranoid, but I think I am on to something here.

Well it worked; I took my picture by the sign and wimped out. If you are in the Chattahoochee, which is still fun to say, it might be worth the hike. The northern terminus is Katadhin, which is the highest point in Maine. Although you might not end up hiking the 2,174+ mile trail, at least you can stand at both ends.

10 Climbs= 20% of the way done!

2010-01-24T19:16:00.002-05:00

As you probably heard me mention in the summit video last week on top of South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain is the tenth highpoint that I have climbed since starting my climbs April of 2009. We have raised a great deal of money and awareness for Alzheimer’s so far and have really set the tone for the next 40 climbs. I am still planning on continuing my climbs right through, averaging one per month until I am done. I expect to highpoint Hawaii in May of 2013, and with that, Summit Up will have reached its intended purpose.
Although I still have a ways to go, I thought it would be fun this week to reflect on how what 20% really means. It is no secret that I have started with some of the easier peaks. If you need proof, simply look at my list which includes states like Louisiana, Indiana, and Florida; not exactly mountaineering havens. The way I see it, I have to climb these peaks anyhow, and if I can tell the media that I have reached 20% of my planned climbs without mentioning which ones, why not? At the same time, I get experience before tackling peaks in the Northwest.
To climb the 50 state highpoints, I will have to gain a little over 100,000 feet in elevation while climbing. This is the equivalence of climbing Everest, in term of elevation gained, a little over 8 times. Out of those 100,000 feet that I am going to be climbing, I have completed an impressive…2,263 feet. For you math people, that is 2.3%. So, out of this first 20% of my climbs, 2.3% of elevation gained. Obviously I am going to step up my performance going forward, as it only gets more difficult from here. If you need an example, look at Colorado. I will gain twice the elevation on that one climb than I have in the first ten, and that isn’t the biggest climb! Thanks for all your support!

Video from the Summit of South Carolina

2010-01-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

The good and bad of co-climbers

2010-01-10T19:11:00.003-05:00

I commonly get asked by other people if they can join with me when I am going to climb a certain highpoint. Often it is by individuals who have been affected by Alzheimer’s in one way or the other, and feel that by joining with me on a particular climb they will further vindicate their personal journey to find a cure. I, of course, am always more than willing to let them come along. I enjoy the company, and it helps remind me that I am not the only one working on raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s. It is great to have the chance to talk with other individuals who have been through the same thing, and hear what they are doing to get the word out.

It would be easy to assume that having people me on my climbs is all good, and I wish that I could say that it is, but it is not the case. It not because I don’t like certain people, but rather because I am quite a random person. I love not being tied down by a set schedule, and since I do all of my climbs on my vacations from work (in case you are wondering what I do for work, I run a Bed and Breakfast in Grand Rapids, Michigan; bet you never saw that one coming) my despise for schedules increases even more. My climbs are usually during the day, which means my co-climbers-to-be have other things they want to be doing, and when I tell them I am going to be there Wednesday…ish, I am afraid they think I am trying to blow them off.

This probably all sounds like an excuse, and some of my billion plus followers worldwide (or was it 14?) are going to roll their eyes. It is not supposed to be an excuse, but more of a plea. I will be posting up my schedule in a few weeks, and if you get the chance to meet me at a highpoint, please cut me some slack if I show up behind schedule. Who knows, maybe I had a snipe hunt run late the previous night, and I am running a little slower than usual.

When not to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains

2009-12-27T15:52:00.001-05:00

I often wish that I only climbed highpoints, and nothing else. Apart from probably being the coolest “job” ever, it would make scheduling climbs a lot easier. There are certain times of the year that are the best time to visit different states. For example, I would love to be highpointing Virginia during the autumn colors, I would love to highpoint Florida during July, and I would love to highpoint Louisiana around Mardi Gras. However, my travels are affected, just like everyone else’s, by money. Since raising money for Alzheimer’s is my primary goal, zipping back and forth across the country whenever I choose does not make the most sense. I also have my work back home that I try to keep somewhat happy, so I try to group my climbs into 1-2 week trips.

I really hope that my highpointing leads someone else to get out and at climb some peaks as well. As self-appointed highpoint expert, I am going to recommend right now not to highpoint any of the states near the Blue Ridge Mountains in October/November. This includes Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and so on. I didn’t know until I got there, but the October/November season tends to be rainy and foggy in that part of the country. Not good weather at all for highpointing or for appreciating views. On top of that, if you are hitting a few of these listed states on a single trip, you will most likely spend a good deal of time driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is one of the most beautiful stretches of roads in America. With that beauty comes at least 50 million turns, and for a Michigander like me who is used to straight roads, it can be a little stressful. And who wants stress when they are highpointing.

I would love to be able to point out where you should go when, but I am sort of figuring this out as I go. Take this piece of advice for now, and there will be more to come. Next week I will be reporting from Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. This will be highpoint 10 for me, which means I will 20% of the way done with my climbs.

Blackdome Presentation

2009-12-20T20:37:00.001-05:00

Climbing mountains to raise money and awareness for an Alzheimer’s has taught me to focus on two very different areas before I leave for a climb. The first thing that I have to do is make sure that I am in good enough shape to complete the climb and to make sure that I have the correct gear with me to be ready if something goes wrong. The second part of preparation, and really the more difficult of the two, is to make sure that my efforts are going actually gain attention for Alzheimer’s. This is more difficult than the first because there is really no guaranteed course of action that will bring success. It is sort of try everything, see what works process.

Part of this preparation is before each of my climbs, I contact the Alzheimer’s Association office in that state to let them know what I am doing, and to see if they are able to help me out with media attention and other contacts that will make my climbing more effective. When I called the North Carolina’s office, I lucked out and was able to get in touch with a lady who had spent the last ten years working in the outdoor industry. She told me that she was friends with the owners of Blackdome Sporting Goods in Asheville. Better yet, she told me that if I was interested, I could make a presentation there as I passed through town.

I had made enough calls to sponsors to know what I would need to say in my presentation, but I was still a little nervous. Fortunately, I was 1,000 miles from home and knew that none of my friends could show up and try to make me laugh while I talked.

I ended up having a great time at the presentation, and although we didn’t have a big of turnout as hoped, it was still a success. I talked, the viewers drank juice courtesy of Old Orchard, and I ended up getting a decent amount of pledges while I was there. I plan to do this a lot more going forward, so if you know of someplace that I could make a presentation at while I climb, drop me a line. I appreciate the help.

Merry Christmas!!!

The highest east of the Mississippi

2009-12-13T15:31:00.001-05:00

If you had to guess where the highest point east of the Mississippi river is, where would you put it? I personally always thought that it would be somewhere in the Northeast. Maine or New Hampshire always came to mind for whatever reason. It wasn’t until I was on my way to Mount Mitchell, the highest point in North Carolina, that I realized I was wrong. I was flipping though my highpoint book-that’s how amazing cool I am, I have a book about highpoints I carry with me-and learned that Mount Mitchell is the highest point my side of the Mississippi river, with an elevation of 6,684’.

It really isn’t that amazing when you consider that the lowest point in Colorado is more than half this high, but since we are self-conscious of our small mountain on this side of the country, we do whatever we can to make them sound bigger.

I am guessing most of you travel around a fair amount, and I am sure you noticed that every place loves to be known as the biggest, the shortest, the widest, the oldest, the whatever-est in the world. Mount Mitchell’s main tourist trap happens to be the highest restaurant east of the Mississippi. That’s right, OMG! Just like the mountain!!

Not that I can blame NC, if they can find a bunch of people, like me, simple enough to go to a mountain just because it is the highest point in that state, then the same group of people will probably get a cup of chili and a t-shirt while they are up there. The pictures I got are a little blurry for whatever reason, but they should give you a rough idea of what it looks like. Check it out while you are there. The next time you are looking for a great conversation starter with the opposite sex, dropping the line, “So, you ever been to the highest restaurant east of the Mississippi? I have,” will do wonders. Take it from me, mountain climbing and relationship expert, Mark Zimmer.

Summit 9 of 50

2009-12-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

Mount Rogers Wrap-Up

2009-12-03T22:41:00.000-05:00

Perhaps the lure of miniature ponies has pushed you over the edge, and you have decided to climb Mount Rogers for yourself. If that is the case, I feel that the least I can do is give you an idea of what to expect when you get there. A prepared hiker is usually a happy hiker.
I ended up climbing in early October, and when I arrived in the parking lot, it was really foggy. Talking to some locals, I learned that it usually is foggy that time of the year. I ended up lucking out and getting great views most of the way up. I think this is pretty rare though, since I have talked to a number of climbers who have ran into fog each time. I have been told that summer is your best bet for good views, so that might be worth considering as you plan your trip.
The path that you follow most of the way up is actually the Appalachian Trail, and you kick off for the last half mile or so to reach the summit. This means that you will have a pretty well maintained trail, and there will be other hikers along the way. The walk from the trailhead to the summit is 4.5 miles. I took my time, chased ponies for a while, took pictures, and filmed a couple short videos. The whole thing took me about 6 hours. Plan on 5-7 hours, and you should be good.
It is always hard for me to decide what type of shoes to wear when I am going to a highpoint. I usually don’t carry any weight but a few small items, so I can get away with running shoes. I tried them on Mount Rogers, and although they worked, I wouldn’t recommend it. The trail starts easy, but does get rocky later on. If you are just going to highpoint, I would recommend trail running shoes, or a light hiking boot.
Lastly, don’t get your hopes up for a great view at the summit, as there are trees all over. Just before you kick off the Appalachian Trail, there is a great spot to get pictures, which is what I did. If you are going to climb a mountain, you probably want a decent view, so plan on doing that.

Mount Rogers Summit Video

2009-11-23T20:15:00.000-05:00

The encounter on Mount Rogers

2009-11-15T20:04:00.002-05:00

I doubt that I am the only one who does it, but I never really asked to be sure. So, I am going out on a limb here, and risking being known as a big wimp by individuals across the country; when I am hiking, I have the tendency to think that most every sound I hear is one of two animals…1) a bear, or 2) a mountain lion. I say most every sound, because let’s face it; it is hard to mistake the chirp of the chickadee as a bear. I haven’t had a run in with either yet, so I am not really sure why I do this. It could be movies; it could be too many Backpacker magazine articles; who knows? There, I said it, it’s out there. If you are going to laugh at me, please do it behind my back.

