Email Upate: Geology of High Point, Clingmans Closures, Mitchell Update

Here is some important information about the upcoming Highpointers Konvention. Remember to add this to your “White List” if you have a spam filter so that you’ll be able to get more of the latest Highpointing updates. This is updated with a up more information about the New Jersey Highpoint.

Be safe and have fun out there

Craig Noland
The Membership Guy
www.highpointers.org
membership@highpointers.org

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Geological Website for Highpoint NJ…

Here is a note sent to me by Highpointer Pete Thompson that he said may be of interest to you before the convention.

“I cannot attend this year. Since I wrote my initial Highpoint Geology website I’ve learned of a great article on the geology of High Point, New Jersey. Maybe the club would like to mention it in their bulletins before this year’s Konvention?

Witte, Ron W. and Monteverde, Don H. (2005), ‘Geology of High Point State Park, Sussex County, New Jersey and Field Trip Guide’, pub by NJ Geological Survey, 44p.

Enjoy! Peter Thompson”

Click here for the PDF File: www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/freedwn/HiPtSPGeology.pdf

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HIGHPOINTERS HOTLINE!!!

You will be able to leave your count changes, as well as address changes on the voice mail, or send via text messaging. So far, this is working great!!! Keep them coming. Our records show that your last count is at (46). If that is not correct, please update us and any Family Members as well

Just listen to the directions, don’t get excited (it’s just a recording) and give us your updates, reports, address changes, email changes, etc. If you think you didn’t get it right, just call us again. Remember, text messages work very well too.

*** (865) 660-0027 ***

This number WILL NOT be manned. In the future, we hope to have highpoint information available also.

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We’re Now on Twitter…

This seems to be that fashionable thing to be doing these days. So go to http://twitter.com/highpointers/ and sign up today.

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Spreading the Highpointers Gospel…

Any Highpointers Club Member interested in doing a “The PowerPoint Highpointing Presentation” should contact Bill Deitzer at: billdeitzer@nuvox.net or 513-777-4435. Bill and Rosemary would like to also thank the many Club members for their Highpointing pictures that permitted this PowerPoint presentation to come together! More pictures… send them on!!!

Please include your mailing address with your offer to present. Bill will send you a CD with the PowerPoint file and other helpful information. You are encouraged to personalize the presentation with your highpointing experiences. Brochures, and other club information, will be sent to you as well.

Local groups, civic groups and any like minded organization would surely like this presentation. Here’s your chance to step up and help Highpointing while doing it.

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75th Anniversary and Road Closures in the Smokies (Clingmans Dome TN)…

Newfound Gap Road repaving between Collins Creek Picnic Area south to the boundary with Cherokee, NC is scheduled for March 16, 2009 through September 2010.

Weather-related road and facility closures may change throughout the day. For updated road and weather information please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast. You may wish to write this number down when traveling to the area for handy reference for road and weather updates.

Visit www.nps.gov/grsm/ for the latest information. The webpage is updated 2-3 times a week. This year is also the parks 75th Anniversary! Go to the GSMNP Anniversary Website for more information.

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Mount Mitchell Update…
A recent update, from Highpointer Sherman Stambaugh, in Asheville NC, tells us that beginning Friday May 15th – The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center will open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24th through November 1st.

During daylight hours, traffic will be controlled by flaggers an/or a timed traffic light system. For more information call (828) 298-0398 or (828) 271-4779.
If you have an update, or any Highpoint News, feel free to send it in to: membership@highpointers.org or Call/Text the “Hotline” at: (865) 660-0027.

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2009 Highpointers Convention July 30th – August 1st…

We have great plans for this year’s Highpointers Convention at High Point, New Jersey on July 30 to August 1. Since the Woodstock Music Festival nearby is celebrating its 40th anniversary in August we hope our event will be very groovy. We do want to take you higher!

Our “Kosmic Konvention” includes climbing the “Gunk’s”, a cookout at the world famous “Urbanski Farm,” an excellent New York City adventure where he hope to show off our threads on the “Today Show”, a tubing adventure down the Delaware River in the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area to visit the tri-point marker of New York/Pennsylvania/New Jersey. We will have seminars on climbing and safety.

We hope to enjoy a sunset on the highpoint, have our signature pancake breakfast, a watermelon feast by the Jersey summit and of course there’s the Saturday night banquet!

Our convention headquarters is situated in the beautiful Pocono foothills near Milford, PA, on the banks of the Delaware River and is within easy reach of the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions. The Best Western at Hunt’s Landing is the perfect place for your next meeting, retreat, reunion, or weekend getaway and hotel on the Delaware River have spectacular views of the summit and hope to offer something for everybody. It doesn’t matter if this is your first highpoint or if you’ve just getting back from Everest. We welcome all ages and abilities.

