The Berkshire Eagle on May 30 has an article “Highpointers Club relishes lofty goals” by Derek Gentile about the Club that quotes original club member, Donald Berens, Massachusetts Board Member Chuck Bickes and Club Chairman (and webmeister here) Roger Rowlett.
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Peter Thompson at the University of New Hampshire has an elegant and comprehensive description website about the geology of the highpoints of each state.
The Chicago Tribune and Knight Ridder gives a rave review to Gerry Roach’s latest book “Transcendent Summits: One Climber’s Route to Self-Discovery.”
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The News Tribune reports Dave Johnston, a 62-year-old climber from Talkeetna, Alaska, is the first man to climb to the highest point in all 50 states in the winter. He’s also reached the summits in the summer. In 2003, Johnston, his wife, Cari Sayre, and son Galen all completed 50. That same year, Galen became the youngest person to check off the list at age 12.
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Jack Frank passes this along:
It is noteworthy to many in the club of the passing of Don Pinyan, 48 completer #137. Don died of cancer in February at the age of 79. He completed the lower 48 highpoints on Granite Peak at the age of 72 and climbed the Grand Teton by the Exum Ridge at age 75. He was truly an inspiration to everyone who climbed with him. Don was a loyal member of the Mountain High Hikers, a Georgia-based hiking club, and in January the club gathered at the Wilderness Wildlife Week conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Many of Don’s climbing buddies also traveled south for the event in which a slide show highlighting Don’s highpointing exploits was featured. Sharing that event with Don was a special time for many people. He will be greatly missed.
Everest News reports that Texan Stuart Smith has become the first American to complete the Adventure Grand Slam. The AGS consists of the Seven Summits plus the North and South Poles. Smith finished the Slam on December 28, 2004 on a 725 mile ski all the way trip from Hercules Inlet on the west coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Articles about Stuart on the web here.
Mario Locatelli, from Montana, who became the oldest (71 years 6 months) to summit McKinley was featured in the Official McKinley Climbing Report for 2004. Incidentally Denali was his 50 state completion. You probably recognize Mario’s famous summit headstand pose.
Rick Wilcox at Annapurna (photo from ime-usa.com)
Famed Everest and world climber as well as perhaps the most famous New England climber Rick Wilcox of Conway is to be the featured speaker at the 2005 Highpointers Convention in New Hampshire. Here are some background resources.
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Steve Harding on Gannett Peak
This article appeared in the Winter 2004 issue of “Lakefront” and was entitled “PSR’s Steve Harding: Altitude is Everything.” Steve is the point person at Purity Springs for the 2005 Highpointers Convention. You can read the article in its original .pdf format.
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Paul Zumwalt, state guidebook author, first winner of the Highpointers Club highest awards — the Vin Hoeman and Jakk Longacre, and definitive Highpointer friend passed on Dec. 20. You can sign condolences on the forum.
Following is the funeral arrangements and obituary information for Paul Zumwalt (provided by his daughter Judy Zumwalt)
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