
Subject:
[cohp] Digest Number 5088
From:
cohp@yahoogroups.com
Date:
7/1/2015 1:58 AM
To:
cohp@yahoogroups.com

County High Pointing in all 50 states
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County High Pointing in all 50 states Group
7 Messages
Digest #5088
1
Recent Arkansas trip by
2
Information about the death of Edward Earl, from The Arctic Sounder: by "Ken Akerman"
3a
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA by "Ken Akerman"
3b
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA by gregslayden
3c
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA by "Scott Surgent" surgent1
4
Edward Earl (1964-2015) by "James Barlow" barlow_james
5
Lightning strike kills young woman, seriously injures hike leader on by "Ken Akerman"

Messages
1
Recent Arkansas trip
Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:08 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
I took a 3-day trip to Arkansas over the weekend, leaving Nashville
Friday at noon and coming home Monday evening. I made it to Clinton,
AR before the storms hit, so instead of going to the Van Buren cohp and
then camping, I got a hotel room. I added 13 AR and 1 MO cohps, and
adding 16 birds to my Arkansas list. The trip went as follows:

June 27

Van Buren county, AR
I pulled into the driveway around to the back of the house at 8:20 am.
The dog greeted me, but nobody came to the door when I knocked, so I
noted that the high areas were very close to the drive, visited them,
and headed on.

Pope county, AR
I first visited the two eastern points next to the gravel road. I
thought the radio tower was gone from the second point until I parked
and got out of the car. Quick wandering in the woods for each of these.

For the western area, rather than stop at the house, I drove west along
the road and parked in a curve of the road about .58 mile from the
highpoint. I headed into the woods to the north and was stopped about
150 feet in by a forest of briars. I returned to the road, walked east
a bit, and entered the woods again, with the same result. I then went
west past my car (three people stopped and asked if I had car trouble)
and found a somewhat open ridge about 100 feet past it. I was able to
follow this route up, going around and through downed trees, briars,
and thick vegetation, then a small drainage up the steep part, and then
hit the ridge for a decent walk through the woods to the nondescript
highpoint. Returning the same way, I slipped on a wet rock, banged my
shin on another rock, putting a nice gash and bump on my leg, made
better by scrapes from thorns much of the way. I always wear shorts in
summer, and know I will get scratched. Once I stopped the bleeding for
the most part, I hiked back down the way I came, using my route on the
GPS to guide me. Going in from the house has to be the better way.

Searcy county, AR
The Hans Haustein report were pretty good except for the distance to
NFR 1211, which is now signed NC 5??? (didn't write down the numbers).
The distance from the low-water bridge to NFR 1211 is more like 6.6
miles. I first parked the car, unloaded the mountain bike, and
followed the north road, but since it kept going downhill for the first
third of a mile, figured I should have followed the main road uphill.
Back to the car, and followed the main road, which by GPS took me
closer to the highpoint, and the curves are very similar, but when I
reached Owl something road, I zoomed in with my GPS and saw the correct
road parallel to my left. I followed the map back to the junction with
my road, marked it, and drove back only to find I was in the right
place to start. An hour after my first try, I drove down this road .5
mile and parked off the road near a gate to a field, then started out
with the bike. I pushed it up the steeper sections, but was able to
get both points and back in 2 hours, for 3.86 air miles each way, and
only 40 minutes to get back. This road is decent, and if it was dry
(it rained the night before), I could have driven the whole way to each
point in my sedan. It is only narrow in a couple of places, but is
quite smooth for a gravel road. I went to the north area first, which
is in open woods, then back to BM Horn area, which is in heavy
blackberry cover. The area just west is open, but I couldn't find the
BM in the many rocky areas along the summit ridge. An AWD or 4WD could
do this even in damp conditions, but there were a couple of soft spots
where the bike tires were sinking in a little, and I didn't want to
strand my car on the mountain. I jumped at least one elk next to the
road on the way out.

