Jack Ash Project – Florida

[Ed: This is an excerpt (pages 26) from Brendan Leonard’s thesis “Because it is there“. You can read his full article on the “Jack Ash Project” (pages 19-33) for more information.]

Jack Ash Project – Alaska

[Ed: This is an excerpt (pages 29-30) from Brendan Leonard’s thesis “Because it is there“. You can read his full article on the “Jack Ash Project” (pages 19-33) for more information.]

Highpointers Club Motto “Keep Klimbin'”

The Club motto is “Keep Klimbin'”

It was how Club Founder Jakk Longacre (he liked those k’s) signed all his correspondence.

Jack Ash Project – Big Apple Adventure

Highpointer Club Founder Jack Longacre’s wish to have his ashes scattered atop the highest point of each state started auspiciously with his August 14, 2003, arrival in New York City just as the power went off from New York to Michigan to eastern Canada in the biggest power black out in North American history.

Jack also visited the Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, Broadway and the Hamptons

Those who have become very superstitious about the adventures associated with the scatterings will find this the grand finale! Jack’s ashes are scheduled to be scattered on the last state highpoint — New York’s Mount Marcy on Oct. 4. Roger Rowlett, who was at the first scattering in November 2002 in Missouri will lead the group. There’s also some symmetry in that four of the original highpointers were New Yorkers (Don Berens, Clark Hall and Jack and Joyce Parsells).

Jack Longacre Memorial Services – Nov. 16, 2002, Taum Sauk, Missouri

On Nov. 16, 40 Highpointers met at the Fort Davidson Motel & Restaurant in Ironton, MO, for a memorial service titled “A Celebration of Jack’s Life.” Club chairman Roger Rowlett read a proclamation from Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, declaring Nov. 16, 2002 “Jack Longacre Day.” You can view the proclamation here.

After the ceremony, the Highpointers hiked to the summit of Taum Sauk, where Jack’s neighbors. Faith and Paul Light, scattered the first of many film canisters full of Jack’s ashes.

You can read more about the memorial services by reading Brendan Leonard’s thesis “Because it is there” (page 25).

Jack Longacre – Highpointers Club Founder and President (1938-2002)

ARCADIA, MO — Jack Longacre, 64, founder and president of the national Highpointers Club died on Oct. 15, 2002, near his home on Taum Sauk highest point of Missouri after a long bout with cancer.

Jack made the claim that he was the highest living person in Missouri.

“Jack’s passing is a huge blow to the climbing community,” Highpointers Club Chairman Roger Rowlett said from New York City. “Jack gave purpose and direction to a group of climbers who seek out the geographic extremes of each state.”

“Jack had a way of making it all fun,” Rowlett said. “Mountaineers participating in the hobby had an almost religious adoration of Jack. He was nicknamed ‘Guru’ because of his wisdom.”

Jack founded the Club in 1986 after sending a letter to “Outside” Magazine. Six people responded and they got together to climb Michigan’s highest point Mount Arvon in 1987 after it was determined to be a few inches higher than the previously thought highpoint of Mount Curwood.

Since then the Club has grown to 2,500 members in all 50 states and nine countries. He started a quarterly journal “Apex to Zenith” which is now published from the Club’s headquarters in Golden, Colorado.

Jack was the seventh person to achieve the ultimate goal — standing on the summits of all 50 states. Since then more than 100 people have accomplished this.

Following Sept. 11, 2001, Club members carried the U.S. flag to the summits of each state and presented a memorial of this accomplishment at Ground Zero.

The Club has a long range plan to hold its annual convention at the highest point of each state. Jack summited Black Mesa, Oklahoma, just three weeks before his death during a convention there. Jack also hosted a convention on Taum Sauk in 1999.

He wishes to have his ashes spread on each of the state summits.

Jack was born on January 8, 1938, in Sturgis, Michigan. He worked for 12 years at Weyerhaeuser in White Pigeon, Michigan, then moved to Seattle Washington where he worked for Boeing and became enthralled with climbing after joining the Mountaineers there. After retiring he moved first to Mountain Home, Arkansas, where he founded the Highpointers Club and began publishing its journal.

Wanting to be closer to Club members, he bought a house on the approach to Taum Sauk, Missouri, where he was a fixture of state summiters and visitors on the Ozark Mountain Trail. Virtually all visitors to Taum Sauk on County Road CC passed his various highpointing signs including one noting that he picked up the trash. Prior to his death he was negotiating to build a “National Museum of Highpointing” on his property on Taum Sauk.

