State Highpoint #6 - Arkansas

 Mount Magazine/Signal Hill (2,753’)

Continuing with the theme of knocking out 3 state high points at a time, Sarah and I hit one more on the road trip back to Utah. We made one final stop in the first freezing rainstorm that I’ve ever seen. Being a boy from Utah, I had heard of freezing rain before, but never seen it in person. The roads looked wet, but I didn’t realize how slick they were, as I took the speed nice and slow, since it wasn’t my car we were driving. It wasn’t until I heard the tree limbs clinging together like chimes that I realized how thick the ice had become on the trees, and the roads. Another state hightpoint, to which you can drive, we crept up the road and got out of the car for just enough time to get some pics for proof that we made it. 

This has been the only experience I’ve ever had in the Ozarks, and I definitely need to go when it’s summer or fall, and not so frozen. The area looked beautiful and I’ll bet it’s stunning covered in green. 

State Highpoint #5 - Mississippi

 Woodall Mountain (807’ above sea level) - Mississippi

The word “mountain” is loosely used in the south I have noticed. As a boy from Utah, that grew up under the shadow of the Wasatch, I would warmly call this state highpoint, Woodall “bump”. If it weren’t for the road signs guiding me to the top of the hill, I wouldn’t have been able to decipher it from any other small mound in the area, as the designated highest point in Mississippi. And thankfully there was a concrete stump and geographical marker to let us know we had arrived. 

In 2004, an iconic movie, with quotable lines was released, prompting Sarah and I to take this picture. Wonder if you can name the movie.

I’ll bet I could throw a football over them mountains!

State Highpoint #4 - Alabama

 Cheaha Mountain in Alabama

Continuing the pursuit of reaching the highest point in every state took a southern turn, while helping a friend. A lot of these state highpoints are off the beaten path, in places a road tripper wouldn’t normally follow. Alabama was no exception, and it took little convincing to turn a move from Virginia to Utah, into an adventure. Now the story of how we got there is one most wouldn’t dare to live, in 2025. But 2010 was a different time. A simpler more trusting time. See, the quest to reach the highest point in every state, started after a divorce, and needing to find purpose. Needing purpose, found an open mind, and willingness to try new things and be adventurous. So when a friend of mine mentioned that they had a single friend, who was a nanny in Virginia for the summer, and was going to be moving across the country, back to Utah, and could use some help, I just so happened to be free, single and able to help. The girl, took a huge, trusting risk on me, because we talked on the phone for maybe a half hour before I booked a one-way plane ticket to Virginia. I saw an opportunity to turn the drive into an adventure, and show her some parts of the country that neither of us had seen, and make a good story for her. After all, life is for making memories. 

Opening the door to the townhome in which she lived, I had no idea what to expect. Luckily she was clean, organized and well prepared. We gave each other an excited hug, and then got busy packing her car with her clothes, and few boxes from a busy summer. We had to stay busy because we were almost completely unfamiliar with each other, and the best way to avoid awkward silence, is to be helpful. We got her 2002 Honda Accord stuffed with her belongings, and the little bag that I brought, said goodbye to the family for whom she was a great nanny, cried some tears, and opened the words on a new chapter. I told her of my goal to reach the highest point in each state and asked if she was up to seeing some fun sights on our drive to Utah. To my surprise, she was 100% on board. 

We headed southwest out of Virginia, and started towards our first big destination, Atlanta, GA. I’m a big college football fan, and love most sports in general. My friend at the time, was a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan, so we decided to make a quick stop at the University of Georgia, to see Sanford Stadium, and send him a picture of us in front. 

Having been Cosmo for BYU, of course I was more interested in the mascot. We toured the campus a little bit, to familiarize ourselves with how they do things in SEC territory, and see what college life is like for students there. Both Sarah and I had been to BYU, and it’s just a different type of university, so we enjoyed seeing how it’s done on other campuses. Then we headed to downtown Atlanta to spend the night. We made one quick stop to see the home of the Atlanta Falcons, and did our best wing impression. Clearly we were still getting to know each other, trying to make it fun, and she was being a good sport, and going along with my quirky ideas.  

The next day, we woke up and headed for Cheaha Mountain. We got there nice and early in the day and enjoyed a nice sunrise on the drive there. It’s a nice easy drive up to the state highpoint, and can’t really be called a mountain by my definition. It’s just the highest point in Alabama. A nice building and tower exist there, and you can climb up into the tower of the building to get a better look at the fields surrounding it, and then lines of trees in the distance. 