Carroll county, AR
I drove to the intersection, parked and got out, and my right leg
immediately cramped up for the short ascent to the two roadside high
spots along the fenceline, one on the north side of the E/W road next
to a tree, and another on the east side of the N/S road. No register
found.

Boone county, AR
I parked at the church and cemetery .66 mile from the highpoint, and
rode the bike to the Baca road intersection. Not finding an ATV trail,
I returned to the low point of the main road just east, parked the bike
in the woods, and walked through the woods to the highpoint. A couple
of dead trees in the highest area, but I couldn't find a register.

Barry county, MO
I parked along the road next to the highpoint, and crawled under the
bottom wire on the fence, leg still cramped a little, and walked the 50
feet or so to the highest area here.

Benton county, AR
I first parked at the north area, walked behind the mailbox and briefly
over the short fence, then drove to the main parking lot. I found the
directional BM in the grass near the road, then road the bike down the
road northwest to a high area there by the road, and into the driveway
across the road from the field for the area next to the drive.

Drove to the KOA Fort Smith for the night, since Devils Den State Park
campground was full.
_____________________________________
June 28

Johnson county, AR
I parked in a pulloff just below the eastern area, walked up the ridge,
picked out a sturdy brush-bashing stick, and worked my way to the
eastern, middle, and then western areas. The stick did wonders, along
with some zigzagging around the thornier areas. I did hit a thick
patch of briars heading straight back to the car.

Perry county, AR
NFR 11 is closer to 9 miles south of Hollis. There is a forest road 7
miles south of Hollis that approaches the mountain from the northwest,
and I followed it a short distance before it became rough and steep.
That being said, it might be the best option since I was about a mile
from the top, and the woods on the north side of the mountain were
somewhat open at the top. I looked at my Delorme, found NFR 11, and
followed the directions to NFR 771. Delorme and car GPS don't show
this road connecting to the one below Deckard Mountain, but it indeed
does. I used my mountain bike to follow the road to the road dip .4
mile from the summit, near a forest trail sign on a tree (horseback and
bike OK). The once open woods are growing, and now there are thick
stands of small trees guarding the lower and middle slopes, so I wound
my way up and through these. Once on the ridge, I headed east up to
the summit, sometimes following the top of the ridge, and sometimes
staying to the north side for more open walking. There are two cairns
at the summit, neither with a register. I returned the same way,
although a little more on the north of the ridge to my point back south.

Pike county, AR
I followed Hans Haustein's report, and the road mentioned as Forest
Road 10185 has a gate on it .2 mile from the highway, posted by a
hunting club, but open. There are some hunter shacks along the road,
so not sure if forest land or private. I parked at the junction 2
miles in, moving some rocks from a creek crossing on the way, and hiked
up the road to the second fenced mine area, where the road/trail ended.
From here it was another scramble through thorns and undergrowth, with
some open, rocky areas with nice views, to the summit. The PVC pipe is
still in the rock cairn on top, but the bottom and any sign of a
register are gone.

I scouted Grant county, parking at the cemetery and walking into the
woods, but seeing a house to the east and a couple of outbuildings to
the north, I returned. I was likely a little too far east, but I knew
I was running out of time, and left. The rough road from the west is
still there.

Nevada county, AR
Very easy and nice, but a little trench washed out in the gravel road
where it started uphill had me park and walk the .25 or so mile to the
first, then second areas. The large oak tree is dead, but not bad to
approach in the woods from the tower.

Ouachita county, AR
I parked at the intersection only .17 mile from the highpoint, made my
way up the steep bank by the road, walked 25 feet, and observed the
thickest growth I have seen in a long time. The young pines were in
places only 4-6 inches apart, with other trees and thorns mixed in. I
then walked west and north looking for something better for approach,
with no luck. I camped at the state park just to the west, saving this
one for later when the trees are larger or gone.

