American Alpine Project
Ascending America's Highest Peaks to Raise Spirits Around the Globe
Images of U. S. Highpoints
Highpointing is not just about climbing mountains. Each U.S. highpoint has its unique charm, but many are not exactly lofty spires of rock and ice. Having said this, a number of highpoints are quite challenging hikes, and about a dozen of them are formidable peaks that have challenged mountaineers for many decades. A few facts about some of the more notorious summits:
New Hampshire's Mount Washington is home to the worst weather on Earth. Here, winds reach hurricane force one out of every three days on average. The highest wind speed in history, 231 mph, was recorded on the summit in 1934.
Not far from bustling downtown Portland, Oregon's Mount Hood is the second most attempted mountain on Earth, and for good reason. Its accessible flanks offer a wide range of excellent climbs. As the world learned in December 2006, however, Mount Hood can be quite dangerous if underestimated.
Anyone who has been to Seattle will tell you that Washington's Mount Rainier is a gigantic mountain. Its 26 glaciers make it the most glaciated peak outside Alaska, and its dangerous alpine terrain and big-mountain feel make it a perfect training ground for Himalayan expeditions.
Wyoming's Gannett Peak is one of the most isolated peaks in the United States, far from any signs of civilization. Often carried out on horseback, an expedition to the top of this mountain takes several days and covers over 50 miles of rugged wilderness.
Montana's Granite Peak is a formidable technical climb. The peak boasts steep walls that average over 70 degrees, and climbers must face not only wild exposure but also the constant threat of violent and sometimes deadly thunderstorms.
Mount Borah, Idaho and Mount Katahdin, Maine both feature a knife-edged ridge, a lengthy section of trail where climbers must carefully maneuver across a narrow path of rock, with a slip to either side resulting in a plunge over a thousand feet to the valley floor. Technically, Katahdin's ridge is optional, but hey, you haven't really done Katahdin if you haven't braved the Knife's Edge.
Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental U.S., is a beautiful multi-day climb through some of the most scenic terrain on the planet. Every summer, the mountain is overrun by hikers and photographers seeking to catch a glimpse of lumbering black bears, pristine alpine lakes, wildflower fields and expansive mountain vistas. Above 14,000 ft. on the main route is a truly infamous section of trail known as the 99 switchbacks. Wanna know what's so bad about 99 switchbacks? Go climb Mt. Whitney and you'll see. Those wishing to avoid the crowds and switchbacks can take a much shorter class 3-4 route to the top of the Lower 48.
Towering above the other U.S. highpoints is Denali, the Alaska highpoint, which ranks as one of the world's great mountains. It is the northernmost big mountain on the planet, and climbing it is a dangerous and lengthy undertaking that requires a great deal of planning, fitness and mountaineering skill. Many have succeeded in reaching Denali's icy pinnacle, but many more have tried and failed, some losing their lives in the process.
AAP would like to thank the photographers who captured the images displayed below. Email us a great pic of a highpoint and we'll post it here. More will be up soon. Enjoy...