Jack, an active member of the St. Louis Sierra Club, was instrumental in the successful 2001 campaign to stop a pumped storage electrical facility near Taum Sauk that would have flooded the creeks at the state’s highest point.

Jack’s highpointing memoirs “Keep Klimbin'” is scheduled to be published this winter by Jack Grauer Publishing in Vancouver.

He is survived by one daughter Lorrie Longacre Krontz of Middlebury, Indiana, one son, Lonnie Longacre of Southbend, Indiana, a brother, David Hendricks of Centerville, Michigan, one sister, Edith Hooker of White Pigeon, Michigan, his former wife Sharon Kesslar of Middlebuy, Indiana, 8 grand children, 3 great grand children and a world of friends.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 25 at 1 p.m. at the River of Life Fellowship at Middlebury, Indiana.

A memorial service in celebration of Jack’s life will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday November 16, 2002. All highpointers are welcome. Meet at the Fort Davidson Motel & Restaurant on Road V near Highway 21 in Ironton, Missouri.

Jack Longacre’s last convention – OK 2002

Jakk was able to attend the 2002 Highpointers Konvention in Black Mesa, Oklahoma in late September, less than one month before he died. You can read an excerpt from Brendan Leonard’s thesis “Because it is there” (page 24) for more details.

Jakk’s High Notes from Issue #52

[Published in Apex to Zenith #52 – First Quarter 2001]

“If they don’t have highpoints in Heaven, I’m not going.”

Well, here we are already a whole year into our brand new century, for that matter a whole new millennium. In recent past years I have suffered, as many do, that old malady that goes hand in hand with this time of the year; “Where in the world did the time go?” But not this year! I kept so busy I was beginning to think it would never end. AND, I wasted nary a moment of it! This retirement thing is all right baby!!

Yes, last year was a really busy one, and this year promises to be even more so. I will be forced to pre-write some of the upcoming “Highnotes” columns as I did last year, so be prepared for my lame apologies as the year wears on.

Our last newsletter championed Steve Packer as the l00th person to do the 50 state highpoints. One might now think that completing the fifty is commonplace. I don’t know how many have done it as of today, but years ago I read that there were far in excess of 200 people that had climbed Everest. So, 100 still makes us a pretty exclusive club. It is something to take much pride in, I know it is a treasure that will remain fresh in my mind till the end of my days.

Also in the last issue I had updated that highpoint sign ‘deal’. Since, I’ve had a couple of more thoughts I’d like to share in regards to it and I also wanted you to see your handiwork thus far. One thing I’ve noticed is the signs increasing popu- larity. Almost every visitor takes a photo of the signs. Even non-high- pointers! Shoot! Those signs may well become the area’s next main tourist attraction! Also, I needed to mention that they will eventually be incorporated into the proposed museum. Perhaps on the walkway on the outside or (?). “Heh! Heh! All my ideas are good ‘uns, some ‘gist better’n others.”

Richard Dailey has sent me (for the club archives) a copy of the December 14, 1970 issue of ‘Sports Illustrated’. In it, on page 34, you will find a pretty darn good highpointing article about the ‘mysterious’ Mitch Michaud. Elmer F. (Mitch) Michaud completed on Boundary in November of 1970, becoming the second person to complete the fifty highpoints. Neither I, nor the club, have ever heard from Mitch. Where is he? What all has he done since completing? Indeed, is he even still alive? I don’t know. Do you? Anyhow, the magazine is in excellent condition and we thank Dick for sending it.

Roger Rowlett tried to pawn off an ice-ax on me. “It once belonged to George Mallory,” be told me. “It’s certainly stood up well,” I was quick to point out. “Yes, but then over the years it’s had three new handles and two new heads,” he replied. (Groan.)

As you all know it can get a little gusty at times as we pursue our nation’s highpoints. And, especially as we approach the month of March, thought I’d share the following official US Weather Bureau designations for. winds and their forces. WEATHER. How fast does the wind have to blow to be called a gale, a storm or a hurricane?

Calm – Less than 1 MPH
Light Air – 1 to 3 MPH
Light Breeze -4 to 7 MPH
Gentle Breeze – 8 to 12 MPH
Moderate Breeze – 3 to 18 MPH
Fresh Breeze – 19 to 24 MPH
Strong Breeze – 25 to 31 MPH
Near Gale – 32 to 38 MPH
Gale – 39 to 46MPH
Strong Gale -47 to 54 MPH
Storm – 55 to 63 MPH
Violent Storm – 64 to 73 MPH
Hurricane – 74 and over
Mt. Washington – “Get the h__ out of Dodge!”