-----------------------------------
June 29

Calhoun county, AR
I scouted a road into some pines seen on satellite imagery, but a
logging truck with blinkers on was parked at a gate there, so I drove
to the cemetery and parked. I first biked northeast, then north, on
ATV trails, following several branches to deer stands, only to have the
trails end, one .3 mile from the highpoint.
I then returned to the cemetery, seemingly defeated, but rode to the
back of the clearing and found the road into the woods. I took the
right fork 300 feet into the woods, and followed this road about 1/4
mile to a large, overgrown clearing, and went straight. GPS soon said
I was getting farther away, so back to the junction I went, found a way
straight about 100 yards to a T, and took a left straight at and about
.4 mile from the highpoint. This road wound its way up next to the
highpoint. A couple of oaks on the right in open woods, and an area in
pines just to the east, and across a road in this summit area, were all
about the same height. Just before reaching the cemetery field on the
way out, a truck was entering the woods, so I pulled my bike to the
side of the road, and they informed me that they were just checking the
timber.

Grant county, AR
Followed Lemons road to this area, and upon passing through the open
gate, noted 'private property' signs along the right side of the road.
Not sure if the paper company sold the land or may be leasing it to
hunters. I first drove to the north area, parked just past a large
deer stand by the road, and hiked the 500 feet through thick, young
woods to the highpoint. Thank goodness for a GPS track to get back to
the car the best way.
I then drove back down the main road to the lesser road heading east,
and rode the bike to the next two areas. The first one is on a trail
left of the main track, and is in the woods just north of a deer stand.
Back on the main track, I rode through and around some puddles, once
getting jerked into a puddle by a briar lassoing my bike pedal, but
saving myself by planting my left foot in the muddy puddle. The third
point isn't far past this puddle, in the woods off to the side. Again,
several hunting stands along the roads in this area.

Jefferson county, AR
Looking at the satellite image, area 4 seems to have been mined away,
and maybe a little of a 420-foot contour left. Parking at the curve on
German Springs Road past the gate, I walked to the treeline next to the
road and looked the area over. My GPS was pointing to a mined area in
the direction of a bulldozer, on the other side of a retention pond.
An area with trees was to the left of this, matching the satellite
image, so this area is no longer a contender.

The roads to Jennings Hill are now open, and there is a 'land for sale'
sign at the road leading up to the top. Arriving at the crest of the
road, the sign was on the left, pointing to the right, so a highpoint
is for sale! I found the highest area to be near two trees in a
thicket on the northeast corner of the main road and a dirt road
heading east.

The road to Sanders Hill was gated, so I parked along the highway and
jogged to the top. There is an ATV road heading into the woods behind
the metal building, and this can be followed to within about 100 feet
of the highpoint. Nice, open woods for once, to the highest point in
the pines.

Ken Oeser
Hendersonville, TN





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2
Information about the death of Edward Earl, from The Arctic Sounder:
Tue Jun 30, 2015 2:09 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Ken Akerman"
Here is some information about the death of Edward Earl, from the following
link at The Arctic Sounder
<http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/1526boy_drowns_during_swim_with_friends>
:

On Friday the North Slope Borough Police Department in Barrow was contacted
by the Alaska State Trooper Dispatch in Fairbanks, received a report of a
drowning, with CPR in progress. The victim was identified as Edward Earl,
of Redmond, Wash. The location of the victim was given as approximately 100
miles north of Arctic Village, on the Jago River. A later call revealed
that CPR had been stopped after two hours with no sign of life, according
to a statement from the North Slope Borough.

North Slope Borough personnel located the surviving members of the party,
Greg Slayden, Dave Covill, and Jill Webster, and recovered the remains of
Edward Earl. Interviews with the other members of the party revealed that
Edward had fallen into the river while attempting to cross earlier in the
evening. Members of the Earl family were contacted and notified of the
incident. The remains were sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office to
allow for an autopsy to be performed.
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3a
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA
Tue Jun 30, 2015 2:42 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Ken Akerman"
Highpointers and Prominence enthusiasts,

This is a good idea. It's not far from where I am living and working, and I
have been to this location several times. The high point mentioned is Whittaker
Wilderness Peak
<http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/whittaker-wilderness-peak>, named for
mountaineer extraordinaire Jim Whittaker.