Having felt the excitement of checking off my 4th state highpoint, and introducing Sarah to the concept of state highpointing, we headed west towards Tuscaloosa to visit the site of the newly crowned 2010 NCAA BCS title game winning Alabama Crimson Tide. The first of two visits I’ve made to that stadium, and also the first time I’d set foot on that sacred grass. 15 years after completing this highpoint, I wonder if Sarah ever tells the story of that wild road trip, and her first state highpoint. 

State Highpoint #3 - Pennsylvania

Mount Davis

Having completed Spruce Knob, and Backbone Mountain, and thinking we had time for one more state highpoint in the day, we headed up the road for Mount Davis, in Pennsylvania. It was a short drive, relatively speaking. But the winding mountain roads through the Appalachians take longer than shows on a simple map. At Mount Davis is a huge tower standing above the trees to give visitors views of the surrounding area. There isn't much to see, however, but more trees and you can't really tell you're on the highest point of anything as the rolling hills go for miles. But there was a lot of cool folklore, and horse and buggies in this part of the country. And of course, we had to throw a football off the tower and see if I could catch it. I think I probably missed. But it made the stop that much more memorable.

State Highpoint #2 - Maryland

On the same day that I started the journey, with my friend TJ Mack, we had mapped out a route to do 3 state highpoints in the same day. We left his house in Charlottesville, VA and made our way to Spruce Knob, WV. From there, we took the winding roads through the Appalachians to the small neck of land in Maryland, where the state highpoint is. I couldn't find a great picture of the actual state highpoint, but this small church is very close to the point in the road, where you park on the shoulder and head up the side of the hill to the highest point in Maryland. And this is a great example of the wonders that I've been able to see as part of this journey. I have seen places in this country, that I never would have imagined because some of the high points are so far off the beaten path.

State Highpoint #1 - West Virginia

When I was somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 years old, I found an atlas in the mountain of books stacked unorganizedly on our bookshelf, in our Alpine home. I began studying the pages of maps. I was fascinated with the lines of roads and how they meandered and winded through the 2 dimensional topography. I wondered how the roads were constructed, and why they took the specific courses they did. Then somewhere - and I wish I could remember exactly which state it was - I ran across a little + sign, with the words, "Highest Point in"...... It had the name of the mountain, and the elevation. I thought, "Hmmm.... That means there's a highest point of elevation in every state." I flipped back to the first page of the atlas, and began searching the landscape of Alabama. "Cheaha.... 2407'" The search was on. I found and circled all 50 state highpoints on every page of that atlas, and I said, "I'm going to reach the highest point in every one of these states."
That declaration stuck with me for years. I went through junior high and high school. Left to Brazil for two years as a missionary for my church. Came back and went to to college, and found myself consumed with studies and responsibilities. I never knew how I was going to accomplish this goal. I soon married, and started a career. I found myself with less time to start this goal than ever. Then, I found myself not happy in marriage, and was soon divorced. With a broken heart, I had nothing, but a chance to reinvent myself. As a way to get away, my friend invited me to fly to his house in Virginia to get away for a while. After all, it was through him that I met my now ex-wife. He understood better than anyone that I needed to get away. I told him that I wanted to get out and see the world now, and told him about my dream of reaching the highest point of every state. I mapped out three close points to his house, that we could do in a day, and I talked him into going on a road trip with me.
And so, on October 13, 2009 the journey began.

Spring time in Utah

Lucas loves swinging

 Spring is here in full effect and I am loving the warmer weather. I can't wait to get out and get hiking. But for now, the little time that I have, I am spending with Mary and Lucas. We have been hanging out a lot outside at her parents house cuz Lucas loves to explore.

First time on a horse

A couple Sundays ago, I took Mary and Lucas to Alpine to introduce them to my mom. I stuck Lucas on Chase. His smile says it all :)

"Oh, hey there neighbor"

bed time kisses

A boy and his dog

Why must kids put everything in their mouths? ha ha. He had a heck of a time trying to get the water out of this hose. He could see it, and hear it when he shook it, but could never get it up to his mouth when he tipped it up.

We have started a little tradition of putting him to bed together. Last night he was feeling extra snuggly before going down. His mama is such a good mom.

Love her.