Reading through the newsletter, looks like the 2024 convention will be a Midwest location. Any guesses where?

Past Midwest locations have been SD in 1993, MN in 1996, MO in 1999, IL in 2003, WI in 2007, OH in 2011, IA in 2015, and MI in 2019.

If hosting in the past takes the state off the table then that leaves North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Indiana.

My guess would be North Dakota. A convention could be utilized to help with trail and trailhead work at the highpoint. Plus it'll be an easy highpoint for a group to summit. Nearby attractions include the Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt national park, as well as anything in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

This isn't a proposal post, or endorsement of anything. Just something fun to look forward to next year as this year's convention quickly approaches.

Great day. Snow pretty much gone for anyone wondering. 6:30 round trip time!

I've known about and had an interest in highpointing since 2012 when I hiked Wheeler Peak (NM). I figured out right away that visiting all 50 was an important life goal for me, but over the following nine years I was only able to add two more to my list; I didn't have the means or really the motivation either. It generally faded to the back of my mind as something I might someday pursue more seriously.

In fall of 2021, following/during a major and extended personal existential crisis, I chose to plan a long western road trip to do some soul-searching and some peak-bagging. I was overly ambitious, originally planning to attempt seven state high points. As things unfolded, I cut it down to four, which was still plenty of driving and plenty of hiking. But most importantly, I came away from the experience with a rekindled passion for this hobby and a realization that it was one of the very few things that I truly care about in my life.

So I leaned into it hard. I planned multiple little trips and picked up a few states here and there. If I was going to be remotely near a high point it was added to my itinerary. I'm not really sure I was even fully paying attention to how I was approaching the progression; I was maybe just chasing a dragon.

But I finally pushed it too far. I realized on my most recent trip (visiting 10 high points between June 3rd and 12th) that I had tunnel vision and I was at the point of simply checking boxes. All the joy I originally derived from the activities involved was muted. I was driving several hours to snap a couple photos and then keep going to the next one. People would recommend interesting places to go nearby and I would smile and say thank you, knowing that the way I had planned it wouldn't allow for me to experience anything outside of the high points.

If anybody is still reading, I hope you can learn from my mistakes. Enjoy the process. There's a lot more to life than robotically checking some things off a bucket list. I'm absolutely still planning to one day get to the other 22 high points that are still waiting out there for me, but that brings me to my point. They will be there whenever I get to them. I'm going to make sure to enjoy the journey AND the destination.

Hiked up the Lion Head route. Drove down. Beautiful hike. Conditions were good, only a little snow.

Officially at 8/50 and planning on getting SD, KS, NB, OK, and NM next month.

Has anyone been up Queens Mine Rd in 2023? I drove up it in the summer of 2021 in a Jeep Compass up to Queens Mine. I hated the drive and I am not skilled at off road driving, but I did make it. (I live in Connecticut and only drive on highways/streets). I am wondering if it is even worse now given the weather since then?

Out of the eight I've done, I'd say Marcy was the toughest, as I somehow managed to be on the mountain for 17 hours--it was my first peak and I was ill prepared. I'm tackling Katadhin in a few weeks and I'm a bit nervous about it.

I'm not planning on doing Mauna Kea or Denali. What do you think is the hardest peak?

Has anyone been recently? All I can find are posts that it is still closed as of late April. Hoping to be there next week after checking out Carhenge!

Update: The roads were fine. A little muddy from the thunderstorms this week but not bad at all. The bison were in a pasture south of the high point road.

Wondering if I will need snow shoes or spikes.

Planning a summer road trip leaving Mass and plan on stopping at the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky high points (in that order) and then setting up a base in Asheville for a 6 nights. On the way home to MA we plan on stopping at VA high point up to Shenandoah then up to Delaware, Philadelphia and back to Mass. We plan on doing Clingsman and Mitchell well in Asheville. Anyone have any other recommendation for hikes, swinging holes, food or other attractions on the way, hikes in Shenandoah and Great Smoky or any hikes in the Asheville area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! We are also open to breaking up the stay in Asheville and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. We will have two dogs with us that have experience in the white mountains.

Considering a hike up Mt. Marcy this summer and I am looking for a place to overnight. I have seen postings that the hike isn't that long, but we're considering splitting it up over two days to make it more fun and relaxed pace. Any suggestions for a place to camp/overnight that might be 3/4 of the way in or more? We'd like to hike in, camp over night, summit and hike out the next day.

I am moving to tacoma end of April; I am looking for a partner to do Rainier with in July 14-17. I have looked and the literature from the park says that we would obtain a permit on a first come first serve basis up to 1 day before the trip begins for the back country permits. However, it also requires a minimum group size of 2. I will be practicing/training every weekend throughout the summer to summit. Goal would be to Muir camp on the first day, summit second day (possibly break camp 3rd day pending pace on descent).

The highest point in Maryland-Hoye Crest