For anyone who is interested in geocaching, I'll also be there to complete
the geocaches in that region of the park. I've been working on completing
all of the geocaches in Cougar Mountain Park and its vicinity, but I
haven't reached that section of the park yet.

Ken

On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Greg Slayden <gregslayden@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> There has been strong interest in this event and many people are OK with
> the time and place, so I think we can make this event a go.
>
> Lets plan on the core time being from about 4:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday,
> July 6th , but people are free to come when they please, maybe do a hike
> beforehand with others, etc.. I think Edward would have wanted a friendly,
> non-fancy, low-key eventpeople can bring food, beer/soda, folding tables
> and chairs, and memories/stories of time with Edward. The Anti-Aircraft
> trailhead (named after long-abandoned WWII site) has parking, restrooms,
> and a couple of picnic tables/shelters.
>
>
>
> This park is located off I-90 just east of Seattle. A detailed trail map
> is here:
> http://your.kingcounty.gov/ftp/gis/Web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf
>
>
>
> Text Directions to Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead: From I-90, take Exit 13
> and drive south on Lakemont Boulevard SE for 2.5 miles. Turn left onto SE
> Cougar Mountain Way. Follow the double yellow line. (The road will first
> swing left and become 168th Place SE, and then right to become SE 60th
> Street.) Turn off 60th Street uphill onto SE Cougar Mountain Drive. The
> road will change to gravel, and at the very end is the Anti-Aircraft Peak
> Trailhead, where you will find restrooms, picnic tables and a play field.
>
>
>
> Google Maps directions from downtown Seattle
> <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795>
> :
> ?
>
> https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795
> ?
>
> ?
> <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795>
>
> Do be aware of the generally horrendous traffic in the Seattle area. This
> date will avoid holiday weekend traffic, and the rush hour on Monday should
> be relatively subdued due to people on vacation. Weather should be great,
> we have been in a massive heat wave for over a month now.
>
>
>
> Cougar Mountain is a large King County park. There are no fees for
> entering or parking, and there are many miles of well-maintained hiking
> trails through lush forest, and occasional views through the trees. The
> high point is called Wilderness Peak, elevation 1610, and with a
> prominence of 1145Edward would approve of the P1K status. This summit is
> an easy 1.5 hour round-trip hike from the Anti-Aircraft Peak trailhead for
> most hikers.
>
>
>
> Feel free to forward this message as appropriate to anyone who would like
> to come to remember our tragically departed friend.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> --Greg
>
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3b
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA
Tue Jun 30, 2015 2:57 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
gregslayden
Thanks, Ken, for posting this message to the forum. If anyone has any questions about this event, feel free to contact me.


Edward was a amazingly unique individual--PhD chemist, brilliant software engineer, symphony violinist, experienced amateur pilot, keen astronomer, a science fair judge, and, of course, a most prolific mountaineer. The quantity and quality of his exploits in the mountains of the world is extraordinary--he is still the only person who has climbed all 4000-foot prominence peaks in the 48 states. But he was also a kind, gentle, soul, a friend to many, and a pillar of our worldwide community. His loss is incomprehensible and heartbreaking.


If you were touched in any way by Edward's too-brief time in this world, and can make it to the Seattle area on July 6th, you are welcome to come celebrate his memory and legacy.


--Greg

---In cohp@yahoogroups.com, <Ken.Akerman@...> wrote :


Highpointers and Prominence enthusiasts,


This is a good idea. It's not far from where I am living and working, and I have been to this location several times. The high point mentioned is Whittaker Wilderness Peak http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/whittaker-wilderness-peak, named for mountaineer extraordinaire Jim Whittaker.


For anyone who is interested in geocaching, I'll also be there to complete the geocaches in that region of the park. I've been working on completing all of the geocaches in Cougar Mountain Park and its vicinity, but I haven't reached that section of the park yet.