My love for the outdoors still is strong though, so I often man up and go hiking anyway. On my most recent hiking trip, I found myself wandering up Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia. It was to be my 8th highpoint completed, and it was to involve the most walking of any highpoint climbed so far. The walk up is about 4.5 miles, so it is not hard, unless you compare it the other highpoints I have done so far. As I followed the AT up to near the summit, I was careful to watch out for the small fork that kicks off to the actual highpoint. I found the trail, started the hike up, and as I was nearing the summit, I heard a sound that had to be a mountain lion. I knew it was all over, and 7 highpoints would be all that I ever completed.

Now, if I stopped right here and made you all guess what animal I saw as I came out of the thicket, I am guessing most of you probably wouldn’t come close. It was certainly the weirdest animal I have ever seen in the wild. It was a herd of miniature ponies. That’s right, it was straight out of a Disney movie where I next expected some prince would ride in, say something cool, and the ponies would prance off into the sunset.

Of course the next thing I wanted to do was jump on one and ride it, because that would only make perfect sense, am I wrong? At the same time though, I didn’t earn my pony merit badge, and I who’s to say these things are not aggressive. I admit, all logic argues against ponies attacking hikers, but maybe they are like panda’s? I decided to keep my distance, and let them do whatever it is ponies do when they are not prancing towards sunsets. I later learned there is an association that maintains them (where do you sign up, I know!) and they are believed to have been left by the miners back in the day. So, if you are even climbing Mount Rogers, beware of the ponies. I can’t believe I just said that.

A step away from the usual

2009-11-08T14:14:00.000-05:00

I usually use this time to update you on a certain aspect of my climbs. Over the past few months you have seen me on highpoints, heard me talk about the joys of wonderful views, and the disappointments of tree covered peaks. You have read about the money and awareness we are raising, and the people I have met along the way. It is my goal to bring as much of the action to you, and really help you see what goes into reaching the 50 state highpoints.

I would love to continue with that this week. I would love complain about the fog and the winding roads. I would love to make some sarcastic remarks about some unusual town I have traveled through. But to do so, I would have to pretend that this week is just like every other, and that would be a lie. You see, this past Wednesday, my grandfather who fought and struggled with Alzheimer's for the past 12 years, passed away.

I grew up watching the effects of Alzheimer's, both on him and the family around him. When I started Summit Up, it made me proud to raise not only money for a cure, but to raise awareness for the disease and the countless families it has affected. I never was able to explain to my grandfather what I am doing, but I imagine he would have been pretty proud to know.

For me, his struggle has been a reminder to never give up. His passing has been a reminder of how important it is to try and make a difference while you can. I have never been more enthused about what we are doing, and I wanted to take this moment to say thank you once again for being part of this fight.

Getting ready to climb Mount Rogers

2009-11-01T18:30:00.001-05:00

This post finds us at the trailhead of Mount Rogers, the highest point in VA.

The video includes:
Me complaining about fog
Reminder on what we are doing
View of the trailhead
Me complaining about fog
Some random trivia, and...
Me complaining about fog

Hope you enjoy, next week covers an encounter with an animal I bet most of you have never crossed paths with in the wild. Let the suspense begin...

1st Climbs Wrap Up

2009-10-26T22:36:00.008-04:00

This post here marks the end of the first set of climbs. 7 highpoints have been reached, 43 remain. In terms of elevation, however, I haven't done diddly. If you do the math, you will learn that in order to reach the 50 highpoints, one will have to climb just over 100,000 feet in elevation. The routes that I am going to take total 101,308'. So far I have gained well under 1,000 feet; probably closer to 500'. So, just in case you were starting to have a statue commissioned celebrating my greatness, you might want to hold off a little longer. Over these climbs, I did come across some odd and interesting places, and I wanted to share these pictures with you as sort of a wrap up to climb number

Wait...What?

Brazil...where the hell am I?!

They need signs for everything, don't they?

Nothing sells car washes like giant orca's in the trees

“The Backpacking Theory: How Deprivation leads to Appreciation.”

2009-10-18T21:16:00.001-04:00

Every time this thought enters my mind, I get the same feeling that I imagine an elderly person gets when they remember the speech they just gave that started with, “When I was your age…” Although I am younger than many of the people that I explain my basic theory to, I can’t help but realize that I have a rather unusual look on not just making money, but life overall. The “theory” that I am talking about is one that I coined while trudging though some hot, stagnant aired forest with mosquitoes the size of small birds sucking blood out of me faster you could say, “Oh my God, I hope I don’t get West Nile Virus!”
It was in during this exhilarating experience that I came up with my “How to enjoy life: Appreciation through Deprivation” thesis. The whole basis for this “theory,” if you can call it that, is that the best way someone can learn to enjoy their surroundings and learn to be patient while being persistent, is to take themselves out of their comfort zone, and go for total misery. And the quickest, cheapest, and easiest path that I know of to leave ones comfort zone and give them a healthy dose of deprivation is backpacking.
Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, I want to make it clear that although I enjoy pointing some of the lesser attributes of backpacking, it is an activity that I enjoy. After reading this some may wonder WHY I enjoy it, and the best justification that I can give is to tell them to give it a try. With that being said, I will get back to backpacking.
At the basis of this theory, there are two main principles that are separate issues, but work together to address one main “problem” that many people feel that they face. The first problem addressed is the feeling of not having enough material possessions, and the second is the annoying habit of feeling sorry for oneself.
Addressing the first principle of not having enough material possessions happens almost the moment a backpacker steps on the trail. Since everything that the individual brought along is on their back, it becomes instantly obvious that more is not better. The mind suddenly starts to run through the pile of unnecessary junk on ones back, and beings to wonder why that pillow, extra shirt, or toothbrush handle (no joke) is being lugged around. This thought process rapidly accelerates when walking on inclines, and jumps exponentially when pushing oneself back up after face planting down a hill. It usually doesn’t take long for the mind to reach the conclusion that although most stuff in life is nice, it sure isn’t necessary.
The second issue of feeling sorry for ones self really never actually goes away, it is just magnified so much that once the individual reaches society again, feeling sorry for ones self doesn’t make sense, since they are excited almost to a childish level. I will give a few examples that may seem ridiculous, but are actually true. Take something as basic as a real meal. Quickly jumping back to our first issue, we remember that less is better, and this goes for food as well, both in weight and quantity (and usually quality). After a week of rice, beans, dried fruit, and oatmeal; a cheeseburger is a real God send. On a more basic level, running water is a truly exciting thing upon ones return to the real world. After a week of drinking warm, fishy tasting water that has been flavored with iodine to kill any viruses that the water filter missed, a simple glass of cold water is better than can be imagined. The list of examples goes on and on from sleeping with a pine cone you forgot to move jabbing you in the back all night; to trying to bathe in water that is so cold it does disturbing things to certain parts of the male’s anatomy, and makes breathing next to impossible. The point of realizing that, “Hey, I don’t have it so bad,” sets in real quick when one hops back into their vehicle and drives to a motel for the night.
The best thing, however, that I feel backpacking offers is the chance to think. Backpacking is physically tiring, but mentally stimulating. There is very little noise, and the mind gets a chance to just relax and wander.
So there you have it, the next time you feel that you have it SO hard, and that you NEED that new suit, car, gold-plated harmonica, or whatever; remember that a little bit of serious deprivation can end up making your everyday world pretty rosy. And from that foundation, one can go out and happily achieve their goals while never feeling like they HAVE to get to a certain point to be successful.

Kentucky Summit Video

2009-10-04T20:35:00.001-04:00

Right on the edge

2009-09-29T21:30:00.001-04:00

If you ever decide to start visiting a few of the state highpoints, something you will begin to notice real quickly is that many of them are real close to a state line. It makes sense, of course, if you think about it; mountain ranges slowly increase in height from one side to the other, and when a state line cuts through a range, it is likely that a states highest point will be right near that border.

Such is the case with Black Mountain, the highest point in Kentucky. If you approach the mountain from the Kentucky side, as opposed to the Virginia side, you will see a sign that reads, "Entering Virginia" about 300 yards before you see a sign that reads, "Crossing Black Mountain, Kentucky's highest point." Although this makes very little sense initially, what happens is that you park your vehicle at the trail head, and walk back into Kentucky to visit the highpoint. It is that close to the border.

When I first realized this, I thought that I might be able to complete two highpoints in one. This, however, is not the case. As the Appalachians move into Virginia, they increase in height to form Mount Rogers, which is about 1,600 feet higher than Black Mountain.

What you should know about Clingmans Dome

2009-09-14T12:51:00.001-04:00

I really do hope that because of what I am doing, a few of you decide to visit some of the state highpoints. Even if it is just your state, it is an enjoyable thing to do as well as a step out of the ordinary. Since there are numerous books and articles describing nearly every aspect of getting to a highpoint, climbing a highpoint, and what to do after going to that highpoint, there is little value in me reciting what you most likely already know.

However, on each highpoint that I visit, there are a few things that I find that I really should have known before I went. Out of interest of helping you, I wanted to pass them along.
There is a road that leads you pretty close to the top of Clingmans Dome, so the hike itself does not take very long. The drive, however, takes about an hour because there are many other cars on the road. Take note that you will not be averaging much more than 20 miles an hour, so allot time accordingly.

Second, it is about a 60 mile round trip from the closet gas station to the summit and back. Not too far, but still far enough to make you really regret running out of gas. Most of the time there is no spot to pull off, so a stalled car would cause you all sorts of verbal abuse from everyone who gets stuck behind you. Don’t try the drive with a ¼ tank.

Finally, if there is any way you can be a passenger, rather than a driver, go for it. While your driver is white knuckling in and out of switchbacks (make sure you trust their driving) you will be gazing at amazing views all the way up. Driving though the mountains is fun, but sometimes the views trump it.

Tennessee Summit Video

2009-09-08T20:34:00.001-04:00

Tennessee Highpoint trailhead

2009-08-30T15:56:00.000-04:00

Trail Food

2009-08-16T17:38:00.002-04:00

I may very well be the only one who does this, but on almost every backpacking trip that I go on, I end loving some really weird food. For example, on one trip it was pickled herring on crackers, another was sardines in mustard sauce, and yet another it was tuna fish and Tabasco. I don't know why it happens, because when I return to normal life, I usually don't like them anymore. My theory is that you crave odd foods when you are backpacking/camping because you are already outside of your box, and therefore you need different foods to keep you going. That might not be right, but it is my theory.

While driving away from the highpoint in Mississippi, I suddenly, and randomly, got the urge for avocados. Now, some of you might have an avocado in your lunch everyday, so this might not seem strange to you at all. As for the other 99% of you, I hope you understand how random this is. I had never eaten avocados, so why should I start now? After hundred miles of craving them, I stopped at a Walmart and bought three of them and a jar of salsa. I honestly think that I have discovered the perfect trail food.

