"THE CENTER OF THE NORTHWESTERN WORLD"
Poniatowski, Wisconsin?
One of the events scheduled for the Highpointer Club '07 Konvention was a visit to Poniatowski, a few miles west of Wausau. Why?: About 1 mile northwest of the town, you'll find a formidable marker designating "45X90" or, the geographical point where you can stand halfway between the equator and north pole, and the Greenwich Meridian and the International Dateline.

Pictured are the 45X90 participants, led by Roger Rowlette (tallest), and includes HP Club President Tim Webb (2nd tallest).

A brass benchmark set in concrete designates the spot though it's a tad off to the south and east by mere seconds. Our Garmin Nuvi 350 read N 44 59 57.3/W 090 00 14.3 here. By walking Meridian Rd. about 100ft north from the marker's plot entrance, we reached N 45 00 00. W 090 00 00 was behind, or east, of the formal marker, and appeared to be in the vicinity of a tall dead tree next to the cornfield. We decided not to bushwhack through the planted farm field to pursue it. A Degree Confluence Project (http://www.confluence.org/) team seems to have located it in the cornfield on a winter visit. Click here: DCP: 45 degrees north, 90 degrees west (visit #5)

Some references to the Poniatowski marker:
Click here: Halfway between Equator and North Pole
Click here: 45th Parallel
http://americasroof.com/45x90.shtml

Note: Gesicki's bar in Poniatowski no longer exists, nor does the "45X90" Club under the Gesicki's. It is believed that Mrs. Gesicki passed away not long after the bar closed.

WHERE THE HOOSIER, BUCKEYE, & MITTEN STATE MEET
The Indiana, Ohio, & Michigan Tri-Point, In the Bag...

On the way to the late July '07, 20th Highpointers Konvention near Wausau, WI, we bagged this easy tri-point which called for a short detour north from the Ohio Turnpike, I-80/90. Pictured, looking north, the marker is in the lower right corner (road-center), MI in the top right, OH in the lower right, and IN to the left of road-center. All aspects of this tri-corner are as described in Jack Parsell's guide with the exception of the witness marker to the east - the top of this cement post was broken off sometime after Jack's visit in '91.

We accessed the site via Rt120 (Territorial Rd.) in MI and
traveled south on Cope Rd. .8mi where there's an obvious road surface break from gravel to blacktop at the MI/OH state line. Another big clue is the red granite marker on the left shoulder, 130ft (so inscribed) north of the state's tri-junction. The heavy metal plate in the road's center can be removed to expose the 6in deep crypt and the nifty engraved plaque within (pictured).

Pic set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11330680@N06/sets/72157601393090375/

GOT LOST?
Never again with these resources...

August '07 Backpacker (one of our fave mags) appeared in the mailbox like 2 weeks ago. Has summer passed or what? Anyway...more great articles. We like many of their bite-size info boxes because we otherwise bore easily over too-long, run-on articles.
On P.66 of this issue is a tight column titled START SMART, Find Great Maps. We totally love maps here and have listed the Go online sites the article provides, this being an online format. As the internet has evolved per freebie info, there's still some of that here; nevertheless, good $$$map offers are out there dependent on your must-have needs.

Click here: Customized Topo Maps and Aerial Photos - myTopo.com
Click here: Trails Topo Maps Hiking Mountain Biking - Trails.com
Click here: Gmaps Pedometer
Click here: Backpacker Magazine - Your Backpacking, Camping, and Hiking Magazine.www.backpacker.com On the Backpacker site, plug "maps" into there search engine for a plethora of links.

THE SYMBOL OF THE JAPANESE SOUL
"Fuji-San" - a mountain of trash?

IS NOTHING SACRED?! A recent AP article reports that the forested base of Mt. Fuji has for some time evolved into a garbage dump. The mountain paths are also littered with trash, motivating concerned citizens to remedy this trend which has continued for 20-30 years. The debris isn't just candy bar wrappers and other easily picked-up paper scraps, but it's microwaves, refrigerators, tires, etc. Blame is placed on the high cost to formally dispose of appliances, furniture, and household trash generated in this highly industrialized and densely populated island nation.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLEANING_UP_FUJI?SITE=WIFON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6901.html

TREE CLIMBING...
Remember doing it as a kid?