Ken


On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Greg Slayden <gregslayden@... mailto:gregslayden@...> wrote:
There has been strong interest in this event and many people are OK with the time and place, so I think we can make this event a go.

Lets plan on the core time being from about 4:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday, July 6th , but people are free to come when they please, maybe do a hike beforehand with others, etc.. I think Edward would have wanted a friendly, non-fancy, low-key eventpeople can bring food, beer/soda, folding tables and chairs, and memories/stories of time with Edward. The Anti-Aircraft trailhead (named after long-abandoned WWII site) has parking, restrooms, and a couple of picnic tables/shelters.

This park is located off I-90 just east of Seattle. A detailed trail map is here: http://your.kingcounty.gov/ftp/gis/Web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf http://your.kingcounty.gov/ftp/gis/Web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf

Text Directions to Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead: From I-90, take Exit 13 and drive south on Lakemont Boulevard SE for 2.5 miles. Turn left onto SE Cougar Mountain Way. Follow the double yellow line. (The road will first swing left and become 168th Place SE, and then right to become SE 60th Street.) Turn off 60th Street uphill onto SE Cougar Mountain Drive. The road will change to gravel, and at the very end is the Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead, where you will find restrooms, picnic tables and a play field.

Google Maps directions from downtown Seattle https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795:
?
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795 https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795?
? https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795
Do be aware of the generally horrendous traffic in the Seattle area. This date will avoid holiday weekend traffic, and the rush hour on Monday should be relatively subdued due to people on vacation. Weather should be great, we have been in a massive heat wave for over a month now.

Cougar Mountain is a large King County park. There are no fees for entering or parking, and there are many miles of well-maintained hiking trails through lush forest, and occasional views through the trees. The high point is called Wilderness Peak, elevation 1610, and with a prominence of 1145Edward would approve of the P1K status. This summit is an easy 1.5 hour round-trip hike from the Anti-Aircraft Peak trailhead for most hikers.

Feel free to forward this message as appropriate to anyone who would like to come to remember our tragically departed friend.

Thanks,

--Greg







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3c
Re: Edward Earl Gathering - Monday July 6th - Cougar Mountian, WA
Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:03 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Scott Surgent" surgent1
I won't be able to attend the celebration/memorial for Edward next week in
Seattle, but send my best wishes and condolences to everyone there. I hope
it is a fun and cathartic event for everyone who attends.

