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- What outdoor activity is your passion?
- I’m a highpointer! Point to a geographically bounded area on a map and I’ll want to go stand on its highest point. While I mainly focus on the state highpoints I won’t pass up the chance to explore the highest point of a city, county, or other geographical oddity. I love the great variety of them, from snow-capped mountains to urban hills, from forested peaks to the high plains. It is a great way to see parts of the United States most never will. Now I also film episodes about them for my web series Rooftops of America, which allows me to tie in my two other outdoor passions, landscape photography and documentary filmmaking.
- How did you get involved in that activity, and how old were you when you started?
- I went up my first state highpoint (Timms Hill, WI) as a kid. Growing up 30 minutes away from it meant multiple visits during my childhood. I have always liked climbing to the highest points of areas, you usually get the best views from up there, but I didn’t officially start this journey until August 2013 when I was 38 years old. I was driving to my 20-year high school class reunion and I spotted the sign for Hoosier Hill, the highest point in Indiana. I needed to stretch my legs a bit so one quick detour later and there I was, standing near an engraved stone in a small grove designating the state highpoint. To add a bit of context, if you were going to try to convince someone to give highpointing a chance you wouldn’t recommend Hoosier Hill as his or her first experience. It is a small bump on a glacier till plain, surrounded by fields and forests with not a scenic view to be had. For me though it was perfect moment and as I pulled out to continue on my road trip back to my hometown I made the decision to actively pursue all 50 state highpoints. Before the weekend was over I had officially bagged three and have never looked back.
- What was the most epic trip you’ve ever taken?
- Up to this point the most epic hiking trip I’ve taken was leading a nine-day backpacking trip around Isle Royale in Michigan. It’s a beautiful place and recommend everyone go check it out. As a photographer the best place I’ve ever photographed was Iceland, such a diversity of landscapes. You can’t take a bad shot! I am looking forward to a few more epic trips in the future.
- What is the most important piece of gear in your pack? (other than AKU footwear, of course!)
- My Leatherman, a compass, and first aid kit. Don’t leave home without them!
- Where do you hope your AKUs will take you in the future?
- Up more state highpoints! In the immediate future, they’ll be taking me from heights of Wheeler Peak in New Mexico and back to the thick air of Hoosier Hill, Indiana. I also plan on putting them to the test exploring the many waterfalls Tennessee has to offer.
- What AKU boots are you currently wearing?
- I’m currently wearing the Alterras and they have been excellent so far.