Avocados have an amazing about of energy boosting calories, zero sodium, zero cholesterol, and a range of nutrients that range from helping your skin to helping your eyes as you age. As long as you are active enough to burn off the healthy fats in them, they are wonderful. Even if you think this is dumb, I encourage you to invest 2-3 dollars and try it out.

What you do is cut the avocado in half the long way, throw away the pit (they are supposed to be poisonous, so don't eat it) and fill the pit cavity with salsa. Scoop half salsa and half avocado with a spoon, eat, and repeat. As you run out of salsa, refill. I am telling you, this is the best weird food that I have ever had, and I can't recommend it enough.

2nd set of climbs schedule

2009-08-16T16:40:00.003-04:00

October 11

Arrive in Blackburg VA at 9:00 am for media.

Arrive at the base of Mount Rogers, VA at noon and start climb. The climb is supposed to take between 6 and 8 hours total.

October 12

Highpoint Mount Mitchell, NC at 1:00 pm and highpoint. There is very little climb, so it should only take a 1/2 hour to get pictures.

Arrive in Ashville, NC at 3:30 pm for media.

October 13

Highpoint Sassafras Mountain, SC at 9:30 am. Again, there is very little climb.

Arrive in Westminster, SC at noon for media.

Arrive in Clayton, GA at 2:30 for media.

October 14

Highpoint Brasstown Bald, GA at 9:30 am. The total walk is about 1 mile, so I am guessing about an hour all together.

Arrive in Atlanta, GA at 12:30 pm for media.

Arrive in Montgumery, AL at 4:30 pm for media.

October 15

Highpoint Britton Hill, FL at 9:30. This is lowest of all 5o highpoints, so expect no climb at all.

Arrive in Ashland, AL at 2:30 for media.

Highpoint Cheaha Mountain, AL at 4:30 pm. You can drive right up this peak, so again it is very simple.

Start drive home.

Facebook flag on top of Louisiana

2009-08-15T10:39:00.010-04:00

Here's the Summit Up Facebook group's flag flying on Driskill Mountain, the highest point in Louisiana. I know it is next to impossible to see your name, so if you want to see a close up of the flag, click here.

-Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

2009-08-15T10:16:00.004-04:00

Getting your flag to the highest point in your home state is way easy.

These are the three, and only three, steps it will take:

1) You think up a flag design.

2) You send your flag design to me at:
mark@summitupusa.com

3) I will print off your flag and carry it up your choosen peak.

Please remember that I am limited on how many flags I can carry to each peak. The sooner you get them to me, the better.

Want Pictures?

If you think you might want us to take a picture of your flag, just so you can prove to all your friends, family, and associates that it happened, we can help.

Pick your state and follow the link. The price you see gets you the pictures you want, and gaurantees your flag is one that I carry with me to that peak.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Kansas

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

7 Ways to Avoid Prevent Blisters

2009-08-13T21:12:00.004-04:00

Stay hydrated - if you are not sweating, the salt on your body will begin to irritate your skin.

Shoes - You want room to wiggle, but not enough that your foot slops around. You have heard it all before, break in your shoes before hiking/climbing.

Socks - Select socks that fit your foot without being too tight or too loose. Stay away from tube socks as they don't fit close enough to the foot. Try to use a sock that wicks.

Stay Dry - Using powder along with the right sock can really help. Use foot powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch to stay dry. (Try Gold Bond or Dr. Scholls foot powder.)

Lubricant - Many distance walkers use lubricants on their feet. This is very common for marathon walking. Body Glide is a a good option.

Blister Blocks, Second Skin and Spyroflex - If you have specific places that are prone to blisters you might try applying one of these prior to your walk. Note: most of the products listed here can be found at your local drug store. Look in the foot care, and shoe care areas, if they are not located with first aid products.

Wrapping and Taping - Wrapping toes with moleskin or taping feet with athletic tape (or duct tape) is also a common practice. If you wrap your feet it is important that the tape is applied smoothly (no wrinkles) and not too tight. Ultra walkers might tape their entire foot, but most walkers only need to tape up hot spots.

How to pop a blister

From the summit of Mississippi

2009-08-09T21:46:00.001-04:00

Here we are yet again, climbing the state highpoints to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's. This week comes from the top of Woodall Mountain,our 5th peak and the highest point in Mississippi. As you will see in the video, there is no actual climb involved. At a amazing elevation of 806', Woodall Mtn. is the 47th highest peak.

Should you ever decide to visit Mississippi's highest point, there are a few things that you should know. First, if you use a GPS to find the peak, be prepared to take some odd routes. I ended up driving on a two-track behind a welding shop for a while, then through a couple of parking lots? Second, it is pretty well marked once you get close and the trail up is about a 1/2 mile drive. Finally, the view is okay for just over 800', but don't go there expecting grand vista because you will be a little let down.

Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

The Three Types of Natural Socks

2009-08-06T21:21:00.007-04:00

Cotton - A lightweight, moisture absorbing fiber. No other fabric offers the comfort and feel of nature's own fibre. It's breathable, washable and biodegradable too. Generally though 100% cotton is not recommended as a sock material for walking. Cotton absorbs sweat, dries slowly, providing no insulation when wet and this may lead to discomfort and blisters. However, cotton is extremely comfortable and when combined with wool or other wicking and insulating fibres, cotton blends can be a great choice for light walking in summer. In my personal experience, don't wear cotton unless you can change into a clean pair that night. It also feels really gross when put them on after trying to wash them on the trail.

Silk - A very smooth, soft and moisture absorbing fibre. It boasts a high tensile strength and acts as a natural thermal retainer that does not conduct heat. Although comfortable and lightweight it lacks durability and is mostly used in liner socks for it’s wicking ability. I really like silk for sleeping at night in the summer. It isn't that warm, and if you stick your foot out in your sleep, is helps stop mosquitoes.

Wool - The original, easy care fibre. Each wool fibre is made up of millions of "coiled springs," that stretch in use, but coil back to their original positions. It features inherent qualities such as warmth when wet, cushioning, shape recovery (resiliency) and it breathes with your body. It can be knit in various weights to provide increasing levels of insulation for every temperature. Wool yarn, when knit into a thicker sock, tends to be bulky and lofty. Air becomes entrapped and it becomes an ideal insulator. Wool socks also keep feet drier because wool absorbs as much as 30% of its own weight before it begins to feel damp.

Unfortunately, wool can take a long time to dry and it can be scratchy/uncomfortable next to your skin (many new wool options, including merino, do not have this problem). It can also wear out quickly if not reinforced with other materials. Wool blends (combinations of wool and synthetic materials) are extremely popular because they address many of these problems. Merino wool is hands down the best. In case you have been holding back because you don't believe it is worth the money, buy a pair and try them. You can wear it all day, slosh it around in a stream, dry it out, and it feels clean going on in the morning. Yeah, it is that good.

How to Pop a Blister

4 Types of Socks Explained

2009-08-05T22:46:00.012-04:00

Naturally, the socks that you wear when you are backpacking, hiking, or simply wandering around the outdoors are at least as important as your shoes. Since manufactures know that socks are important, they have flooded the market with so many options that it is hard to keep them straight sometimes. Here they are broken down into the main categories.

Liners - Sock liners are thin, lightweight wicking socks designed to be worn right next to your skin. These liners wick sweat away from the surface of your foot to keep you dry and more comfortable, some will also provide added warmth should you need to bolster outer socks. Liners also limit the amount of abrasion between your outer sock and your skin. They are purpose designed to be worn under other socks, as well as being suitable to wear on their own. It is very important to remember that liner socks are going to allow your foot more room to slosh in your hiking boot, so don't try them for the first time when you are 40 miles out with 80 lbs on your back.

Lightweight walking/backpacking socks - Designed for warm conditions and easier walking/light footwear, lightweight walking socks stress wicking performance and comfort over warmth. These socks are thicker, warmer and more durable than liners alone. They also provide more cushioning. But they are relatively thin so that you can stay comfortable on warm weather trips. Because most lightweight walking socks are made from wicking materials, they can be worn with or without liner socks. Usually are thicker on the bottom allowing for extra padding, and thinner on the top and sides to allow breathing.

Midweight walking/backpacking socks - These socks are designed to provide reliable cushioning and insulation in moderate to cold conditions and are also better suited to heavy weight boots and trekking. They tend to be thicker and warmer than lightweight walking socks. Many models have extra padding built into high-impact areas like the heel and the ball of the foot for maximum comfort. These socks can also be worn with liners to improve wicking, comfort and warmth.

Mountaineering socks - Mountaineering socks are generally the thickest, warmest and most cushioned socks available. They are designed for long trips, tough terrain and cold temperatures. Usually, mountaineering socks are too thick and warm for basic backpacking journeys in moderate/warm conditions. Again liner socks maybe appropriate for foot management (wicking, blister protection etc.)

So remember, to thick of socks=blisters; to thin of socks=blisters. Try them out before you go out.

Related Posts:
The Three Types of Natural Socks
How to tie your hiking boots
Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

How I came close to going to prison in Mississippi

2009-08-02T15:36:00.002-04:00

One of the things that I always bring with me when I travel is a shotgun. For me, having a gun along brings peace of mind should I somehow get stranded in the middle of absolute nowhere, I will be able to signal for help, hunt for food, protect myself, ect. Whether you agree with my reasoning or not, I want you to at least understand my thinking. I of course follow all rules, the gun in secured in a case in back, locked, with the ammunition in a separate locked container. I also pay very close attention to state rules, which is why a shotgun makes sense because it is much less of a perceived threat than say a handgun or rifle.

After climbing the highest point in Louisiana, I made my way towards Mississippi to climb its highest point. It was getting late, so I decided to look for a place to stay. The two biggest things I look for in a camp ground are 1) Cheap and 2) Showers. I got ahold of Camp Shelby, and I learned that I could stay there for $1 a night, a great price for any budget. I typed the address in my GPS, and started heading that way. As I approached, I was kind of surprised at all of the fences and open land in the area. As I approached, I noticed cement barriers closing on either side of my vehicle, and I suddenly realized what was going on; Camp Shelby is a military base!

I wasn't too nervous until I saw the sign explaining how bringing any firearm on to base is a federal offense, and how bad I was going to get punished if I tried. I wanted to back up, but right behind me was some army vehicle of some sort. I keep trying to decide what to say to the MP at the gate. Somehow how, "Hi, I have a gun" didn't seem like a good idea. I decided to cross my fingers and just ask to back up and not go on base. Dumb idea.

I get to the gate, and I am told that I HAVE to go on base because I am at the gate. I will have to check out at another spot. Well crap. There I am, an inch away from a federal offense, trying not to cry, driving on a military base with a shotgun. Lucky for me, I didn't get stopped, and nothing more happened. Why do they call military bases "camps" anyway?