Scott

On 30 June 2015 at 14:57, gregslayden@hotmail.com [cohp] <
cohp@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> Thanks, Ken, for posting this message to the forum. If anyone has any
> questions about this event, feel free to contact me.
>
>
> Edward was a amazingly unique individual--PhD chemist, brilliant software
> engineer, symphony violinist, experienced amateur pilot, keen astronomer, a
> science fair judge, and, of course, a most prolific mountaineer. The
> quantity and quality of his exploits in the mountains of the world is
> extraordinary--he is still the only person who has climbed all 4000-foot
> prominence peaks in the 48 states. But he was also a kind, gentle, soul, a
> friend to many, and a pillar of our worldwide community. His loss is
> incomprehensible and heartbreaking.
>
>
> If you were touched in any way by Edward's too-brief time in this world,
> and can make it to the Seattle area on July 6th, you are welcome to come
> celebrate his memory and legacy.
>
>
> --Greg
>
> ---In cohp@yahoogroups.com, <Ken.Akerman@...> wrote :
>
> Highpointers and Prominence enthusiasts,
>
> This is a good idea. It's not far from where I am living and working, and
> I have been to this location several times. The high point mentioned is Whittaker
> Wilderness Peak
> <http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/whittaker-wilderness-peak>, named for
> mountaineer extraordinaire Jim Whittaker.
>
> For anyone who is interested in geocaching, I'll also be there to complete
> the geocaches in that region of the park. I've been working on completing
> all of the geocaches in Cougar Mountain Park and its vicinity, but I
> haven't reached that section of the park yet.
>
> Ken
>
> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Greg Slayden <gregslayden@...> wrote:
>
> There has been strong interest in this event and many people are OK with
> the time and place, so I think we can make this event a go.
>
> Lets plan on the core time being from about 4:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday,
> July 6th , but people are free to come when they please, maybe do a hike
> beforehand with others, etc.. I think Edward would have wanted a friendly,
> non-fancy, low-key eventpeople can bring food, beer/soda, folding tables
> and chairs, and memories/stories of time with Edward. The Anti-Aircraft
> trailhead (named after long-abandoned WWII site) has parking, restrooms,
> and a couple of picnic tables/shelters.
>
>
>
> This park is located off I-90 just east of Seattle. A detailed trail map
> is here:
> http://your.kingcounty.gov/ftp/gis/Web/VMC/recreation/BCT_CougarMtn_brochure.pdf
>
>
>
> Text Directions to Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead: From I-90, take Exit 13
> and drive south on Lakemont Boulevard SE for 2.5 miles. Turn left onto SE
> Cougar Mountain Way. Follow the double yellow line. (The road will first
> swing left and become 168th Place SE, and then right to become SE 60th
> Street.) Turn off 60th Street uphill onto SE Cougar Mountain Drive. The
> road will change to gravel, and at the very end is the Anti-Aircraft Peak
> Trailhead, where you will find restrooms, picnic tables and a play field.
>
>
>
> Google Maps directions from downtown Seattle
> <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795>
> :
> ?
>
> https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795
> ?
>
> ?
> <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.59485,-122.3290266/Anti-Aircraft+Peak+Trailhead/@47.5354008,-122.1290411,13z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x6c978ce8fbf517d9!2m2!1d-122.096847!2d47.540795>
>
> Do be aware of the generally horrendous traffic in the Seattle area. This
> date will avoid holiday weekend traffic, and the rush hour on Monday should
> be relatively subdued due to people on vacation. Weather should be great,
> we have been in a massive heat wave for over a month now.
>
>
>
> Cougar Mountain is a large King County park. There are no fees for
> entering or parking, and there are many miles of well-maintained hiking
> trails through lush forest, and occasional views through the trees. The
> high point is called Wilderness Peak, elevation 1610, and with a
> prominence of 1145Edward would approve of the P1K status. This summit is
> an easy 1.5 hour round-trip hike from the Anti-Aircraft Peak trailhead for
> most hikers.
>
>
>
> Feel free to forward this message as appropriate to anyone who would like
> to come to remember our tragically departed friend.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> --Greg
>
>
>
>

