Greg Griffith Returns to
Rhode Island for #50
By Greg Griffith "It all started after having received Don Holmes book as “recuperative reading” material following a May 1994 paragliding accident that resulted in a broken back." |
I began my highpointing quest on Guadalupe Peak in October 1994 and completed on the most elusive of sum-mits (Jerimoth!) on September 3, 2000.
It all started after having received Don Holmes book as “recuperative reading” material following a May 1994 paragliding accident that resulted in a broken back.
I almost immediately seized upon the idea of utilizing High-pointing as a method of incrementally rehabilitating, starting out with shorter approaches/minimal elevation gains etc. and then eventually progressing onward and upward to higher and harder highpoints.
I felt then that the clearly defined goal of the “50” in combination with the escalating degree of difficulty would be rewards in them-selves - little did I realize that the value and rewards of actually standing on the highpoint pale in comparison to the experience of having gotten there amidst the myriad and diverse periphery of the journey. After all -- as a wise man once said, “It is better to journey than to arrive.”
Now that this journey is “complete” and the last highpoint has been checked off this list I would like to continue a tradition in completion sum-maries by listing a few superlatives and personal favorites etc. from along the way.
BEST ALL AROUND FAVORITES
DENALI - challenge, scenery,
conti-nental summit, “expedition feel”
RAINIER - super team, great
weather, 1:00 a.m. start, star/meteor views
SUNFLOWER - expansive views,
solitude, well maintained site/log
GRANITE – wilderness, mtn.
goats in camp, summit topography, route
MARCY - fall foliage, cobalt
blue sky, nice approach hike, views
LEAST FAVORITES
BLACK / WOODALL - heard that
they were better now, but were quite littered when I was there/picked up
trash
MOST OVERRATED
BORAH - don’t understand division
of opinion on the relative difficulty of “Chicken-out Ridge”?
MOST UNDERRATED
KATAHDIN - weather & conditions
of a much higher peak at times
WORST WEATHER
I had near perfect weather
(within reason) except DENALI - 5 days stuck at 17,200’ camp prior to summit
day - almost 2 days after summit day
MT. ROGERS - super intense
hail, lightning, and thunderstorm
JERIMOTH - light drizzle
BEST POST SUMMIT MUNCHIES
DENALI - Talkeetna Roadhouse
cin-namon rolls - mmmm
MANSFIELID - obligatory stop
at Ben & Jerry factory, maple syrup
GRANITE - steaks at the Grizzly
Bar
MOST THANKFUL TO
Brooke Bullinger - best buddy
& hik-ing partner, originally gave me the Holmes book, 41 highpoints
together
Jack Longacre - for starting
it all
Stefan Schlett - from Germany,
very strong & experienced partner on Denali, 19 World Highpoints
John & Kurt Mitchler,
Tom Thomas, Richard Dare, Jim Retemeyer, Jim Sartain, Dave Wickersham -
for letting me join their team at the last minute for a picture perfect
2 days on Mt.Rainier
All The Private Landowners - for allowing access to their property!
“What’s next?” is the logical question that you most often hear from the intelligent, inquisitive, goal ori-ented, demographic known as “Highpointers.”
I will probably try to add to my international (7) & continental (3) lists while simultaneously trying not to neglect my other (too many!) hobbies.
Last but certainly not least I will endeavor to continue inching my way up the master list under the heading “Most fun had by individual in lifetime!”
[Ed. - Of Greg’s final highpoint
on Jerimoth Hill, Open Access Date Host Bill Stempek writes, “By Club standards,
Greg had 50 HPs in the bag. The Jackson Hole resident (formerly from NC)
had volunteered to assist smoke eaters out West when a lull in the forest
fires came. He decided that the highway sign solution wasn’t quite fufilling
his gut 50. Solution? Plane to Boston, night in Providence, and on hand
at Jerimoth Hill Rock for the Labor Day 2000 festivities. And festive it
was with a true 50 hosting (hey, I mostly just introduced him and stepped
aside). He fielded questions from everyone and was gracious and accomodating
(even when the same question came up 15 times in a row!). Greg spent hours
with the young and old alike, but it was really great to see the kids oogling
the “guy that touched them all!”]