A convention ticket entitles you to:
1) Wednesday night Bar-B-Que at Urbanski Farms
2) Friday night social at the convention hotel
3) Saturday morning breakfast at the convention hotel
4) Saturday watermelon fest on New Jersey highpoint
5) Saturday evening banquet at the convention hotel

Scheduled Events include:

Wednesday, July 29th
*Bar B Q and Softball game at Urbanksi Farms, Nuangola, Pennsylvania

Thursday, July 30th
*Day Trip to New York City touring on the open air Gray Line double decker buses and a hoped for visit to the “The Today Show”
*County Highpointing Trip
*Sunset at High Point Monument

Friday, July 31st
*Float down the Delaware River to the NY/NJ/PA Tripoint
*County Highpointing Trip
*Rock Climbing in the Gunks
*Seminars on climbing the 48 states, climbing Denali, climbing the Northeast highpoints, and rock climbing safety
*Evening social at the Convention Hotel

Saturday, August 1st
*Morning breakfast
*Longer climb of High Point
*Shorter climb of High Point and watermelon fest
*Highpointers Board of Directors Meeting
*Evening cocktail
*Evening dinner with roast of Don Holmes and selection of Highpointers 2010 venue

If you have questions please contact
Steve Urbanski at 570.417.1179 or skurbanski@yahoo.com
or
Roger Rowlett at 212.245.3393 or r.e.rowlett@gmail.com

All of the main functions are at the convention headquarters hotel at the Best Western Hunts Landing in Matamoras PA

Registration can be done online via paypal at: https://highpointers.org/?p=371

Related articles on the convetion are at: https://highpointers.org/archives/category/conventions/2009-convention/

Map of event locations are at: https://highpointers.org/?p=193

Event details are at: https://highpointers.org/?p=198

We’re also on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/highpointers/

Get more details or sign up online: www.highpointers.org

SIGN UP VIA US MAIL (but you better do so ASAP):
Fill out the form and mail with your check to:
Jean Trousdale
1416 Aladdin St
Norman OK 73072-6039.
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Crew Members Needed!!!

The “CREW” needs you for the NJ/09 Konvention. Contact Nikki Hemphill greyghost92@yahoo.com or 219-545-2169 to become a “Crew Member” and work with our hosts for a great Convention. One hour or two – what ever you can spare. We look forward to having you join us.

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Charles Mound Illinois Access Dates…

The highpoint owners have set the new dates for 2009. Please visit only during the daylight hours.

June 6th and 7th

July 4th and 5th

August 1st and 2nd

September 5th and 6th

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2009 Cops on Top Summit for Heroes…

Highpointer Captain Keith McPheeters of the Farmington, New Mexico Police Department and Cops on Top is excited to announce their latest endeavor to honor all officers, nationwide, who have been killed in the line of duty: the Cops on Top 2009 Summit for Heroes. On June 27, 2009 Cops on Top will be fielding teams from across the United States to the highest point of all 50 states in remembrance of fallen comrades.

Teams are being organized now in all 50 states. Join them in celebrating the life and memory of fallen heroes by participating in your local memorial climb.

Help us complete this historic event by ensuring that as many of the 50 state highpoints as possible are reached on June 27th on behalf of America’s fallen police officers. Many officers and other volunteers have committed to undertaking difficult expeditions to reach our goal. Join on June 27th in honoring the sacrifice of all those who have given so much in protecting our homes, families, and loved ones.
Cops on Top graciously accepts sponsorships and donations for equipment and provisions for the climbing team, as well as for the aid of officers fallen in the line of duty. If you would like to support this noble cause, contact the team directly and indicate if you wish to aid the team or the team’s cause.

If you are interested in participating in a state highpoint climb, please contact: Cops on Top
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Highpointers Foundation Silent Auction…

The Highpointers Foundation has recently launched a Silent Auction capability on there website so check it out!!! This particular Silent Auction is being held from June 1st, 2009 thru June 31st at 6 p.m. EDT.

The featured item this quarter is an original, signed, “Frank Ashley Guidebook” from 1970 (author Frank Ashley passed away in the year 2000 so this is a rare opportunity to score the first state highpoint guidebook). This treasured item can only be seen in the libraries of a few venerable longtime Highpointers. Very few copies were originally printed.

Get more information from The Foundation at:

Their Home Page at: www.highpointersfoundation.org and click on the “Fundraising” button at the top of the page.