-- 
Scott Surgent
Principal Lecturer & Associate Director, First Year Mathematics
Arizona State University, Tempe
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4
Edward Earl (1964-2015)
Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:22 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"James Barlow" barlow_james
Edward Earl (1964-2015)
It seemed unreal when I read the emailfrom Gerry Roach forwarded by Andy Martin. It felt like justyesterday that I had seen Edward and we had climbed peaks togetherand discussed climbing future peaks together. I saw the email as Isat down for dinner at Pedros Tacos with my son in San Clemente,CA. We had just driven through Camp Pendleton to avoid monstrousdelays on I-5 and along the way past the north end of the base, I wastaking mental notes of the firebreaks running up the ridges to thesummit of San Onofre Mtn, a seemingly insignificant summit aboard aMarine Corps Base. Well, it was not insignificant to Edward. It wasthe only remaining optimistic P1k in San Diego County that he had notyet climbed and I had the keys to the golden gate (or base access andconnections with range control to set up a hike). Edward wascurrently working on completing all of the P1k peaks in the countiesthat he has called home over the years. While his completions forSnohomish and King counties were far off, San Diego County was withinreach for him. Before I even temporarily moved back down here tosouthern California this year, Edward had asked me about this peak asI had previously hiked up it as part of a training exercise on thebase 15 years ago. We had already set a time frame to hike up it Feb or Mar 2016 in the pleasant California winter. I had beenthinking of Edward just before I saw that email a mere 30 minuteslater while waiting for dinner
I first had the pleasure of meetingEdward through our mutual friend, Greg Slayden, with whom I hadclimbed a few peaks from 2011 onward. I had followed Edward onpeakbagger for a number of years, using his detailed trip reports onoccasion. We met at a restaurant in Kirkland to discuss upcomingplans for an Iceland trip to be undertaken by Greg and Edward. Edward was looking for information about traveling there as I hadpreviously lived in Iceland for 3  years, though sadly, I was not apeakbagger at the time I lived there. Joined by my friend Lyndsey, who had lived in Iceland at the same time as me, we laid out my stack of mapsand guidebooks and proceeded to show them all of the places that wereworth visiting in between peaks, as well as translating some beta outof the 2 Icelandic peakbagging books that I owned (well worth thepurchase). I unloaded knowledge about my favorite country until therestaurant closed and forced us to leave. This would be one of thefew times that the flow of information went from me to Edward. Injust about every other encounter, I picked Edwards brain for hisextensive knowledge of peaks, prominence, and general lifeadventures.
Edward went on to successfully ascend anumber of peaks in Iceland to include the only ultra on the island,Hvannadalshnkur, and a peak that I highly recommended that he climb(mainly because I always wanted to climb it but never did), Hekla.
After returning home to Seattle 9 months later, Edward and I almost immediately linked up for an ascentof an out-of-the-way P2k peak known as Walker Mtn, a roadside bump onthe Olympic peninsula. I could swear that Edward already had thispeak, but maybe I had been mistaken. We met at the park and ride andconsolidated into the mighty Yaris for the ferry ride across thePuget Sound and the drive to the trailhead. Along the way, wediscussed, of all things, peakbagging and prominence. Quite anunlikely topic for the two of us! I had heard of Earlizing apeak before. Greg had explained it in detail on a hike we shared ona logging country dumpster peak the year before. Edward hadpurposely stopped 1,000 vertical feet shy of the summit of AndersonMtn (another logging country dumpster in western WA), and hiked therest of the way up a driveable road. I had no such need on my ascentof Anderson. The gate at pavement was locked and we hiked tosnowline and snowshoed to the summit, some 3,000 ft above.  Edward was jealous... Anyway, we were back on Walkerto fix an error in Edwards Washington P2k ascent list. He hadpreviously ascended Walker with the assistance of a vehicle andservice road. On this fine January Washington day we would hike upthe trail from pavement, properly Earlizing the summit. Spending the entire day with Edward was a delight. I learned a lotabout prominence, obscure saddles for the major mountains of theworld, and shared my field research of the Everest  Kilimanjarosaddle. It is indeed sea level and I have sailed right across it 100 yards across, all water, no locks! An aircraft carrier fits across thismajor prom saddleEdward and I did a number of otherhikes together throughout 2014, including a gathering of notablepeakbaggers in the San Juan Islands in February 2014, AT skiing on MtRainier, and other Washington outdoor adventure.
Our paths crossed again as we planned,outfitted, trained, and prepared for our attempt of Mt Fairweather,Alaska. Greg Slaydens excellent accounts of this trip onpeakbagger tell the tale.
Mt Fairweather attempt, Greg Slayden's TR:http://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=415838
Aswe were still in Alaska, we tried to scramble together a hasty planB. Yet again, we were unsuccessful, but this time we all gave it ago together. This Alaska trip was my first introduction to Alaskamountaineering, and what a way to experience it: miserable weather,dangerous conditions, mountains bigger than life, and 2 great friendsto share it all with. When the float plane picked us up on our finalday in the beautiful backcountry, I knew that we wouldreturn.
Baranof Island HP attempt, Greg Slayden's TR:http://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=415839
Late in the season last year, I had thepleasure of a 3 day trip to Oregon for some peaks with Edward. WhileI didnt know it at the time, it would be the last time we wouldclimb together. I saw him after that at peakbagger gatherings inSeattle, but these would be our last peaks. We bagged 3 P2k peaks, aCoPP, and a CoHP together that weekend. I got to see Edward in topform. On both Three Fingered Jack and Mt Washington (OR), Edward wasbounding ahead, ready to tackle any obstacle that the mountain threwat us. This included fog, high winds, and rock so rotten we darednot look at it cross-eyed. After achieving the summit of MtWashington, Edward compared it to North Sister in difficulty. WhileMt Washington was all rock and North Sister has ice, Edward felt thatour ascent route was equally tough. Naturally, we were off route,and our descent (read correct) route was not too bad, but stillhad a pucker factor of exposure and loose crap. Edward gave me theconfidence that I needed to lead the technical climbing pitches thatday, and for that I am grateful. Edward is the climbing partner youwant in your corner on a day like that: howling wind, no visibility,and yet no complaints from Edward in his jeans. The final day of ourtrip, we did some prominence field research together. It wasabsolutely enlightening to see the master enthralled in his craft. We documented every turn of our hike, and every turn of the approach. We gathered exact information, and Edward took copious notes forlater refinement. This master work for a rather insignificant bumpis available here and stands as a testament to the level of effortand accuracy that Edward put into his prominenceresearch:
http://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=462440
Edwardput together amazing trip reports over the years from peaks known toall, to peaks that only peak addicts such as ourselves wouldrecognize. If you follow one of his trip reports, you will not bedisappointed!Here are some of the pictures that Itook of Edward during our adventures together. Sadly, I dont havepictures of him from all of the hikes, skis, and climbs that we didtogether.https://flic.kr/s/aHskfhkQLh https://flic.kr/s/aHskfhkQLh