Part 1/Part 2:

Click here: Eureka! New tallest living thing discovered / THE CHAMPION: At 378.1 feet, Hyperion in Redwood National Park on No

MT. RAINIER, CLIMBING IT!
Gleaned from YouTube...

TRI-STATE CORNERS in the UNITED STATES

A Must Reference for Geo-Adventurers & Whacko BushWhackers

This is a warning post: The price of this fine collection of all the points where 3 or more U.S. states meet (dry & wet) is going up soonly as did mailing costs, gasoline, taxes, and our collective blood pressure. You've got until the end of July if you want to save a biggo 2$, i.e., the cost goes from 10 buckos to 12. This guide is a surreal bargain, so dig deep and spring for your very own copy of this unique work by the author, Jack Parsell. Jack, hiker, climber, geo-adventurer, and pioneer, has completed all 50 U.S. High Points, and was first to document visits to all 38 'dry' tri-corners into this valuable companion. BUY IT! Otherwise, you'll have just one more entry to add to your life's regret list. Go blog column-right for ordering info.

For the whacko-frugal: A copy can be downloaded from www.bjbsoftware.com/corners (a great site), but ongoing updates plus other back-of-the-guide goodies aren't included. Besides...bought a printer ink cartridge lately?

MONTGOMERY'S CORNER & THE 30 MILE POST
A new blog category: GeoGlitches

In days of old
When surveyors were bold
And GPSs weren't invented,
They bushwhacked through the wilderness
And sometimes soon relented.
(Modification of a risque limerick of old).

On a map of the NC/GA state line there's a bit of a bump at Clay County, NC and Towns County, GA, above Hiawassee - about 661 yards-worth, N to S. Look closely. This glitch goes back to partial surveys begun in 1737 and 1764. In 1796, completion of the line was ordered. GA hired Montgomery; NC engaged Ellicott, whose line extended 30 miles west from the Chattooga River. Montgomery's began from the old Cherokee town of Nickajack. They ultimately did not meet, were simply connected by a perpendicular, and the survey wasn't soon repeated owing to the time and effort required. This state line abberation became downright cause for war over the questionable right angle pair.

"In 1803, Georgia disputed the boundary and went so far as to create a county within the disputed area known as Walton County. This dispute led to battles, riots, killings, and imprisonments. In an effort to settle the matter in 1807, the U.S. conducted yet another survey, completing it in 1808, but Georgia refused to accept it" - from an article in Georgia Backroads, Winter 2004, written by Michael E. Maffett, M.D.

In this excellent research piece, Dr. Maffett includes a description of his own arduous attempts to reach the markers with hopes that they could, indeed, be located. He bushwhacked the woods west of the A.T. from Bly Gap and north of Hightower Bald (4th highest peak in GA) without success, although he went in much better equipped, GPS and all, than Ellicott and Montgomery. Maffett marvels at the abilities of pioneer surveyors despite simpler orientation tools and lack of existing road/trail access.

Copy/paste into your browser and refer to LOGGY BRANCH AND HIGHTOWER ROAD:
http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/mountains/blue_ridge/eastern/
hightower_area_southern_nantahala_wilderness.html#SCATAWAY

Dr. Maffett's resources included Marion R. Hempley's Georgia's Boundaries, The Making of a State (1993), internet accounts of Walton's War, and his personal Southern History library. The GB article (or the Winter '04 issue), can be ordered from Editor Dan Roper at georgiabackroads@comcast.net. Or contact the Trekster here for more info. The GB article is not available as a download.

If you should trek
In to the woods
To seek out these two markers,
Please let us know what you did find
And we'll post it under "Yikers!"

Get started here: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.98985&lon=-83.6202&s=48&u=6&datum=nad27&layer=DRG

MORE GEO-REFERENCES: U.S. elevations, distances, etc.

We just stumbled upon the USGS below site and approved it as must-share data for this blog's geo-eggheads who need earthy grey-matter fuel.

Knock yourself out!

http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html

CANADIAN ELK MATTERS
But their own bridge?

This photo came to us through the e-mailing medium which brings us everything from soup to nuts and elk propaganda, too.