Video from the summit of Louisiana

2009-07-26T19:52:00.000-04:00

Put You on Top

2009-07-21T23:06:00.003-04:00

As far as announcements go from a guy who wanders up and down hills, this is big news. We at Summit Up have just got done putting the final touches on a program that allows you design a flag with whatever you want on it, and I will carry it to your selected peak, free of charge. Be it your business logo, message to your significant other, face, or coat of arms, I will get your flag to that peak.

Whoa, whoa, you say, what is the catch? The catch is that I hope you will make a donation for me to take a picture of your flag when it is up there flying. We have it set up so you can choose between three different size pictures, and since you select only the peak, or peaks, that your flag goes up, it is really quite reasonable. You get your flag to the top of your state, and help our mission to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's.

Obviously, there is much more to go over, but that is the basics. To learn more, please click here.

The Lowpoint of climbing Louisiana

2009-07-19T16:40:00.002-04:00

Ever notice how the two animals which hikers hate more than anything are at totally different end of the spectrum? One is really big, and the other is really small, and ironically enough, they both do the same thing to you which we all hate, bite you. Yes, you are correct; I am talking about bears and mosquitoes. Some think that it is hard to say which is worse, but it really comes down to one simple point. After a mosquito bites you, it itches; after a bear bites you, it is common you don’t feel anything afterward. Therefore, mosquitoes the more evil of the two.

So there I am, attempting to connect with nature by wandering up the highest point in the state of Louisiana, and here come the mosquitoes. Naturally, they can’t just bite you and get it over with. Oh no, they have to fly into your eyes, your nose, and make that unbelievably annoying high pitch whine by your ears for a while. Then, they decide to top it all off by sucking your blood. Try focusing on enjoying a highpoint when you have to keep smacking bugs hard enough to nearly break your own legs. Why do we smack mosquitoes that hard anyhow?

There is a proposed solution, but some would argue it goes a little extreme. To us Northerners- I am from Michigan-Louisiana is known for being a giant swamp perfect for breeding and raising mosquitoes. Therefore, drop a nuke on Louisiana, and you will strike a fatal blow to the mosquito cartel. Until this happens, make sure you drink nothing but Deet for a couple of weeks before you climb Driskill Mountain. I will be back next week with a video on the summit. If you listen closely, you can probably hear that annoying high pitch whine mentioned earlier.

Facebook Flag on top of Arkansas

2009-07-18T17:10:00.003-04:00

Here's the Summit Up Facebook group's flag flying on Mount Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas. I know it is next to impossible to see your name, so if you want to see a close up of the flag, click here.

Short video on top this highpoint.

How to pop a blister

2009-07-07T21:22:00.002-04:00

It is true, popping a blister is usually not a good idea. The whole reason your body forms a blister is to protect part of your body that is being irritated. However, there are times when a blister is going to prevent you from doing what has to be done, so you should know how to properly pop them.

Usually this is done by a doctor because most blisters that require drainage are caused by something more serious like burns, crippling sunburns, or other complications. But, if you have a small blister that you just can’t stand anymore, you can get rid of that blister by following these simple steps:

1) Find a pin and drop it in a small bit of rubbing alcohol to sterilize it.
2) Puncture the blister in two separate places, and push lightly on the blister with the blunt side of the pin to push the fluid out.
3) Wash the blister with soap and water, applying antibiotic cream, and covering it with gauze.
4) Let the blister heal. Don’t tamper with it unless you really want an infection.

How to tie your hiking boots
7 Ways to Avoid Prevent Blisters

From the top of Arkansas!

2009-07-05T19:26:00.001-04:00

Getting to the Summit of Arkansas

2009-06-28T19:59:00.003-04:00

One of the more important things that is easy to forget when highpointing some of the more simple states is that you are still climbing mountains, and therefore are still subject to weather. As obvious as this sounds, I seem to be good at forgetting it from time to time. It is more than likely a combination of excitement and desperation to get out of the vehicle after driving for eternity.
Such was the case upon my climbing of Magazine Mountain, the highpoint of Arkansas. Driving up to the base of the mountain is a pretty dang fun drive actually. The Ozarks are a beautiful area, and the roads are a sports car drivers dream. Switchbacks, followed by rolling hills, followed by the occasional straight-away where everyone seems to floor it so no one passes them; these same people then slow down to 27 mph as soon as you get back to the normal tight turns.
Unfortunately for me, I was driving arguably the most un-sporty vehicle made. A vehicle so bad at turning, that the term, “roll-over” was coined to describe what happened to it. A Jeep. I did my best to not die, and raced my way up the mountain, gaining about 2500 feet of elevation in the last 3 miles to the summit. I was so surprised that I my Jeep wasn’t at the bottom of some ravine that I quickly started to walk to the peak, only to realize a quarter mile later that it was 41, rather than the 63 I had dressed for at the bottom of the mountain.
Naturally, I did the smart thing and decided that it would warm up in no time. This never works, does it? The summit was so foggy that visibility was about 200 feet, and it was pretty dang cold. I signed the register, took some video, and ran back to the, um… safety?, of my Jeep. I lived, but learned an important lesson: Never go outside again. Or, maybe wear enough cloths. Or, never go outside again. Next week, I will post a video from the summit. It is pretty scarry looking, so you should check it out.

4 things to remember about protein

2009-06-22T21:32:00.003-04:00

Prime the pump The amino acids in proteins create the enzymes that regulate metabolism. Without them, your body can't produce energy. You need plenty of protein (12 to 20 percent of daily calories) so your body doesn't start to break down muscle tissue.

Shop the deli Animal products contain complete proteins–that is, entire sets of the nine essential amino acids your body needs. Pack foods like beef jerky, hard salami, powdered milk, and Romano and cheddar cheeses, all of which provide more essential amino acids by themselves than plant sources such as peanuts and soy.

Combine and conquer Not a fan of meat or dairy? Use combinations of plant proteins to diversify your amino acid intake. Add almonds, peanuts, and walnuts to trail mix. Cook a one-pot dinner with beans, rice, and corn. Spread peanut butter on a wheat tortilla. The general rule: mix legumes (peas or dried beans) with nuts or grains.

Fortify Hiking at altitude diminishes appetite even as your protein needs increase. Try frequent, small portions of chicken and beef soup. You can raise your amino acid intake by adding 2 ounces of whey-based protein powder to your water or electrolyte drink.

The high point of Arkansas's highpoint

2009-06-20T11:51:00.001-04:00

Boy, can it be depressing. You drive all across the state, eat burnt ramen, sleep on rocks, and once you reach the summit, you end up starring at trees that look the exact same as the ones in your back yard. Lame! Yes, being disappointed in the view is one of the many joys of being a highpointer. Here is some annoying, cheery advice for you though, It only makes the other highpoints with good views that much more enjoyable. How is that for inspiring?

All that aside, the view from Magazine Mountain, the highpoint of Arkansas, is awesome. I wasn’t able to appreciate the view from the very top, because the fog was as thick as my unappetizing, usually-gets-fed-to-the-worms, oatmeal. About 400’ down, however, it was incredible. There was a gentle breeze, and it was one of those moments that make leaving society seem like a real good idea.

If you ever do visit this highpoint, be sure to pull off at the overlook about a ¼ mile from the trail head. I sometimes avoid these, because they are too “touristy” for my tastes, but this one was worth the blow to my pride. Check it out; you will thank yourself the next time you are staring at a bunch of brush on a “summit.”

Getting your image

2009-06-16T20:51:00.000-04:00

Getting a business started can be one of the best exercises in multi-tasking ever. There is an unbelievable amount of silly little tasks that have to be done. Most of them are so simple that unless you are going through the process, you probably won't think of them. For example, you have to think of a name, open a bank account, find suppliers, figure out who you will market to, set up a website, look for employees (sometimes), set up a phone number, and yada yada ya.

Each task in itself is really quite simple, but when you add them all up, it can be overwhelming at times. Not that I consider myself any sort of business guru, but I have stumbled through this process a few times. In my opinion, the most important thing that you can do when getting started on a new project is to create your logo. I took a while to do this with Summit Up, and I really do regret not having done it sooner. Although a logo doesn't bring instant success, it does seem to separate you from a great deal of the competition who is also getting started at that time. As a new business, you need to look professional, and a logo makes a HUGE difference. It will create harmony throughout your stationary, website, marketing materials, ect.

There are numerous ways to find someone to design a logo. Every city has a number of designers, freelance designers are listed on Craigslist, and there are numerous site such as Logoworks also available.

Like I said, there are no limits on what you can spend your time and money on, so try not to loose focus of the reason you are starting your business. However, looking into getting a logo sooner than later is strongly encouraged by yours truly.

How to find a highpoint

2009-06-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

I get asked this quite often, and it is a really valid question. To an outsider, someone who doesn't spend most of their free time dreaming of walking up a hill, it is probably a little confusing to imagine how I randomly find the highest point in each of the 50 states. Sure you could drive to the biggest hill, but that doesn't necessarily mean its the highest peak. What if there is another peak that doesn't look as tall but starts at a higher elevation? What if the states highpoint is under some building?

In reality, finding a highpoint is really simple. Believe it or not, there are whole groups of people who go around and climb these peaks, we call ourselves...HIGHPOINTERS! Incredible name, huh? There is even a club for us. State highpoints are shown on most state maps. Some of them are difficult peaks, others are not much more than a mole hill. At every state highpoint there is a marker put out by the US Geographical Service.

This is what shows you when you are standing on the highpoint. They are usually put in a rock, so there might be a little pile of dirt off to the side that is a few inches higher, but you get the idea.

Before the dawn of GPS, getting to these highpoints could be very confusing. Cities are not built around highpoints, so they are almost always in the middle of nowhere. For example, Mount Arvon, the highest point in my home state of Michigan, is deep within logging country. When we tried to get there, we ended up having to walk through a cedar swamp because we couldn't find our road. Today, all you have to do is type the coordinates into your GPS, and it will take you right to the trail head.

For a great site for highpoint GPS coordinates, check this out. Click on the peak name, and they will be listed in both degrees and decimal format. Of course, one missed entered number may drive you to the wrong side of the country, so what I do is find the highpoint on an actual map, and then double check to make sure the GPS is driving me in the right direction.

I strongly suggest using a GPS, since it makes your travels really efficient, and allows you to enjoy the scenery instead to checking every street sign to make sure you don't miss your turn.

Facebook Group Flag on Taum Sauk

2009-06-08T23:12:00.000-04:00

Here's the Summit Up Facebook group's flag flying on Taum Sauk, the highest point in Missouri. I know it is a little hard to see your name, so if you want to see a close up of the flag, click here.

