Topping out on the highest point of each State is becoming a popular yet extremely challenging endeavor. When this cache was published, about 200 people had successfully reached the summits of all 50 of our States. Geocachers have also discovered these “High Points“. At this time, 49 of the 50 State HPs have some type of cache associated with their summits or along their principal climbing or hiking approach routes. Seventeen State High Points have “virtual-type” caches at their summits or close to them. For purposes of this challenge, these “virtual” caches include Virtuals and Webcams.
The lowest-elevation State High Point is Lakewood Park in Florida. It’s elevation is 345 feet above sea level, and reaching it from the parking area takes only a minute or two. The highest is Denali (formerly, Mt. McKinley), in Alaska. It’s elevation is 20,320 feet, and attaining it takes an expeditionary effort of 15-25 days if weather allows any summit success at all. It took me two expeditions totaling 40 days on the mountain to reach the top of North America! The 48 State HPs between these extremes range from easy drive-up endeavors to difficult multi-day backpacks and climbs.
This Challenge Cache requires having logged 9 of the 17 “virtual-type” caches (Virtuals and Webcams) that have been placed in association with the State High Points. No date restrictions apply, so your past cache finds all count toward this total. Your nine qualifying caches must come from the 17 caches listed in the following table.
Have A Virtual “High”
|
| State |
High Point |
Elevation |
GC # |
Cache Name |
Diff/Terr |
| AZ |
Humphreys Peak |
12,633 |
GC4272 |
High in Arizona |
1.0/4.0 |
| CA |
Mount Whitney |
14,494 |
GC151D |
Muir Was Here in ‘73 |
1.0/4.5 |
| FL |
Britton Hill |
345 |
GC7199 |
It’s All Downhill from Here |
1.0/1.0 |
| HI |
Mauna Kea |
13,796 |
GC3D6D |
Pahupa’iKi’i Maka Webcam |
2.0/2.0 |
| KS |
Mount Sunflower |
4,039 |
GC2A76 |
Mount Sunflower Conquest |
1.0/1.5 |
| LA |
Driskill Mountain |
535 |
GC2BE3 |
Louisiana's Highest Geocache |
1.0/1.5 |
| MA |
Mount Greylock |
3,491 |
GC7B6J5 |
Mount Greylock |
1.5/1.0 |
| NE |
Panorama Point |
5,424 |
GCC194 |
High Point Buffalo |
1.0/2.0 |
| NC |
Mount Mitchell |
6,684 |
GC83EA |
High Country |
1.0/2.5 |
| NH |
Mount Washington |
6,288 |
GCN32T |
Mt. Washington Webcam |
3.0/3.0 |
| NJ |
New Jersey High Point |
1,803 |
GC5A96 |
One Down Forty-nine To Go |
1.0/1.0 |
| OK |
Black Mesa |
4,973 |
GC27FA |
Black Mesa Cache |
3.0/3.0 |
| OR |
Mt. Hood |
11,239 |
GC88YRN |
Mt Hood Summit |
1.0/5.0 |
| SC |
Sassafras Mountain |
3,553 |
GC88YZ3 |
South Carolina's Highest Point/Sassafras Mtn. |
2.0/2.0 |
| TN |
Clingman’s Dome |
6,645 |
GC84C0 |
Top of the Smokies Virtual Picture Cache |
1.0/2.0 |
| TX |
Guadalupe Peak |
8,749 |
GC4EEF |
Guadalupe Peak |
3.0/4.0 |
| WA |
Mount Rainier |
14,411 |
GC1192 |
Banana Slugs & High Places |
5.0/4.5 |
This tabulation will be updated in the event other “virtual-type” caches (in this case, Webcam Caches) are placed on any of the HPs where such caches do not currently occur. Where more than one virtual-type cache occurs near a HP, the cache located closest to the summit is the one that is specified. In some instances, Physical Caches or EarthCaches may also be associated with the same HP. For this Challenge, they do not count, so don’t use them! Document your nine finds by either providing a publically-viewable Bookmark that includes your qualifying caches, or by listing the caches in your Found Log. If you use the latter procedure, provide the GC number, the cache name, and the date of your find.
The cache is located at coordinates within Roosevelt National Forest, and is accessible by following an excellently-maintained trail system in the Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Because it is placed on National Forest land, instead of in the Natural Area, it is a legally-located cache. Look for a Small container that is positioned on the west side of a rock formation. The cache is under a couple of stones, and a dead log is placed directly over these stones. Expect a round trip hike of about 8 miles involving approximately 1,300 feet of elevation gain—so be prepared in terms of needed time, food, water, and clothing. The Difficulty/Terrain rating for the cache is based on the challenge of meeting the requirements. Reaching and finding the cache container has a rating of 2.0/4.0. And yes, I have qualified for this cache, and have been to the summits of all of the 50 State HPs.
Have fun on your hike to this final location. Your real challenge was logging the nine State HP Virtual caches required for this endeavor!
CONGRATULATIONS TO RBMAN FOR THE FTF!!