The Caption: This is the actual turnoff from Banff to the # 1 highway to Calgary. Great picture isn't it? They had to build the animals (especially the elk) their own crossing because that was where the natural crossing was and after the highway was built there were far too many accidents. I understand it didn 't take the animals long to learn that this was their "road ."

We forwarded this to a number of recipients who we deemed worthy to suffer the latest e-mail trivia. One offered this reaction: I thought it was odd that there was no visible fence on the right side to funnel the elk onto this bridge structure, so I looked it up to see if it was a photo-shopped image. It appears that it is a true image, but that the structure is not a planned wildlife overpass. It is reported to be a bridge for the Canadian Pacific railroad track. This makes sense since the structure is so stout, and would be total overkill for just wildlife.

Our offering: Maybe overkill is the norm in Canada or it 's just that Canucks feel strongly about accommodating their wildlife. If it's a RR bridge, why the pedestrian railing on both sides? Also, if designed for elk, you might expect a more formidable, higher, chain link affair instead. If there is a "funneling" fence, how could you spy it in this photo? Since these critters move instinctively, as a deer darts across a high-traffic road in front of YOUR car in order to get where it needs to get, they made the bridge, theirs.

Your offerings? Use Comments.

YOU'VE NAMED THE STATES
Now match-up their high points...

Aaarrrggghhh...not another test! Chill out, just living is a test. You'll get a score and time on this, but you won't lose your full-time job if you don't ace the friggin' thing...and your other half need never know how you scored.

Take a deep breath, relax, buckle up, and go here: http://www.purposegames.com/game/751

After all that, surf this site: http://www.purposegames.com/ for it's many other academic offerings, assuming you've now overcome your test-taking hang ups. Got an idea for a new test? You can create one of your own and publish it to the site.

Note: This test http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf was posted on 3Oct06.

THE TRAVELIN' GUY IN ANTARCTICA
Dale Stenseth ventures waaay South...

Dale e-mailed us that he was back home in Minnesota after a mid-winter trip to Anarctica, followed by a 2nd trip to Rio for the wild, mad festivities of "Car-nee-vaal," and Argentina for an Igauzu Falls visit. His super Highpointers Web Ring member site includes these latest destinations.

Nothing is left to be desired - trip reports, photos, graphics, and information links tell it all. http://www.stenseth.org/adventure/antarctica.html
http://www.stenseth.org/adventure/trashedship.html
http://www.stenseth.org/adventure/iguazu.html
http://www.stenseth.org/adventure/brazil.html


SURF DALE'S SITE! (Perused/approved by the Trekster).
http://adventure.stenseth.org/

PERUSING THE HIGHPOINTER WEB RING, AGAIN -
State high point reports and Kili, too...

Periodically we check into the Highpointers Web Ring for whatever's new within this realm of contributors, now at 27 members. This trip we squirreled around in Lubos Brieda's Highpointing Page: http://www.iamlubos.com/highpoints/highpoints.htm - a really nice site (we're jealous). Lubos is at 29 state high points and his page includes reports/photos of all he's bagged to date. He's also racked up Kilimanjaro and economically, too, saving on middle-man prices.
"The climb cost about 800 dollars (of which about half went for the climbing permit), and a four-day safari was additional 400 dollars. The whole trip cost less than what some U.S. based companies charge just for the climb," Brieda reports. http://www.iamlubos.com/kilimanjaro/kilimanjaro.htm

Once you reach Africa, Kili is a duh-doable 7-Continent summit for those who prepped for it - a walk-up (along with Australia's Mt. Kosciuszko). The key to be a Kili summiter is sufficient ascent time for max acclimation.

Surf Brieda's site for his other kool accomplishments and join the jealous. All of the Ring's HP sites are accessible via the link at the bottom of this blog.

THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY
Whooooooosh...



Louic Jean Albert misses the summit, but that's a good thing!
Verbier, Switzerland.

READ A GUY MAG, CHEAP
And smell good, too.