I turned down the invitation to Isto with Greg and Edward as I already had a family trip to Iceland lined up for the same time this year, though I requested to be kept in mind for future trips as the 3 of us make a great rope team.  I have placed my life in Edward's hands on the sharp end of some lead climbing and he never failed me.  His contributions to this community areextensive. He was one of the most interesting people that I ever hadthe pleasure of meeting. While most of our conversations turned topeakbagging, we had equally interesting discussions about computerprogramming, his participation in the orchestra, definingcomputational chemistry for a mere mortal such as myself, and hisabilities as a pilot (and how it could potentially help us peakbag inAlaska). There are few mountaineers who make it to the level ofskill, dedication, and commitment as Edward. I was honored to sharesummits, tents, meals, carpools, bush plane rides, and ski turns withsuch a man. Rest in peace my friend,James Barlow
james.n.barlow@gmail.com
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5
Lightning strike kills young woman, seriously injures hike leader on
Tue Jun 30, 2015 10:47 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Ken Akerman"
This is another tragic event, occurring near a county high point (Gila
County, AZ). The hikers were members of the Meetup group Arizona Epic
Adventures & Backpacking
<http://www.meetup.com/Arizona-Epic-Adventures-Backpacking>. Lightning is
one deadly highpointing hazard that can affect people on highpoints of any
elevation, in most regions of the world and during most times of the year,
particularly during spring and summer.

PAYSON, AZ - Lightning killed a 24-year-old woman Saturday and injured
several others hiking on the Mogollon Rim during a social outing.

Christine Garcia of Orlando, Fla. was hiking the Cabin Loop Trail with her
boyfriend and 10 other people she had recently met through Meetup.com, a
networking website, when a monsoon storm overtook the group. Although the
group did everything they could to save Garcia, including CPR and stealing
a vehicle to call for help, Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene.

The leader of the group, Corey, known as Poochie on the site, was
airlifted to a Flagstaff hospital with serous injuries.

? ?

Click here to read the full article:
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2015/jun/30/lethal-lightning-strike/

Here is the hike description from the Meetup.com website:
http://www.meetup.com/Arizona-Epic-Adventures-Backpacking/events/223014369/
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