I’ll leave you with this thought, “May you have a ca1rn day on New Hampshire’s highpoint.”

The Birth of the Highpointers Club

Photo courtesy of Missouri Life

The Highpointers Club is comprised of people from all walks of life who share a common interest in attaining the highpoint of each of the 50 states. The club had it’s beginnings in 1986 when our founder – Jack Longacre – managed to get a blurb printed in the October 1986 issue of Outside Magazine under the Bulletin Column asking highpointers to contact him.

Jakk’s story as it appeared in the 3rd quarter 1991 issue of the club’s newsletter in a story entitled “Birth Of The Highpointers Club” appears on the right.

The Birth of the Highpointers Club
By Jakk Longacre

While I’ve never been a big summit register reading fan, I would upon occasion peruse one.

In doing so I noticed a pattern of comments in said registers in reference to the state highpoints. “This was my 21st state H.P. …” “This was my 12th ….” Etc.

The only noticeable variable being the count. “My God!” I thought. “There must be others out there with no more sense than myself, and I’d like to meet or correspond with them.”

I wrote to Outside Magazine, and in the Oct. 1986 issue under the “Bulletin” Column they included a blurb that I’d like to contact highpointers, and they included my address.

This resulted in a correspondence between myself and about 30 people. One of which was Don Berens. When Don completed (the 50), a Mary Esch did an article on him that went nation-wide and had my name and address in it.

Suddenly I’m now corresponding with not 30 but rather 90 people! “Let’s start a club!” “Lets start a club!” SURE; like me with all my literary experience. But we did it!! I got help from all sides, from nearly all members and now we are 2000+ strong and growing.

And that in a nutshell is the story of the beginning of the Highpointers Club.

[Webmeister’s Note: Jakk, who lives on Missouri’s Taum Sauk, welcomes club members anytime. You can also read a profile of him in Missouri Life in the Americasroof Forum. Jakk also personally hosted the 1999 convention.]

National Highpoint Museum

The museum would be built near this property on Taum Sauk Mountain. It would be open to the public.

The Highpointers Club is attempting to raise funds for the National Highpoint Museum to be built on the flank of Taum Sauk, Missouri. The museum will house memorabilia from the 50 state highpoints.

The funding effort is still being formulated. If you donate $60, you will also get a bound copy of all “Apex to Zenith” newsletters through 1998. See the HP Merc to find out more.

Richard Moore [ricm@world.std.com], a highpointing architect from Massachussets has prepared the following proposal:

Budget: $100,000/4432 sf = $23/sf. This could easily triple even with a grant for the roof system. These estimates do not include land costs. Club founder Jakk Longacre has offered to donate the land for the museum.
Site Features: Ozark Trail Connector
Building Footprint 52 ft x 79 ft (allocations should be made for future curator’s residence and/or member dorm.
Building Architecture: National Park Rustic
Building Features:
  • Climbing wall: integrated onto North wall
  • Viewing deck: elevated deck may be needed to see above tree line. This may create awkward design.
  • Structure and roof skin: steel framed Butler building w/translucent photovoltaic shingle system (Atlantis Energy) 40 kW solar power, 17% light transmittance, potential for grant money for this type of roof system
  • Composting closets: Clivus Model M-35, basement required below restrooms, the higher costs here will be offset by savings in not installing septic system.
  • Greywater system: Clivus LPF-20 filter & sump pump for lavs and future showers
  • Heating system: wood chip gasifier (HB Smith) or Polomapac Ultra-Efficient gas-fired boiler w/side wall vent (no chimney)
  • Daylighting: primarily thru roof translucent shingles, albeit indirect light, effect on displays needs to be studied, additional windows may be required.


Entrance to the museum would be from the east (right). Visitors would be greeted with a 7×10 foot highpoint map. On their right (north) would be the highpointers list of accomplishments. On the south would be a map of the local area. A 38-seat Lyceum audio visual theatre would be in the middle on the right. A climbing wall would be on the northeast corner. Visitors would pass exhibits en route to individual state cubicles on the left. The restrooms would be the upper left (northwest corner out of range in this view). A deck on the west side would allow visitors to gaze on Taum Sauk. For a more detailed Adobe Acrobat view click here.


The museum would be just south of state route leading to Taum Sauk. A connecting trail to the Ozark Trail would go off the southeast corner. For a more detailed Adobe Acrobat view here.