Men'sJournal, Mach 07, just appeared in my mailbox. This month's articles include Snowkiting Alaska, Search and Rescue, Horseback Riding in Hawaii, a Jeff Corwin Interview, and 50 Perfect Toys for Men, to name a few. I got my 24 mos. sub cheap and it expires in May 08. A post paid tear-out in this issue gets you a 24 issue deal for $16.95 or shopping around might yield an even lower rate. If you're even too tight for a good bargain, beam up their excellent web page: http://www.mensjournal.com/

Note: MJ, and magazines of it's ilk, often carry ads for men's colognes/aftershaves, etc. along with a fragrance strip. Diane suggests tearing these smelly things off then shove them into your sock and underwear drawers. Is she trying to tell us something?

ARC CORNER MONUMENT
Go There; Stand There...

To round off your MDP mission, visit the Arc Corner Monument, located .8 miles east of the MD/DE/PA tri-point post. From the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" marker on Rt896, travel south aprx. 1/2 mile to Hopkins Bridge Rd. on the left. Follow this an equal distance to a gated preserve track on the left. Park here. The ACM is across the road in a clearing but somewhat hidden by brush along the road. Reaching it involves a tricky step over a drainage ditch. Pictured is the ACM looking northward where the arc travels in the direction of our van parked across H.B. Rd. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/maps/whiteclaycreek_mini.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-Mile_Circle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedge_%28border%29
http://www.udel.edu/dgs/Publications/pubsonline/info6.html
http://www.destateparks.com/wccsp/index.asp

REVISITING MDP
And getting it right...

The previous post was based on an MDP revisit, that of Greg Weiler. His update included a map showing 3 markers at the tri-point site. "Three?" was my reaction, realizing the need for our own revisit.

Two years ago, we stopped at the first monument encountered (MDP #1, pictured), took pics, and left. Wrong! If we had followed the continuing path, passing a second reference marker (MDP #3), and crossed the bridge, we would have reached the taller, definitive 3Pt post (MDP #2), dated 1849, by the creek (Revisit pic: Diane on bridge. 3Pt monument is upper right).

Greg's directions are from Newark via Rt896. Or: From PA on 896, and aprx.1 1/2 mi. after Kemblesville, look for Chambers Rock Rd. then Morgan Halloway then the obscure, rustic access road, all on left. 896 can be a fast road at times so spying the latter on the first pass can be tricky. There was once an old bar on the west side of the road, now demolished for a new, unknown 2-storey construction.

Three geocaches are within this 3Pt area so try this: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gmnearest.aspx?lat=39.719867&lng=-75.793183 for reference. NGS Data Sheets: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_radius.prl - enter N394319 & W0754719 & radius = .1 mile (Pic: Garmin Nuvi displaying 3Pt DMS coordinates). Also, see Butler bros. MDP report: http://www.bjbsoftware.com/corners/pointdetail.php3?point=24

MDP TRIPOINT UPDATE

(Maryland/Delaware/Pennsylvania)

From Newark, DE, go NW on route 896 about 3 miles into MD and on to the PA line. 0.2 miles north of the “Welcome to Pennsylvania” sign on route 896 is a driveable dirt track (no sign) on the right. After about 100 feet on the track there is an area wide enough to park 2-3 cars. The track leads across a field, which can be soft and muddy and not advisable for driving. This area is owned by White Clay Preserve which also owns the land at the tri-point. Follow the track S across the field about 500 feet to a grassy area and a path leading into the woods. Part of this route is on private land but it is OK to cross. Take the path into the woods passing USGS reference (arrow) and station (triangle) markers. Cross a footbridge after about 300’ on the path and continue on to the stone tri-point monument, now visible on the right near a creek, in another 40 feet.

In 1760 commissioners and surveyors were appointed to establish the base line and tangent line between MD & DE. This involved the N boundary of DE, which is an arc of a circle having a radius of 12 English statute miles measured from the center of the town of New Castle, DE. After several years of trying to establish these boundaries, the proprietors became discouraged with the delays and sent from England two famous mathematicians, Charles Mason & Jeremiah Dixon, who verified the earlier work and ran the lines between PA & MD, ever since called The Mason & Dixon Line. A resurvey 200 years later showed the location of the NE corner of MD to be in error by only 1.9 seconds of latitude. Arc Corner is 0.8 mile E of the tri-point.

Submitted by Greg Weiler, 12/06.