Short video of me on a lookout tower near this highpoint.

Taum Sauk, Part 1

2009-06-07T19:31:00.000-04:00

This is a lookout tower near Taum Sauk, the highest point in Missouri. The wind messes with the audio a little, but you should still be able to make out all of my brilliant commentary.

Quick elevator pitches

2009-06-03T07:46:00.000-04:00

In case you are not familiar with the term, "elevator pitch" the concept comes from the line of thought that at any given time, you could get on an elevator with a person who has exactly what you need, and you need to sell them on your idea. Since you are on an elevator, you basically have that person trapped for 30 to 60 seconds, and you need to be able to relay your message in a simple and concise manor.

I am not sure how often business receive capital on elevators, but that is the concept. For a business person, it should be applied every time someone asks you about your idea. Entrepreneurs are dreamers, and having a pre-thought out answer keeps you from rambling on.

A good elevator pitch should cover three basic points: what you are doing, how it meets a need, what you are looking for.

Here is an example:

"Hey there, how are you? I am Mark Zimmer, and I am getting involved on a project that involves climbing peaks across the country. What I am dong is climbing the highest peak in each of the 50 states. Although I am not the first to have done this, I am the first to use it as part of a marketing venture for businesses. We have a number of companies who are getting involved in our climbs, some of who are having a company flag carried to the top of each of these peaks. I would like the chance to talk with you about some different ways we can get you some exposure."

You want the pitch easy to remember (both for you and them) and it should leave the listener wanting to know more. Feed them a little, and then hope they ask for more.

My first real hiccup

2009-06-01T07:39:00.000-04:00

Ever notice that no matter how prepared you think you are, all it takes is one silly little misshape to make your prefect plans fall apart? For me, it was even sillier than I thought it would be.

The main part of my effort during my climbs is to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s. Money is obviously really important, but awareness tends to result in donations and volunteering for years to come. Anyhow, in order to raise awareness, it is really important that I take pictures, short videos, and write stories along my way for others to browse. What is the one thing that all of this depends on? Electricity.

No, I wasn’t so shortsighted that I didn’t plan on my batteries going dead. On my climbs, most of my nights are spent in tents; and as you may know, most tents don’t have a plethora of outlets. My plan was to charge up my batteries while on the road using an inverter for my cigerrette plug.

Upon my arrival at Hoosier Hill, my very first highpoint, I pull out my inverter which is attached to my cigarette plug, and all the guts pull right out with it. There I am, only 7 hours into an eight day trip, and my whole strategy for staying connected is ruined.

Fortunately, as most of you other campers know, it is our determination to not stop having fun that forces us to be creative and fix problems. I ended up having hack through the side of my ash tray with a pair of Leatherman pliers and a old Sawz-All blade that I had for some reason. It looks a little red-neck now, but the important thing is that it is fixed and I am back on track.

Protecting Tents

2009-05-29T20:54:00.000-04:00

Remember when tents used to be something that you saved up for while before you could purchase one? I think that the first tent that I bought cost just under $100,it was a total piece of junk, and it was to be expected for such a "low" price.

Now, you can practically go to your local grocery store and pick up a decent tent for under $30 no problem. Kids today have no idea how good they have it.

Should you, however, pay the money to get a higher end tent, you will expect to have it for a little while. With this in mind, I thought I would let you on a little secret: UV light is a tents worst enemy. Well, maybe grizzly bears are the worst, but UV is a close second. Sunlight breaks down the tents seams and fabric, causing it to loose its ability to keep you dry.

There are two solutions. Quit sleeping in, or spray on a UV protection spray. This spray is available at most outdoor stores, and makes a big difference when you are operating out of a base camp, and your tent stays up for days at a time.

Top two reasons why being the first isn't always best

2009-05-26T22:31:00.001-04:00

We live in a world that loves firsts. The first man to climb Everest. The first women to run for President. The first kid to never miss a day of school. With all the news about firsts, there is little wonder why many people come under the impression that they have to be first to get attention. Here are the top two reasons why this is not the case.

The first downside of being the first is very few people will take you serious. This becomes every more important when your first is difficult or dangerous. Take climbing the 50 state high points for example. I have had a hard enough time convincing sponsors I am going to make it even though over 200 people already have done these climbs. It would have been crazy difficult to get sponsors otherwise.

Second, it is a whole bunch easier to learn from what they others have done than to make every mistake yourself. The old saying "don't reinvent the wheel" has a lot of value to it. It is too easy to get bogged down trying to figure out how to do some insignificant part of your goal when you should be moving on. Copy what you can, and do the small things different to make the idea your own.

Taum Sauk vs. the St. Louis Arch

2009-05-25T20:45:00.001-04:00

Admit it, you are dying to know which is taller.

Staying with Bennetts

2009-05-19T22:48:00.000-04:00

One of the more random, and therefore enjoyable, things that happened while visiting my first highpoint was getting invited into the home of a couple in Richmond. They knew I was coming into town, and said they had an extra room if I was interested as I made my way to the highpoint of Missouri. Of course, my pride was at stake because I had told everyone that I would be roughing it to the extremes. I didn’t want to be rude, but I knew that the life of an elite climber like me, someone who had just summated the highest point in Indiana at a not so modest elevation gain of “negligible,” as listed by the Highpointer’s Club, could not be pampered.

As I bit into my second brownie with my feet kicked up and my glass of ice cold milk next to me on the table, I decided that maybe the occasional visit back to civilization while on my climbs wasn’t such a bad idea. Rather than sleeping on rocks or in my Jeep, I got my own full size bed with a heated blanket so it wasn’t “to cold when you get in.” As opposed to the burnt oatmeal I usually carefully prepare myself each morning, breakfast was amazing enough to ask for seconds, rather than only eat half and then donate the rest to the local worm population like I usually do.

Then of course, it was insisted that I take some food with me. I am guessing this is probably because I look about as skilled when it comes to culinary as the next ramen noodle connoisseur. I left there well rested, clean, and with a full belly, looking forward to the next highpoint and to my next one-backpacking-pan culinary masterpiece.

On my way to Taum Sauk, the highest point in Missouri, I drove through St. Louis. This brought up an interesting question: Is the St. Louis Arch higher than the geographical highpoint of Missouri? Find out next week.

Why your passion should be a business

2009-05-18T22:35:00.000-04:00

I imagine that all of you have heard the advice that you should enjoy what you do. The idea seems to be that you should find a job that meets all of your needs, and then find a way to make it fun. I would like to suggest a different approach, and it is the approach that I took to starting Summit Up. Come up with an idea, and then build a business around it.

Climbing the 50 state highpoints is my goal. Summit Up is the business that is going to make my goal happen. It is very important to see the difference between the two. One is the end result, and the other is simply the vehicle used.

Now, there are countless reasons why building a business around your goals is a great idea, far to many to be listed here. I will touch on a few big ones to help you see what I am talking about.

The first is that knowing how to runs a business should be a priority to every individual. You don't have to make your living running your own business, but you should understand what it takes. It will make you a better father, wife, uncle, sister, employee, friend, whatever. When your goal is pushing you to create a business, it becomes exponentially likely that you will do it.

Second, once you create a legitimate business around the idea, your expenses begin to become tax deductible. Rather than paying for you trip with money left over in your paycheck, you are paying the expenses first, and getting taxed on what is left over. Quick example, the gas it took to drive me on the first set of climbs, it was a write-off. All 3,300 miles worth.

Third, people respect your goals more. I know this sounds shallow and stupid, but think about it for a bit. Most of us don't go after our goals because of what our friends and family think. It is their eye-rolling at the beginning stages of your idea that stops you. Having the entity of a business there gives you an immediate buffer from insults. You will hear, "This business will never work" rather than "You idea will never work." Remember, it is the idea we care about, the business is just the vehicle.

Stop your feathers from getting away

2009-05-14T22:34:00.001-04:00

Ever wake up choking like mad and feeling like you just inhaled a whole duck? Believe me, it is not fun. This feeling is most likely from one of two problems. A leak in your down sleeping bag, or a duck in your tent. I can help you with problem number one; you are on your own for the second.

Pulling feathers out of your bag when they start to poke out can be lots of fun. You can hold them in your hand, give them a puff of air, and giggle like a school girl. The trouble is if you do this a few hundred thousand times, you will be sleeping in a nylon sack. Not really worth it.

If you do start to see a feather poke out, the recommend set of steps is to 1) poke it back in with your finger, and 2) massage your sleeping bag so the hole closes itself. This also help loft your down, resulting in better heat retention.

Video from the "summit" of Hoosier Hill

2009-05-13T20:44:00.000-04:00

You know that have ALWAYS wondered what the highest point in Indiana looks like. Well, here you go!

After the idea

2009-05-10T21:33:00.000-04:00

Being fortunate enough to be able to watch one of my crazy ideas materialize, I feel that it is my responsibility to attempt to pass along some of the wisdom that I have gained over the process. I know you have all heard that all you have to do is "keep trying" and you will succeed; this is only partly true, and usually told by people who have no idea what you should do next. This is not a repeat of that advice.

Ideas are fairly easy to get, for most people they happen all the time. It is what to do next, the actual steps, that lead to the individual giving up. When starting on a new idea, failure is certain. I guarantee that some part of your plan or process is going to fail, and this is what a lot of people don't expect. They jump to the conclusion that if their plan failed, then their idea must be a failure; not true.

Quick example, when I started Summit Up, it was my plan to run an auction to decided whose flags I would carry. I planned to auction off 5 slots per month, and the winners would then send me a flag, and I would repeat the process until I had all the flags I could carry. Three months into this plan, I had zero sponsors. Not a single company had made a bid or even a counter offer. However, I still felt that I had a good idea, and began calling companies directly. This idea worked, and sponsors started to come in.

The last part of this example is key to getting an idea moving. Try all sorts of different tactics around one idea and see what works. This allows you to quickly weed out the plans and processes that are bad, and move resources to the ones that are performing. One failure should never be a reason to stop. Try everything, and put your focus on where you are having success.

How to tie your hiking boots

2009-05-08T11:00:00.005-04:00

We are getting a little back to basics on this one, but as anyone who has ever had a blister will tell you, it is actually pretty important. Compare your shoes to tires on a car, how they are attached makes a big difference.

You may know this, but it is worth repeating, when you walk a lot, your feet will swell The trick is to have shoes tied in a manner that will allow your feet to swell, but at the same time are snug enough to prevent your foot from slopping around and causing blisters.

1) Pull your laces tight enough around your foot that you can feel the sides of the shoe, but still allow some wiggle room.