Their Fund Raising Page at: www.highpointersfoundation.org/HPF/fundraising.html and then click to the “Silent Auction Page” prominently displayed as a link.

Fill out the Bid form, and submit a bid. Bids must be at least $10 higher than the current high bid.

All bid activity will be updated daily, but is not instantaneous. The amount of the donation above and beyond the value of the book from the winning bidder is tax deductible so please consult your tax professional.

The proceeds will help to benefit projects that The Foundation is working on. Plans are to offer a new item each quarter going forward.

As a 501-C-3 non-profit organization, The Highpointers Foundation is dedicated to education, support and conservation of the highest point in each of the 50 US States, provides a forum for education about the highpoints, aids in the conservation of the highpoints and their environs, maintains positive relationships with owners of highpoints on private property, assists in the care and maintenance of highpoints and supports public and private efforts to maintain the integrity of and access to state highpoints.

A historical note: The predecessor of the Highpointers Foundation was a savings account, known as the “Good Guys & Gals Fund,” maintained by the Highpointers Club, beginning in about 1991. The Fund was initially created with donations above and beyond Club dues, to assist in the purchase of ordinary items such as computers and postage to aid the Club in day to day operations. This evolved to include assisting state highpoints, primarily privately owned, with expenses for maintenance and upkeep.

Possible future projects to assist privately owned state highpoints are being considered at: ND – White Butte, MS – Woodall Mountain, NE – Panorama Point, IL – Charles Mound, IN – Hoosier Highpoint and KS – Mount Sunflower.

They’ve also inherited the funds for the “Paul Zumwalt Museum and Education Fund” and are putting it to good use at the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum (BWAMM) in Golden CO. It’s the only one of it’s kind in America!!!

Check out the website at: www.HighpointersFoundation.org for more information.

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Kentucky Waiver’s – The Latest Information and the Waiver…

The latest procedure for visiting Black Mountain is now as follows:

– You MUST first obtain this waiver by clicking this link to download:

Black Mountain KY Waiver

– Complete this waiver and mail it to the following address before you visit:

Penn-Va Operating Co
Attn: Steve Looney
2550 E Stone Dr Ste 200
Kingsport, TN 37660-5863

If for some reason you cannot return it in time, please make sure you have it with you!!!

Black Mountain is privately owned by the coal company and there are active mines, as well as sink holes, in the area so the company has made the waiver mandatory for visits. Since 2004, the waivers had been processed at the Kentucky Coal Mine Museum in Benham. Earlier this year the Kentucky Department of State Parks took over the museum and the Kentucky state lawyers have forbidden the museum from handling the waivers any more.

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Highpointing Gear, Books, Guides and Stuff You Can’t do Without…

Don’t just head out on the quest of the Highpoints without the proper apparel or the latest guidebooks. Keep Jean “Mother Merc” Trousdale busy and order ’til your hearts content at:

The Highpointers Merc

*** We are now accepting credit cards through Paypal. The process is totally automated and secure. ***

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Did You Know…

If you don’t have enough lists to worry about, or you need to fill a void on your next “Highpointing Excursion,” you may want to check out The Extra Miler Club. Highpointer Reid Williamson is their version of ‘The Membership Guy.”

For a measly $12 annual dues, you get a year’s worth of The Extra Miler, their quarterly newsletter and a handsome membership card. This makes you eligibility for their awards program too. For an additional $7, they’ll even send you a complete “US County Outline Map Book.” Just send your name, address and your money to: Reid Williamson, PO Box 31, Annandale VA 22003-0031

If you have any questions, please contact Reid by e-mail at geopathman@yahoo.com. Please include “EMC” in the subject line and tell him that “Our Membership Guy” sent you.
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Returning or Renewing…

You may renew your membership dues by either going to www.highpointers.org, click on the “Membership Tab” at the top of the page and paying online or send the dues of $20 per year to: Highpointers Club, PO Box 6364, Sevierville TN 37864-6364.

The current issue of “Apex to Zenith” and “The Club Directory” are just hitting the streets. Be sure to email your most recent changes in address and counts. You may send me your trip reports and I’ll pass them along to the Editors as well.

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Please pass this information along to interested parties as they may not have email notification.

*** This is a friendly reminder, not intended to be SPAM. Simply delete this message after reading if you wish. But, please keep your email address updated for important reminders and highpoint issues. Don’t worry, we use these addresses for club use only and they are never given out for any purpose.

*** Check out the FAQ’s page at highpointers.org/faq for the most recent asked questions.

Articles about the Highpointers 2009 Convention

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