Climb 7

esterday, the team spent the day traveling from Columbus to Seattle. It has been 26 days since the team pushed off of Denali, and Rainier, the highest point in Washington state at 14,411 feet, is peak number 44.  Rainier is an active stratovolcano and its 26 major glaciers and 36 square miles of permanent snowfields and glaciers makes Ranier the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48.

The team is climbing via the Ingraham Direct route and ascended 5,000 feet today and to camp tonight at Camp Muir (10,500 feet.) The weather is being a bit tricksy – they are going to leave for a summit attempt tomorrow at 2:00 am, but can hole up and rest in the event that summit conditions don’t look favorable.

The team is thrilled to be back in the snow and alpine conditions. Taking a break at the lower altitude states over the last 10 days or so has allowed the team to rest and gain some strength. They are primed to head into the home stretch.

Tags: US 2010 by sarah_hassell
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With pilots Dr. Russ Betcher and John Shoffner

The team sends a HUGE thank you to Dr. Russ Betcher and John Shoffner for volunteering their plane, their time and their mad piloting skills to the 50/50 cause this weekend. We are so grateful for your help – what a great ride this weekend.

The pilots dropped the team off in Indianapolis this morning where they quickly knocked off  Hoosier Hill, the highest point in Indiana,  and are now on their way to Columbus, Ohio. From there, it is on a plane and then off to Seattle for the final push for the lower 48.

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With friend Shawn Donohue at Jerimoth Hill, RI

After Maine, the team headed to Rhode Island and, joined by family and friends, made quick work of Jerimoth Hill, the highest point in Rhode Island. From Providence, the flew to Chicago where they were met by an old friend, John Shoffner, who also happens to be a private pilot and Dr. Russ Betcher, who also happened to volunteer his pilot services and his plane.

Getting ready to head out

That’s when the fun began. A combination of barnstorming, hiking, biking (when they couldn’t find anyone to to drive them to the trail-head) and car borrowing allowed for a whirlwind tour of the real midwest. The team landed in some amazingly remote air strips and met a some great people. 

Charles Mound, IL

• 6/26 - Jerimoth Hill, RI (812 ft)
• 6/26 - Charles Mound, IL (1,235 ft)
• 6/26 - Timms Hill, WI (1,951 ft)
• 6/27 - Mt. Arvon, MI (1,978 ft)
• 6/27 – Eagle Mountain, MN (2,301 ft)
• 6/27 - Hawkeye Point, IA (1,670 ft)

Eagle Mountain, MN

Midwest, you rock. The proof?  The Lach Family, Luann, Stan and Cooper the dog saw the team’s plane overhead and drove out to greet the team on the landing strip. The Lach’s were kind enough to not only take the team out to the trailhead, but they also hiked with them to the summit of Timms Hill, the high point of Wisconsin.

With the Lachs at Timms Hill, WI

America the beautiful

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Under clear (finally!) skies and a big moon, the team hit the trail to summit Katahdin, the highest point in Maine, via the Abol Direct at about 4:00 am today. The ascent was quick and unusual only for the fact that there was actually some sun.

Katahdin, which means “the Greatest Mountain,” is at the northern terminus of the Applachian Trail. This is peak number 35 for the team and the last mountain peak high point east of the Mississippi.

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The team braved some extreme winds and this persistant rain to summit Mt. Washington, the highest point in New Hampshire. They are hoping to catch a break tomorrow as they head towards Maine.

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After Mt. Marcy yesterday, the team ferried across Lake Champlain to Vermont. A mighty shout-out to theStowe Resort for offering their gondola services to transport the team right to the trail head. Mt. Mansfield provided about 1,000 vertical feet of waterfall climbing – a first for the team.

The team is hoping to wrap up the northeast today and tomorrow. Plans are to head to to New Hampshire and hit Mt. Washington this afternoon and then on to Katahdin in Maine tomorrow.

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For the last few days, the team has been averaging 3-4 states PER DAY. That’s pretty amazing. Between yesterday and today, they hit the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Also Massachusetts.

• 6/22 – High Point, NJ (1,803 ft)
• 6/22 - Mt. Frissell, CT (2,372 ft)
• 6/23 – Mt. Greylock, MA (3,488 ft)
• 6/23 – Mt. Marcy, NY  (5,344 ft)

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At about 1:40 pm ET, the team summited Mt. Marcy, the highest point in New York state. The climb was about 14 miles round trip on muddy, rocky trail. The team has been plagued by rain and storms throughout the northern states which has been affecting the speed and timing of the peaks. Mt. Marcy was a whopping 3,000 elevation gain leading to a summit of granite and a gorgeous view of the Adriondacks.

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The team continues to move quickly up the east coast summiting peaks right and left.

• 2:22 am - Backbone Mountain, MD (3,360 ft)
• 5:00 am - Mount Davis, PA (3,213 ft)
• 12:00 pm - Ebright Azimuth, DE (442 ft)

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June 21st is a red letter day! States 23, 23 and 25!

• Black Mountain, KY (4,159 ft)
• Clingmans Dome, TN (6,643 ft)

And…the team reached the halfway point at 11:00 pm ET on June 21st with Spruce Knob, WV at 4,861 feet. That is halfway through the 50 states only 19 days after summiting Denali.

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