2) At the ankle, where your boot will have either eyelets or quick lace loops, do a single overhand knot (the knot that you start with when tying shoes normally) between each eyelet. This will keep the snugness of the laces around your ankle from averaging out with laces around your foot.

3) Finally, it's important to not tighten the top tie too much. This will allow your foot to vent, and not build up sweat. If sweat builds up, your foot will still find a way to blister.

4 Types of Socks Explained

Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

The Highlight of Hoosier Hill

2009-05-05T21:53:00.000-04:00

The Highlight of Hoosier Hill. … Or, should I say, “The highpoint of the highpoint.” Book deal and instant stardom anyone? Okay, enough of that.

Consider this post a warning. If you are driving north out of Richmond, Indiana on Route 227, and you see a speed limit sign that reads, “Speed Limit 45,” do go 45. I am not exactly a hardened criminal. I mean look at my picture, I look like the kind of guy that would get kicked off the Chess Club because he isn’t cool enough.

Anyhow, there I am, Mr. Speed-Limits-Don’t-Apply-To-Me, going around 60 mph. The whole road is a series of these little hills that cause that weird feeling you get in your stomach from a roller coaster. I am zipping along in my Jeep, thankful that no one is there to hear me giggle like a school girl on each hill, when I go over this one hill that should have gotten the head of the road commission sentenced for negligent homicide. Now, I am not sure if my Jeep came off the ground, but I know my suspension was all the way stretched out and when gravity caught up with me, half of my airborne gear flew up the front seat.

I don’t think I have ever had more fun driving, and I am really thankful that I didn’t snap my Jeep in half. So there you have it, if you take this route to the highpoint, either make sure that you sort of follow the speed limit, or make sure that you are driving a rally car.

Join us on Facebook

2009-05-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

We are doing something that no one else has ever thought of, SETTING UP A FACEBOOK GROUP!!!

Did I get you excited? Hmm, damn. Well, at least I tried.

Lame jokes aside, Summit Up is on Facebook. Search us, join us, and I will ad your name to a flag that I am carrying with me to the 50 state highpoints. You can view the current flag here. The sooner you join the group, the more peaks your name will be carried to.

Rock on!

-Mark

Never, ever, ever....ever Shut Up

2009-05-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

Raise your hand if you have been told to shut up today. Okay, now raise your hand if everyone else is looking at you wondering why you just raised your hand. Good. Now that your lunch date just canceled, you have time to read my post.

The topic today is to never shut up about your ideas. This is a no-brainer to some, but others seem to get worried that if they talk about their ideas too much and then fail, they might not get invited to the popular guy's birthday party. Get over the fear of failing, RIGHT NOW. See, that wasn't so hard. If you are still not convinced, start practicing doing dumb things and you will learn that failing is not that bad after all.

Talking to anyone who will listen has at least two main benefits.The first is that the more you talk about the idea, the more determined and assured you will become. Ideas are like children, they need to be nurtured, they demand time, and if they fall apart, you can always make a new one. The second is that people like helping others, and the more people that know about your idea, the more likely it is that you will be helped. Very little has every been achieved by ideas no one else knew about.

Getting Sponsored: Myth Number One

2009-04-29T22:47:00.000-04:00

We all love getting stuff by doing nothing, am I right? It is probably the greatest thing that can happen, for someone to give you something for, wait for it...FREE. This is why anyone who has ever rubbed two sticks together while being outside dreams of the day they can be sponsored. Free gear, what could be better.

Being one of the sponsored elite (pause for effect,) I wanted to let you in on a little secret that will set you on the quick course to joining our ranks, sponsors don't care if you are the best, they care if you are getting attention. Its true.

Don't think for a second that I am the best mountain climber. I would have to scale Everest like 15 times naked to even start to be viewed as an elite mountaineer. Since I tend to get cold when I walk around naked, I don't think Everest is a good place for me to go. I am sponsored because for whatever crazy reason, people find me interesting. Crazy, I know.

The reason that many of the best do get sponsored is because the general public likes winners, and therefore winners get attention. If you want to get sponsored, focus your attention on creating a following and the sponsors will start to line up. Rather than cold-calling numerous companies to hear the same response, spend that same time doing something that the general public can talk about. When you get talked about, you get sponsored.

Survive Outside: The bowline

2009-04-28T21:03:00.000-04:00

Life leads us in many different directions, and we often end up doing things that we would never expect. With this in mind, I feel that it's my duty as an accident prone outdoors man to help train as many of you as I can, in the event I end up stranded and need you to rescue me. Fair enough?

One of the most important things for you to know when peering down the frozen crevasse at me is how to tie a bowline. I would do it myself when you lower your "Mark rescue rope" down to me, but both of my arms are broken from my 25' belly flop.

A bowline is arguably the most important knot in rescue. It allows you to make a loop in a rope that can be slipped over my torso that will not tighten and squeeze my delicate body. All you would have to do then pull me up to safety. Just think, you can then tell everyone you saved arguably the most influential man to ever live.

Rather than demonstrate how bad I am at giving directions, I will let you look at a two second animation here. See, it is that simple. Call your boss, tell them you can't come in tomorrow, and practice until you know it cold. My life might depend on it.

Lessons Learned: Getting Ideas, The Three Steps

2009-04-28T10:28:00.000-04:00

Interviews are fun. Lots of fun, actually. You get asked all sorts of random questions that you can say anything to, and the reporter will write them down like it is total fact. One of the random questions interviewers just love to ask is, "How did you get this idea?" What! How in the world do you answer that question? Uh, it was written on a bathroom stall.

In reality, coming up with a great idea is about as easy as coming up with a bad one. Since I know all of you have said, "Wow, that was a dumb idea," at onepoint, I know you have what it takes to follow the three simple steps, random, remember, and report.

First, make yourself do different things all of the time. I was wandering up a butte in North Dakota when Summit Up was conceived How is that for random? These different things don't have to cost anything, and they don't have to take much time. Still stuck? Try this, lay down on the ground where ever you are. As your face gets stepped on, maybe you will come up with a new idea for a better shoe tread.

Second, remember them! I can guarantee you that some dude has already cured cancer, but forgot his brainstorm when the oven "dinged" signalling his Tater Tots were done. Yeah, bet you didn't know Tater Tots are the food of choice among cancer researchers. So, do what ever it takes to remember your random ideas. Write them down, tie a string to your finger, shove a turtle in your pocket, whatever.

Third, and lastly, talk about them. Don't be one of those who won't talk about their ideas because someone might steal them, or someone might laugh at you. No one is going to steal your idea, trust me. At this point it is still so obscure that it won't do them any good any how. Everyone likes making people laugh, grow a thick skin and start telling others. If you are going to be discouraged by a couple of your friends laughing, you are not going to get far anyhow.

There you have it, Idea Generation 101. Follow these three steps: Random, Remember, Report, and you will ALWAYS have something to talk about when asked, "What's new?"

Low point of Indiana’s highpoint

2009-04-26T17:11:00.001-04:00

Highpoints have low points. No, I am not talking about a geographical elevation, but rather something that makes them less than perfect, and therefore memorable. I am not one to complain; how can I, I get to climb the 50 state highpoints? However, I am going to pick two items that made my travels to Hoosier Hill, the highpoint in Indiana, not quite incredible.

The first is the let down when you drive up to the mountain, I mean hill, I mean cornfield. Sure, I highpoint is a highpoint, but Hoosier hill is still pretty darn lame. To make matters worse, everyone around Richmond, Indiana that I talked to knows this. So there I am, trying to sound at least somewhat important, and I keep getting met with, “Ha, ha, you must be some climber!” and “Wow, you went all the way up Hoosier Hill!” People from Indiana have a very peculiar sense of humor I now realize.

The second part of this sob story is that it rained part of the time while I was up, well, barely up there. Sure, sure, I know, it didn’t rain all the time so shut up. I guess you are right, but I would have still liked sunshine, rather than mud and humidity of about 137%.

A Quick Re-Cap

2009-04-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

Before I go jumping right into the stories of my travels, I thought it would be a good idea to re-introduce myself to make sure we are all on the same page. First impressions are not usually fun, but they can be fun when they are through type. It isn’t possible to read someone’s body language, and therefore it is hard to tell whether they are telling the truth. To capitalize on this, my name is Mark Zimmer and I am basically perfect in every way. I often have gorgeous women stalking me, I coach many professional athletes, and I almost understand the metric system. Amazing, huh?

Now for the truth, my name is Mark Zimmer and I am a 23 year old from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Starting this month, I am going to begin climbing the highest peak in each of the 50 states to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. To raise this money, I am both collecting personal donations and flying flags for my sponsors on each of the 50 peaks. I plan to average one peak per month, and I will be releasing a weekly blog posts and short videos to keep you up to date on my travels. Hopefully I generate some amusement for you along the way, and hey, I might even serve a useful purpose and raise some awareness for Alzheimer’s.

All the best,

Mark

Facebook Flag

2009-04-19T13:30:00.001-04:00

Well here it is, a close up of the Facebook members flag. I probably should have the names in some sort of order, but I didn't. I guess you will just have to squint to find your name. This is the flag that I flew on the highpoints of Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

If you want your name on the flag for our next set of climbs, just be sure to join the Summit Up Facebook group.

All the best,

Mark

Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

Things are going well

2009-04-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

I just wanted to give you all a quick update. I am currently in Louisiana, getting ready to climb the highpoint tomorrow, which is Driskill Mountain. So far I have reached the summits of Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. I will have many stories and pictures for you when I get back, but for now, know that I am alive and well.

All the best,

Mark

Final preperation

2009-04-02T19:33:00.001-04:00

Well here we are, after a year and a half of planning, failing, learning, and planning some more, the first set of climbs are here. I will be taking off next Friday, April 11 in the morning. On this first trip, I will be highpointing Indiana, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.

This trip will take me eight full days and I will cover just over 3,000 miles getting it done. Along the way, I plan to either sleep in the back of my Jeep (real classy, I know) or pitch a tent at night. I will be on the move most quite a bit, and as I pass through larger cities along my way, I have been setting up media appearances to help get the word out on what we are doing. So basically I will be a climber/ PR guy for a little over a week.

Now a lot of different people have been asking me what kind of training I have been doing, and how big these mountains are going to be. I would love to sound like a tough guy and claim that I am doing 5 mile runs up hills and 1,000 push-ups every morning. But...this is not the case. Sure, I do run, I do bike and work to stay in shape, but nothing too extreme yet. My first set of climbs are all pretty easy, actually the hardest peak I will climb is Clingman's Dome in Tennessee and that is only a 2 mile walk total.