GOING THAT EXTRA FEW FEET
Ultra rad and totally heroic...

Making split decisions that can save your life...or that of another. This is the stuff of Hollywood action films and Spider-Man fanasty. Wesley Autrey, Harlem construction worker, was the right guy to turn up in a wrong window but perform an heroic act without the benefit of dwelling on "Should I or shouldn't I?" for long.

Hopefully, you've caught this remarkable story from one news source or other. The leading question from his action has been, "What would you have done?" Would you, everyday Joe or Joan, have the "right stuff" - the definitive, perhaps latent, capability of coming to grips should your Wesley Autrey moment suddenly rear to stare you down? Hey, ya make your rad move and hope it's the right one. Many of us will never find out if we share Wesley's selflessness and survive the deed to hear the word "hero."

Try this video. Hope it works: http://us.video.aol.com/?pmmsid=1804630 AOL News pic & video.

MORE FUZZY RELATIONSHIPS
Hiking, Football and...BEER!

On New Year's Eve Eve, as part of a local club hike on the leg-challenging, steep streets of Pottsville, PA, we toured the Yuengling Brewery. Yo, not just any brewery, mind you, this is "America's Oldest Brewery" located in Pottsville proper and dating back to 1829. Settled by German immigrants, this anthracite mining region has a rich past: http://www.easternpa.com/pottsville/walk.html

As for football: between 1925 and 1928, it was home to the NFL's Pottsville Maroons (Boston Bulldogs, later), a top-notch team involved in a controversial season with the Chicago Cardinals. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottsville_Maroons

Under 5th generation family owner, Dick Yuengling, the beer company expanded distribution of their PA beers to include the Mid-Atlantic and the South with Georgia holding out for the moment. Try all their great flavors if you can find them: http://www.yuengling.com/ If in Eastern PA, visit Pottsville, have a brewery tour beer sample, and hike near-45deg. grades of cracked and uneven brick sidewalks as training for Borah Peak and Katahdin via the Knife Edge.

ARE WE THERE YET?
Gauging Foot Distance, Sort Of...

Besides depending on a pedometer or GPS, calculating miles/yards/feet covered or yet to be covered, can be a talent, part of Sense 6, or an art form. Some claim they can feel it in their legs or by the amount of time used. Call these 'experience,' hey? A pedometer's measure varies with step length, a GPS, every which way and based on lat/long.

Here, we use the football/athletic field measuring stick.

Americans relate well to football and the field it's played on, so using it as a gauge of trail distance should be easy... sort of. A football field, goal to goal = 100yds. or 300ft. One mile = 5280ft or, divided by 300, yields 17.6 football fields, 1760yds. Of course, that's a grassy, flat linear length: there are no rocks, roots, mud, ups, downs, streams, and tedious switchbacks. See end-to-end, width, etc., here: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/NinTam.shtml

Often, a football field is within an oval running track, length: 1/4 miles or 5280 divided by 4 = 1320ft or 440yds. Here, use your spatial skills to unroll the oval into a straight line for a linear .25 mile, another gauge within the same arena. But, again, no ups, downs, etc.

Football players can probably relate best of all and, well, this yardstick ain't perfect, but how far for a first down (max.)? For starters, visualize that distance and hike your hike as a series of first downs (or goal-to-goal touchdowns). Awe your camp group by describing the spring as 30yds away (3 first downs), e.g., and it is!

So if you're the "Are we there, yet?" impatient type, watch more football and learn the field. Hopefully, the above will prove helpful with your next trek stretch.

Note: If you think this football analogy/measure/math is a stretch, check this: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=5861

BEYOND THE LIMIT: Everest Series Repeats

The last 6 Tuesday evenings, we faithfully watched the Discovery Channel's Everest: Beyond the Limit - must-see, mind-blowing content for mountaineers, high pointers, and all armchair wanabees.

"The series' greatest achievement is how it illustrates the dangerous commercialization of Everest, capturing both the heroism and hubris of the climbers who go there." ---Allen Breed, Associated Press, 11/7/06

On Sunday, Dec 24th (possibly the 31st), the entire series will be repeated for those who missed it. Watch it or tape it or watch and tape it. Why? Because it's there! Check your local TV/cable schedule for exact times. Click the link below for expedition info, video clips, altitude facts, game, puzzles, and more.

