First Person: Eden Prairie man tackles 50 'highpoints' of the United States

I did not know it at the time, but I guess you could say my adventure started 36 years ago when I was 14.

I climbed Humphreys Peak — the highest point in Arizona. Climbing was always something I loved to do. I loved being outside and focusing on the goal of getting to the top. Mind-numbing scenery, adventures, neat small towns, other climbers, and even overcoming challenging bad weather — all made every climb unique but also enjoyable. I climbed with whomever I could persuade to go with me, including family members, friends, my dog. I'd also go it alone.

The real start of my "highpoint" quest started 10 years ago when two friends and I climbed Mount Whitney in California (14,494 feet) in a single marathon, up-and-down push. It was a 22-mile round-trip hike with 6,000 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead. We started our climb about 3 a.m. and did not finish until 16 hours later. That is the first time I realized how taxing it can be to climb without acclimating. Given that I live at sea level in Minnesota, I am blessed in that I tend to acclimate easier than most when climbing. During that climb we met several fellow climbers who were highpointers. I had never heard of that concept before, but when I got home I began to research the idea of climbing the highest point in each state. Heck, I already had two, including Whitney, which is the highest point in the continental United States. How hard could it be?

I also liked the idea that I would be able to say I had been to all 50 states when it was over, and that it would put organization or structure to my somewhat random climb plans. Lastly, I dreamed up the concept of knocking them off before I turned 50. I called it 50 by 50. That gave me nine years to finish them.

Once it officially began I wasted no time in planning one or two trips a year, and worked diligently on crossing peaks off the list. Along the way, there were family trips by recreational vehicle, climbs with friends and solo trips. Every time I traveled for work or pleasure I would at least consider whether it was practical to knock off a highpoint or two.

There are five highpoints that are generally considered the most difficult. Two of them are Granite Peak in Montana (12,799 feet) and Gannett Peak in Wyoming (13,804 feet). Part of what makes them so difficult is the long hike through the wilderness to access them before the climb. The Granite climb amounts to a 20-mile round trip. Gannett is more than 40 miles, but is considered one of the most visually spectacular. The other three difficult climbs are mounts Hood in Oregon (11,239 feet), Rainier in Washington (14,411 feet) and Denali (formerly McKinley) in Alaska (20,310 feet).

The only peak I had to climb twice was Rainier. We were 1,000 feet from the top when a nasty storm developed. We were pinned in our tents for a full day, seeing lighting striking around us and rocks falling. Finally the weather lifted just enough to allow a descent. I returned the next year and, in good weather, was able to make it to the top.

North to Alaska

By the time 2015 arrived, I had only one hard peak left — Denali. The highest point in North America, Denali is one of the so-called Seven Summits, the tallest mountains in each of the seven continents.

Denali is known to have some of the nastiest weather of any peak in the world, with extreme wind and bitter cold. Snow can accumulate rapidly during a storm. It is also heavily crevassed. Almost all travel must be done in rope teams for safety, with the ability to rescue fallen climbers if needed. Also, unlike at Mount Everest, there are no Sherpas to carry gear. Each climber must make the climb carrying a 60-pound backpack and dragging a sled with another 100 pounds of gear. Altitude sickness, too, can present serious issues. Bottled oxygen isn't really a practical option at Denali. The additional problem for me was taking three weeks away from my job and family.

Despite terrible conditions and a year of poor overall success, I got very lucky and reached the summit of Denali in June as part of American Alpine Institute's Team 5. I went with American Alpine Institute because it is the most-selective company in terms of who it allows to join its teams. Climbers are required to submit a résumé and be interviewed. I think this selectivity has allowed it the highest success rate of any of the outfitters that climb Denali. In the end, the climb was incredibly difficult but rewarding. I felt so bad for the folks who did not make the summit because of altitude sickness, frostbite, injury, fatigue, bad weather or just plain bad luck. I knew how much planning, training, money and sacrifice it takes to even attempt Denali, so I really felt fortunate to make it on my first attempt.

The final highpoint

My wife, Heidi, and our three children, Taryn, Timmy and Teddy, have been incredibly supportive as I spent long hours training and a lot of time away from home traveling. I recall taking long walks with the family; they were in shorts and tennis shoes, but I sported knee-high climbing boots and a backpack loaded with 60 pounds of rock salt. Heidi was embarrassed, and my kids loved to make fun of me!

Denali behind me, I made a few quick trips to the East Coast with the family to knock off the missing highpoints. My 50th highpoint was Mount Frissell in Connecticut (2,380 feet) with my family on Oct. 16, 2015, in peak fall colors the day before I turned 50. I had completed my goal of 50 by 50. It was a perfect end to an incredible journey. I was the 269th person to have successfully climbed to all 50 highpoints, according to the Highpointers Club. Now, everyone keeps asking what's next. Good question.