Anyhow, the flags will be starting to fly soon, and the pictures will start to roll in. I am really looking forward to getting started, and I wanted to say thanks for the support so far.

Schedual for 1st set of climbs

2009-03-23T20:56:00.000-04:00

April 10
Media in Kalamazoo, MI late morning
Media Fort Wayne mid afternoon
Highpoint Indiana in evening

April 11
Media in Indianapolis mid morning
Media in St. Louis late afternoon
Drive near to Missouri highpoint

April 12
Highpoint Missouri
Get to Little Rock, AK late

April 13
Media in Little Rock first thing
Drive to and highpoint Arkansas early afternoon
Drive to Grambling, LA

April 14
Media in Grambling first thing
Highpoint Louisiana around noon
Media in Jackson late afternoon

April 15
Media in Tupelo, MS around noon
Highpoint Mississippi early afternoon
Media in Huntsville early evening

April 16
Media in Chattanooga late morning
Highpoint Tennessee mid afternoon

April 17
Media in Knoxville mid morning
Highpoint Kentucky early afternoon
Media in Lexington early evening

April 18
Media in Cincinnati late morning
Go Home

Flags starting to show up

2009-03-15T14:12:00.000-04:00

And the first sponsor to get me their flag award goes to.....Choice Schools Associates. Okay, I will admit that there wasn't an actual contest here and that all the other sponsors still have plenty of time to get them to me, but it is still exciting to see the flags start showing up.

I will be leaving for my first highpoint trip on the 10th of April, so that gives me about four weeks to get the remaining flags and get the final details worked out.

The flag holder that you see me working here is something I rigged up using a camera tripod. For these first set of climbs, it should work real fine as it is. Once I start climbing some higher, more rocky peaks, I am going to have to come up with a way to anchor the tripod to the ground to prevent wind from blowing it away. Climbing highpoints can be rough, but it gets a whole lot more rough when you have to chase after you sponsors flags as the tumble down a rock face.

Mr. (don't) Know-It-All

2009-03-08T20:36:00.000-04:00

This post is going to take a step away from what I usually write about, which is quick updates on sponsors and climbs. Rather, I have decided that it is also important to convey the lessons that I have learned along the way with Summit Up so if anyone decides they want to chase after their crazy goal, perhaps they can learn something here.

To give you an idea of how Summit Up was conceived, we have to take a step back to where I was when the thought first entered my mind. I tagged along on a family hunting trip so I could get the chance to hike around North Dakota. One day while starring blankly at a map while in the vehicle, I realized we were not too far from White Butte, the highest point in North Dakota. I offered we go there with about as much enthusiasm as one would say, "Let's go to Taco Bell." Sure, I wanted to go, but I wouldn't have fought too hard for it. Fortunately, the rest of my family jumped on the idea, and we went there.

Upon climbing the butte, I stood there and looked across the land and the idea popped into my head, "Hey, you should climb the highest point in all 50 states." To me this idea was about as realistic as riding an ostrich across the Mojave, but I liked the way it sounded.

Upon getting home, I researched the idea online, realized that others had done it (this took away some of the coolness, but it also meant it was possible) and started telling people that I was going to reach the summit of all 50 states before I died. I had no idea how, and it didn't really matter, I just decided that I would. Summit Up was created to help me reach this goal, and help make my goal more meaningful. The important point here is that all I had done when I made the commitment is wander up one easy butte and conduct 5 minutes of research online; that's it. Fast-forward two years, and there is zero doubt in my mind that I will have completed this goal before turning 28, maybe sooner.

I will be the first to admit that planning has its place, and that sometimes decisions like these backfire. However, there is something very powerful about looking at the big goal, committing, and then figuring out how you are going to do it. If I would have looked at all the details before deciding if it was "possible" for me to do this, I would have probably been intimidated. Small details such as the cost of climbing Denali was more than I made that summer, or that less people have done this than have climbed Everest, or that there is over 20,000 miles of driving involved at the very least would have made me laugh at the idea. However, since I had already started to tell people that I would achieve this goal, I had to figure out a way to make it happen.

I don't want this to come off as some lame pep-talk, so I hope this isn't the case. I just want to testify to the power of making a goal, and then figuring out the details, as opposed to trying to find out all the facts, and then deciding if you can do it. This is my crazy goal that I am failing my way to success on, what's yours?

Flag designs starting to roll in

2009-02-23T22:28:00.000-05:00

That is right, the climbs are getting close enough that I have to start thinking about flags! I imagine that most of you are not nearly excited as myself, but you have to understand, this has been a long time coming. Each of the sponsors that I have listed on the site will be getting their own custom 12 x 18" flag. I will carry these flags with me on all of my climbs, and then send each sponsor their flag back at the end.

Believe it or not, I spent a great deal of time looking around for a fabric that is light, strong, and doesn't let the sun shine through. One has to consider such random things when working to carry a flag to all corners of the country.

Anyhow, I have asked the sponsors to have their flag designs submitted by March 15, and I will then start climbing in April. We are close now, oh so close.

Life is good.

Mountain Madness decides to help keep me alive

2009-02-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

"Keep me alive" is really just a less eloquent way of saying "guide" but I guess you get the point.

This is probably one of the biggest break throughs I have had for Summit Up. The reason for this is without a guide service, few would take me serious when I made the claim that I was going to be climbing the highest point in all 50 states. A guide service gives more clout to my presentation. Most of these highpoints can be done without a guide, but there are few that cannot; or at least shouldn't. Out of these few, two really stand out: Rainier in Washington and Denali in Alaska.

It is true, I could go to these peaks with the "man verses mountain" mentality, pound my chest in sheer masculinity as base camp, and blaze my own trail up the summit. However, this would probably result in me getting stranded 1/5 the way up with a stubbed toe. People would have to risk their lives and take time out of their schedule to come out and save my sorry ass. I ruled out this option a while back.

MM has been around for longer than I have been alive, and since I think that I know what I am doing, I feel it is safe to assume they know what they are doing. They guide climbers and expeditions all around the world, sending people up Everest, K2, the highest points in all seven continents, and many others. To say the least, I am in good company.

It is my plan to work with MM through-out my climbs. I will be hooking up with them in the summer of 2010 to take a mountaineering course to get me prepared for some of the more difficult peaks out West that I won't be using a guide service on. So if you plan to give Summit Up a quick glance once and a while over the next few years, expect to see MM as well. In case you want to check out their site, it is www.mountainmadness.com. I know, I know, you would have never guessed.

Hoosier Hill, An (almost) Incredible Highpoint

2009-01-31T17:03:00.000-05:00

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of standing on a state highpoint? A priceless view, a grand feeling of accomplishment, a steady breeze wafting past you? Well, if you selected any of the above, I am hoping you don't live in the state of Indiana. Now before any of you jump to conclusions that this is going to be an anti-Indiana post, know that it isn't. I enjoy Indiana as much as the next guy, and to date, I have no reason not to visit as much as I can.

One can only hide the facts just so much, and when one is standing on the highest point in Indiana, you will have to have mastered the art of deceptive photo taking to hide the corn stalks in the background. True, a highpoint is a highpoint, but it seems a whole lot less cool when you only walk 30 yards from your vehicle while traveling up a hill that would be hard to slide down unless it was groomed by a Zamboni.

Hoosier Hill is the name given to this slight incline, and I will give the state of Indiana credit for not trying to deceive the public by naming it Lookout Mount or something along that line. One thing that it pretty cool, and I do wonder why it is not mainstream, is that Hoosier Hill has a 4"x4" post in the ground marking the actual highpoint. It makes a great spot for one to stand, flap their arms like an idiot, and get your picture taken. So if you are looking for a great view, I will not try to sell you on this highpoint. If you are looking for a state you can summit and only be out of the car for 9.4 seconds, head to Hoosier Hill.

Quick update on goal

2008-12-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

I thought that I would let all of you know that I did make my goal of having 100 flyer's out to local businesses by Christmas. Not to wave my own flag, but I was pretty proud to make it happen.

It really wasn't much work, but rather it was something that I had to do during my free time. Anyhow, in case any of you were on pins and needles wondering if I had accomplished my great feat, please try to relax now that you know the verdict ;-).

More Preparation

2008-12-09T20:15:00.000-05:00

More Preparation

Ever since I have started to work on Summit Up, there has been a struggle between the business and sponsorship side and the actual climbing and training. I do get some comfort from knowing that I am going to be starting on some of the easier peaks when I start climbing in April of 2009, and will then be working my way up from there. However, it is easy to get soft during the winter, so I force myself to continue working on both aspects of Summit Up.

Black Mountain (elevation 4,145 ft) is the highest point in Kentucky. A quick interesting fact about Black Mountain is that as you drive up the peak, you pass a sign that says, “Welcome to West Virginia.” It is only after you park and hike a quarter mile are you actually back into Kentucky; that is how close this peak is the border.

If you are ever in the area, it is a rather simple climb. To be more accurate, it is more of a simple walk, since the trail is not too far or steep. However, if you are anything like me, the peak will present its challenges.

I didn’t drive to this peak; I rode with my uncle on roads that seemed to be modeled after a pile of cooked spaghetti noodles. To make it worse, he seemed determined to break the land speed record while pulling at least 4 lateral G’s in his silly little Dodge Neon. I had no idea that the thing could go so fast. I spent most of the trip staring at the floor of the car, trying to not loose my incredible meal of Mickey D’s chicken nuggets, only to be jolted by my crazed uncle smashing the breaks to avoid a tree branch on the road from the previous night’s storm.

Much to my surprise, I did end up surviving the two hour roller coaster ride from hell. I did get some pictures and a fun story. So if you ever get the chance, grab the Tums and head to Black Mountain. The ride alone is worth the trip.

Going big on small

2008-11-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Going big on small business, that is. Since I haven't started climbing yet, I feel that I should continue to give you some insight to what I am doing to get ready for my climbs.

I am continuing to focus on gaining sponsorships from larger businesses, but I have also begun to work with local small businesses. Up until this point, I have sort of overlooked this sector, and I feel that it is time to change that.

My reasoning is that I already have relationships established with several of these businesses. It is always hard to cold-call, so anytime I can avoid doing that, I will. I am currently making up fliers, and have set up some plans that should work really well with their budgets. It is now time to see if I am write. I have a personal goal of passing out 100 of these by Christmas, so I should have a pretty good feel on how this is going to work by the New Year.

Life is good,

Mark

The good, the bad, and the ugly

2008-10-26T19:41:00.000-04:00

Okay, I thought it would be a good idea to give all of you an update of where we are. Summit Up has so much going on behind the scenes right now that I must keep you posted or you will loose track of what we are doing. This will change once I begin to climb, but until then I will try to let you know what is going on.