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/everestbeyond.html

WORKIN' ON THE SOUTHWEST, Plus a chilly Mt. Sunflower

The Highpointer's Club skydivers, Lois and Randall Horne, gave up their usual 'turkey day' weekend to get 'er done in the Southwest. From NY state they flew to El Paso, rented a car, and camped 2 nights at Guadalupe NP to bag TX then moved on to Wheeler. (Summit pic - left). They climbed this one the long way, 14.2 mi. rt, for a tiring trek. Snow fell amounting to 2 in. on their return and partially covered the trail, cause for some concern.

OK was next. "Easy," said Lois, and "the flat-topped Black Mesa would have made for a fun hp skydive." On their descent, a couple they met heading up mentioned Kansas - not too far away - and the Hornes were off on an unplanned side-trip to Mt. Sunflower. But, as they drove across the Kansas plain to their destination, the weather turned nasty. They maneuvered dusty dirt roads leading to their #21. Freezing fog festooned this "cute" state high point and visibility was poor though they didn't miss much of a view, flat every direction even at 4039 ft. (Ice on KS hp fence - right).

Back home in Waterville, NY, with 4 new ones gained: TX/NM/OK/KS, could these fearless hp newcomers now be scheming a few highpoint sky dives twixt 21 and 50? Hmmm....
Even more mysterious: What are The Highpointer's Club rules on this approach? Can you descend to a hp and then descend again? Or, must you always ascend and then descend?

Note: For an answer we phoned Roger Rowlett, HP Club guru stationed in the Big Apple. He said there are no club hp access criteria. You can sky dive to a high point, helicopter to it, do a balloon, a jet plane, rocket, a flying carpet, whatever. Cool. Is HighPointing fun, or what?

DONE ANY SURFING LATELY?
The Highpointer's Web Ring, that is...

Just another heads up/reminder: Scroll to the bottom of this page where, voila, you'll come to the Highpointer's Web Ring nav bar. Click on Ring Hub and you'll be wafted to the sites of 20+ member/participants of the Ring.

Visit the Winger site and link into adventure wish list oblivion, trip out on the tech data offered on Martin's and Geo. Fisher's sites, or dig Dale Stenseth's (who's always Out There) really cool contribution to the Ring. Report back when you've absorbed it all - a few weeks if you didn't cheat.

MAN VS. WILD
Featuring Bear Grylls...

...The Discovery Channel's latest addition to their Survival Zone.

We watch and read all survival-related topics but would probably die anyway in a life/death circumstance, having learned nothing.

Would panic be our most formidable nemesis or just plain dumb, like we didn't pack the RIGHT STUFF? And, if we did, would we know how to glean the max benefit from all that extra pack paraphernalia that only further stressed our knee joints?

Could Bear Grylls be the one to teach us how... or lull us into complacency? Could we survive, toooo? We'll be tuning in. Check your local cable TV schedule and/or Copy/Paste into your browser: http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/survival/
survival.html?clik=www_wh_2
Do the jigsaw puzzles (Copy/Paste):
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/
puzzles/puzzles.html?clik=fsmain_feat4

HIGHEST PACIFIC POTTY
"Get A Head"

Our non-digital, print pictures finally dribbled in and included our potty pictures. In answer to our concern, Ranger Dave at the Mauna Kea visitor's center (see MAUNA KEA REPORT post, October 20) told us that there was a facility at the summit, "The highest johnny in the Pacific." After all, the excitement of achieving a new U.S. High Point can affect one's bladder. What-to-do and where-to-go when ya gotta go? Sure enough, it was there and belonged to the KONA LUA company, their slogan, "Get A Head." It was lashed to an observatory utility building. Whew, good thing this high up, hey?

And, not that we've taken up collecting job johnnys, on Maui along the Haleakala Road, we encountered a beauty that begged to be photographed. Outwardly, it was just a johnny but, inside was to die for (as portable toilets go - see pic). The shiny, streamlined papaya-colored innards included the usual, plus sink, soap and towel dispensers, foot flush/drain-pedals, a light, a mirror...and it was ultra-clean! Had it included a shower, we'd get one of these things and convert our home bathroom into a walk-in closet.

