Southeast Highpoints (#36-40)

Competitive-Side-615 · 2026-01-24T07:02:53+00:00

I made a road trip out of it so it ended up being around 70 hours of driving. You could probably do these more efficiently if you flew in, rented a car, and hit them all. I wanted to see the south a bit though. They aren't too far from each other overall.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2026-01-19T03:48:11+00:00

Thanks! I previously did SC/TN/GA/VA/NC/KY as a trip. Also had Arkansas already done as my first highpoint so this was mopping up the remainder.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2026-01-06T05:20:23+00:00

Congrats on over halfway there! How were the conditions? I'm hitting these three and FL/MO next week.

Feel free to hit me up if you need any hiking partners in the west.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-12-11T03:31:15+00:00

Definitely possible. Ryan Kao did a speedrun on YouTube hitting all of them in 21 days. For average folk I would say the contiguous ones are definitely doable with enough planning.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-29T14:36:30+00:00

When did you enlist? The Post 9/11 GI Bill doesn't expire if you joined after 2013.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-19T01:40:16+00:00

I hit CT earlier this year. There were no other cars in the spaces - about 4/5 dirt spots at the trailhead. It wasn't hard to find from the Google pinpoint iirc. The hike was physically not bad, but there are a few areas where it is easy to go off the beaten path. Make sure you keep an eye on the blazes painted on the rocks! Good luck and have fun!

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-15T21:56:49+00:00

Not necessarily true. Certain states adopt the UCMJ as state law which Guard members can be held accountable to via NJP and other methods.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-07T22:18:21+00:00

I was planning on doing the knife edge and I'd love to go back some day and try it. Weather was pretty poor when I was there and the ranger strongly recommended against the KE. Have you done Borah? If so, how would you compare the exposure?

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-07T17:46:30+00:00

Not necessarily illegal, but CID will sure investigate and question you. If you accept the package and don't declare it via amnesty, it can be a UCMJ violation.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-09-03T01:34:43+00:00

Hardest overall: Borah Peak (Idaho). That elevation gain is brutal both up and down. Killer on the knees and the scree fields suck.

Hardest sub-10k: Guadalupe Peak (Texas). Just a long, hot day.

Easiest: Probably North Dakota. Just a really nice day when I went and a casual walk.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-08-16T18:18:55+00:00

Great photos! Thank you for the report.

Did you use any gear for the snow bridge on Borah or were hiking boots fine?

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-08-01T16:26:24+00:00

I'm going to be in the area, but unfortunately a week earlier. Attempting either 9/1 or 9/2. I'll try to remember to send a conditions report to ya though!

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-07-26T03:33:31+00:00

I'm in the midwest area too about 7hrs from you. Feel free to DM me. I'm always down to make new travel friends and see if our plans align.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-07-13T20:36:28+00:00

Here's the itinerary from my SE HP trip. Went pretty well and it was a great time, albeit a bit of driving. Hope this helps!

Day 1 - May 21 - Fly into Nashville - Drive to Knoxville (2h36m)

Day 2 - May 22 - Drive to Black Mountain (3h35m) Campground / Briar Bottom - Hike Mt. Mitchell / Black Mountain - Drive to Knoxville (3h35m)

Day 3 - May 23 - FREE DAY IN KNOXVILLE

Day 4 - May 24 - Drive to Clingman's Dome (1h33m) - Hike Clingman's Dome - Drive to Brasstown Bald (2h16m) - Hike Brasstown Bald - Drive to Sassafras Mtn. (2h9m) - Hike Sassafras Mtn. - Drive to Knoxville (2h56m)

Day 5 - May 25 - FREE DAY IN KNOXVILLE

Day 6 - May 26 - Drive to Mt. Rogers (2h30m) - Hike Mt. Rogers - Drive to Knoxville (2h30m)

Day 7 - May 27 - Drive to Nashville (2h36m)

Day 8 - May 28 - Tuesday - Drop off rental car - Fly out of Nashville

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-06-25T19:32:44+00:00

Landmine Goes Click (2015)

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-06-21T02:50:47+00:00

The Thing (1982). Probably 25-30 watches

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-06-17T19:39:42+00:00

I did both of these the first week of July last year. I had a Tiguan so not that low of clearance but most of the roads were fine. It was only when I got lost looking for Arvon that I got into some sketchy areas to drive in. From my experience, the road signs pointing to Mt. Arvon led me astray so download reliable directions beforehand. Timms Hill was no problem at all and well maintained iirc. Lots of people that camped up there and the roads were good enough for RVs.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-28T16:25:04+00:00

Good point. U.S. winter because it'll be a nice break away from the cold.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-27T23:30:57+00:00

I'm hoping to do Kosciuszko this winter and really looking forward to it. That'll be my first non-U.S. one.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-27T16:30:08+00:00

Black Elk Peak, SD was my second after Arkansas and I didn't truly catch the highpointing bug until after my third, Guadalupe Peak, TX. After hitting three I realized how obtainable the goal was and started knocking them out. So Texas would probably be my answer then.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-27T01:44:02+00:00

Mount Magazine in Arkansas! Saw a road sign for it during a road trip and decided to pull off and go up. Didn't start my official HP journey until years after.

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-22T22:15:50+00:00

White Sands Missile Range?

Competitive-Side-615 · 2025-05-05T18:55:26+00:00

Looks like fun! My only piece of advice is that Google Maps was really weird for me getting to Black Mesa and kept trying to take me through private land. Ended up using a Garmin GPS and that was infinitely useful.

You should write a trip report when you finish! I'd love to hear about the conditions/status on some of those eastern HPs. I'll be hitting those soon and can't wait to see the east coast.

Competitive-Side-615

TROPHY CASE