My first highpoint was in my home state. I was three. We saw bears in the picnic area. Clingmans dome was already a paved trail, back in 1960. I thought we'd never get to the top. I think my grandfather carried me. It's probably only a mile or so! We went back several times over the years, including once when I was in the Army home on leave. You usually can't see very far for all of the fog. Now I think it's about half smog.
I have no photos of this trip. though I'd love to dig some up next time I'm in Tennessee.
The South Carolina and Georgia high points I did back in 1980 when I lived in Macon. I would drive up to a trailhead on the A.T. with my first wife (wife 1.0 as I like to refer to her) We were section hiking the A.T. at the time. I would also do side hikes, thus, thats when I bagged the S.C. and Ga. points. I still didn't seriously consider ever being able to do all the highpoints then. Never thought I'd have the time or money. Heck, we would park at a trailhead, hike 10-20 miles, and I'd hithchike back to the car while Wife 1.0 waited. Sometimes during the hike, if 1.0 slowed down, I'd grab both her and my pack (the old external cheap aluminum frame type) and proceed to jog. Hell, at least she tried, eh?
Anyway, thats how it all started. Backpacking in the Smokies as a teen, hiking all over Germany in the Army, then knocking out a good chunk (ok, a small chunk, 3 states of the A.T.
I bagged the Alabama point on one of our trips to visit 1.0's parents in San Antonio. That may have been the first time I started dreaming about highpointing.
So, thats my story. No pics......two curse words, though. I need to start cursing more in my blog. Give's it flavor, no? Kinda a "Bruce Willis" touch, except, I wasn't getting my ass kicked at the time.