The Good- The big one is that sponsors continue to come on board. We are up to 13 now, and I continually work to talk with more. I would say that this is becoming more fun all along, especially as I become more confidant. Another good thing is that quite a few of my sponsors have been kind enough to go further than I expected, and are providing me with gear and other types of support.

The Bad- I haven't had as much success as I hoped with getting individuals involved. I think that this is in part because I have not climbed yet. Hopefully, once I actually start to put one foot in front of the other in an upward fashion, interest from the general public will start to build.

The Ugly- I always try to look on the bright side, but if there was one thing I could complain about, it would be our economy. Fundraising is never easy, and a sour economy makes it more difficult yet. Fortunately for me, my climbs last until 2013, so Summit Up will outlast the cycle.

Think that is it for now.

Life is good,

Mark

Fruitsense fan page

2008-10-13T22:22:00.000-04:00

Hey there,

I wanted to give you all a quick update that my first official sponsor, Fruitsense, has recently launched a fan page on Facebook. If you join now and mention Summit Up, they will immediately send you 2,000 gallons of their product. (I might of made up that last part, but there is only one way to find out.)

Life is good,

Mark

Tallest building in the United States follow up

2008-10-05T17:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I did get in contact with the Sear's Tower and to my surprise they were pretty willing to listen. They thought that what I was doing was pretty interesting and unique, and said they would be more than willing to help me get up there. There was just one kicker, they wanted me to come up during a particular event they were doing, and this event did not work with my schedule.

I sent them my regrets, and told them that I was still very interested in getting to the top. Now they are looking into how we can make it work. So, we are still a work in progress.

I will again let you know if anything else happens.

Tallest building in the United States

2008-09-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I am not sure how many of you knew this (I am guessing most of your) but the tallest building in the United States is the Sear's Tower in Chicago.

Now, as an individual who loves standing on the top of things, I think it would be pretty cool to fly the Summit Up flag above the city of Chicago, and to be able to enjoy this view.

I will admit that I have no plan on how I am going to do this yet, but I am going to mark it down as one of my goals.

I will start making some calls this week, and I will be sure to let you know if I get any response.

My Favorite Pants

2008-09-12T22:46:00.000-04:00

Have you ever put on an article of clothing that made you feel like there was a certain place you should be? For example, if you were to put on a tuxedo, a wedding or other formal occasion would probably be near by. Put on a bike shorts and, yeah, you guessed it, you feel like you need to be on a bike (or at least out of the public eye.)

I had such an experience this past week when I tried on the new pair of pants that I received from Mountain Khakis. Instantly, I feel that I must throw on a backpack and rush for the nearest mountain, hill, pile of dirt, whatever. Their tagline is, “Built for the Mountain Life,” and I couldn’t agree more.

What really impressed me about the pants, and yes, impressed is the right word, was how they combine durability with freedom of movement. There are few things I hate more in life than clothing that slows you down. So, to past my test, these pants were put through all sorts of strange yoga positions to make sure they wouldn’t hinder me. The verdict: they passed with flying colors.

Now, just in case any of you cynics out there feel that I am only saying this because they are sponsoring me, know that you are only partly correct (I bet you thought I was going to say that you were totally wrong). I had a pair of Mountain Khakis before I even thought of Summit Up, so they were one of the first companies I contacted with hopes of working with them. So, know that I gave them a fair review, and also know that their sponsoring of Summit Up only reminded me to sing their praises.

Life is good,

Mark

We're on Facebook

2008-08-24T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hey, want me to carry your name to the top of each state free of charge? Thanks to our new Facebook group, it is now easier than ever.

All you have to do is join. This can be done by searching "Summit Up" in the group area of Facebook. Once you are listed as a member I will transfer your name, along with all other members, to a flag just before my first climb. This flag will then be carried on to each state highpoint, and pictures will be put up in the group section.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to you joining.

Life is good,

Mark

Really hope I never do this

2008-08-18T23:07:00.000-04:00

Here is a funny video of something I hope never happens to me while on a peak. Actually, I know that I am bad enough at golf to never try this so I shouldn't have to worry. Yet, if it somehow does, I will be sure to let you know.

Mountain Top Golfing Backfires

Life is good,

Mark

Back from the UP

2008-08-10T16:18:00.000-04:00

Well, I will admit that I forgot to mention that I was taking a week vacation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but at least I am letting you know that I am back. I spent the week canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, fishing, and hiking. We had a full week of great weather, and I really enjoyed it all.

Quite a variety of activities, but it was a great escape. We wrapped up the trip with a day hike along Michigan's Pictured Rocks. I think it is my favorite place to go and un-wind, and it is only a 6 hour drive away, which makes it a relatively short trip.

Anyhow, I am glad to be back and I am ready to continue the Summit Up push. Stay posted for new developments on sponsors and other events.

Life is good,

Mark

My first radio interview

2008-07-22T19:08:00.000-04:00

Well, believe it or not, I have successfully completed my first radio interview. It aired July 21st on 88.5 WGVU, a local station in Grand Rapids.

It lasted for about 10 minutes, during which I was asked a variety of questions about my climbs. It was a great time, but I was pretty nervous at the same time. I was hoping to find a link to the recording, but I have not had any luck so far. If I do get one, I will be sure to put it up here.

Life is good,

Mark

Talking with Andrew Skurka

2008-07-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about Summit Up is it gives me a chance to talk with some other adventurers who really cool. In my experience, and from what I have read on other adventurers, we all seem to feed off of each others successes. Each person is motivated by the others, and that keeps everyone pushing.

Most recently, I have exchanged emails with Andrew Skurka. In case you are not familiar with who Andy is, he is a young guy who walks a lot. Okay, that does sound pretty lame so I will have to expand a little.

Andy is a leader in the field of fast hiking. Fast hiking is basically reducing everything you carry to an over sized fanny pack, and then walking way too fast for way too far. Andy is famous for his two monumental long-distance hiking firsts -– the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route.

He was named the 2007 “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic Adventure and the 2005 “Person of the Year” by Backpacker. I have been following what he does for a while, and I finally got to talk with him, which makes me basically famous, right?

His site can be viewed here
Life is good,

Mark

Home

The North Face

2008-07-07T22:58:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to let all of you know that I am going to be carrying a flag for The North Face along with me during my climbs. As I am sure many of you know, The North Face is pretty much the best outdoor gear anyone can buy. Their quality, along with their continued innovation is incredible.

Just in case you are rolling your eyes and thinking, "you are just saying that because you are carrying their flag" I challenge you to use some of their gear and come back. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Stay tuned as other businesses get involved, and keep loving life!

Mark

Home

Working with Old Orchard

2008-06-30T23:09:00.000-04:00

I have some pretty exciting news, Old Orchard will be sponsoring my efforts to raise money for Alzheimer's through climbing the state high points.

Old Orchard has been around for 26 years, and some pretty cool facts about them are that Old Orchard is the second-largest brand by volume for ready-to-serve family-size juice, after Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. It's also the second biggest in frozen-concentrate, after Coca-Cola Co.

Although Old Orchard has many different products, many of which you have probably sampled in the past, I am going to be working more directly with their new Fruitsense line.

It comes in a variety of flavors, and what is really cool is that each flavor has a set purpose, if you will. For example, the drink in the picture is Energy, which has taurine and ginseng. More natural energy sources without the caffeine jitters that we are all familiar with. Another example is Protect, which contains Echinacea.

Send me a self-addressed shipping crate, and I will try to get you a bottle to try. Okay, okay, it might be a little cheaper just to go to the store, but where is the fun in that?

Life is good,

Mark

Home

New sponsorship format

2008-06-20T22:57:00.000-04:00

I wanted to let all of you know that we have made a simple change to how we go about selecting sponsors for Summit Up.

Before, sponsors were asked to bid in auctions to decide the winners. Now, we are allowing businesses and organizations to come in and choose to be sponsors right away. We are doing this because we feel we were making the whole process a little confusing for interested parties.

The amount is currently set at $20.00 per summit, for a $1,000.00 total donation. We are also allowing sponsors to break this amount into 4 payments of $250.00 over the course of my climbs.

If you have further questions, please feel free to refer to the Become a Sponsor portion of our site.

Life is good,

Mark

Home

Meeting with the Big Kahuna

2008-06-15T16:10:00.000-04:00

I know that I have made mention of this in the past, but one of the greatest parts of Summit Up is the people that I get to meet. It has made the work done so far well worth the effort. Some of the individuals who have taken the time to meet with me would have never done so if I was simply asking for the opportunity to do so. However, when I mention what I am doing, they are often very willing to make the time.

Tomorrow is no different, as I am meeting with Marc Berke, a gentleman involved with the Alzheimer's Association. Actually, the term "involved" is misleading, since he is the Development Director for the Great Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

I am looking forward to meeting with Marc, as I am sure he will have some wonderful ideas of how we can continue to promote Summit Up as a worthwhile venture to get involved with.

Life is Good,

Mark

Home

The urge to talk

2008-06-04T23:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, I know this is a urge of most people. So nothing new, right?

Actually, what I am referring to is my urge to speak for business and motivational seminars. I have always been a outgoing individual with the inability to sing. Combine these two, and public speaker is what you get.

I have yet to start pursuing this goal, so as I make progress I will be sure to let all of you know.

The reasons I feel that I am qualified is that what I am doing is pretty unique. It is not all that difficult, but requires a great deal of persistence; as do most important things in life. I feel that hearing someone young talk about the wonderful combination of persistence and passion would be a welcomed treat for most people.

I say all of this humbly, but with sincerity. Stay tuned for developments.

Life is good!

Mark

Moving along

2008-05-29T20:53:00.000-04:00

Well, we are marching towards our next auction which starts June 10. I have been busy working the phones to attract interest for Summit Up.

To be completely honest, I had no idea how much time this part of the venture would involve. I am not complaining, but I am beginning to see the answer to my question, "Why has no one done this before?" Because it is a lot of work.

On the flip side of this, however, I am living the marketing students' dream by talking with the marketing departments of some of the larger companies in the world. I am still passionate to make this work, and I have no doubts that I will.

Life is good,

Mark

Home

A quick thanks

2008-05-18T17:19:00.000-04:00

As we move along on this venture, and begin to get more traffic flowing though our site, I wanted to take a quick moment to thank all of you how have contacted me to say thank you for what I am doing.

To be honest, I did not expect this to happen, and it is definitely a welcomed and appreciated treat. I will try to get back each individual who contacts me, but in case I do miss one of you, please know that your encouragement helps me stay focused and motivated.

I wish you all the best, and hope to continue receiving your stories and support.

Life is good,

Mark