HAWAII: THE SIGN
When in Paradise...
Here in the states or "the mainland" we're into "flipping the bird." It's derogatory, insulting, inflammatory, and outright antagonistic. We do it a lot in traffic to express our frustrations then hit the accelerator and race off. W/o the armor of an auto, an in-your face bird can get you an in-your-face fist.

Ah, not so in our paradise state, Hawaii (50). On the Islands it's "shaka." Thumb and little finger up, the middles tucked down, it's a happy gesture and Islanders use it all the time. In traffic it's signed to another driver to express thanks for a courtesy or just to say "hi." Surfers, beach jocks, and the outdoorsy crowd are credited for it's more general use. It's Hawaiian for cool, right-on, all-right and, most of all, "hang loose."

According, to "tour bus driver lore," the Shaka sign was adopted by Hawaiians following WWII. Then, it was used by U.S troops to ID Japanese fighting on our side. A Japanese soldier who did not return the sign was shot! Click on the links below to learn more.


Pictured is Diane with 2 laua dancers signing the "shaka." It's second nature...and friendly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

HIGH POINTING BY TOUR BUS
Somebody's already thought of that, too?

Our Globus Hawaii 4-island trip concluded with Maui which included a bus trip to Haleakala Nat. Pk. and the Visitor Center at 9740ft. This, I learned, was 283ft. and 1mi. short of this shield volcano's summit, Pu'u'ula'ula, 10023ft., the high point of Maui.

"So, the bus doesn't go that far," I asked our ever-grinning, island-knowledgeable HI native bus driver. "So, how can I get up the remaining mile to the summit?" Suddenly he was helping another rider down the bus stairs, then another. He half-turned toward me, stopped grinning, and said we had a 30 minute stop at the VC, my time to do with as I pleased - 30 minutes. I quickly spotted our tour guide and briefed him. His eyes glazed over and I was gone into the 9740 cloud we'd driven into, visibility about 50ft. I checked my watch: 1010AM. Mustn't miss the bus!

My calculating brain switched to quantum as I jogged from the parking lot to the main road which traveled the remaining 283ft.elev. Before I reached it a white SUV appeared. I stuck out my thumb. Are they going up or down? What luck, it was a NPS vehicle: two native 20-ish ranger cuties. "No," they couldn't take me up, policy, but the view would be the same one reminded me. Duh. Mahalo (the HI thank you) and never mind....

Starting uphill, I assumed the hitchhiker walk-backward gait. Tricky business in this muck, dressed in shorts, sneaks, and a light jacket. It was cold, windy, my glasses coating with cloud-stuff, and the air, thin. I was either going to get a ride or get hit by one. Then, ha! I snagged the 4th car, a nice retired couple from Phoenix. I quickly explained my dilemma and, no, I wasn't a high-elevation carjacker cleverly dressed as a dopey tourist.

Of course, it was colder and windier on top, my estimate: high 30's wind chill and gusting to 50mph. And, those NPS gals had it right, yup, no view here, nuther. A stone stairway leads to a glassed observation hut on the summit. A young couple there, the 2nd car I think, recognized me as the green-jacketed thumber and apologized for not stopping . They took my summit picture and I, theirs. Lest I lose it to the Pacific Ocean, I'm pictured anchoring cap to head. The fuzz is the cloud.

The AZ couple wanted to get outta there, too, and gave me a ride back to the bus. I checked my watch: 1027 - 17 minutes up and back - all right! When he saw me, the bus driver did his grin. The tour guide frowned. Clients taking over the Globus protocol? Not good for them but fruitful for me in the scheme of Do-It-Yourself High Pointing By Tour Bus. Think it'll catch on?

HAWAII SHAKIN' VACATION
Surviving that & all the rest of it....

Sure, we could tell our friends that chunks of Big Island buildings were falling all around barely missing us while the Pacific swirled around our feet. Naahhh...we were having a big buffet breakfast at our hotel in Kauai before departing to the airport and Maui, the last stop on our 4-island trip. On the bus we heard about the October 15th, 707AM, 6.6 quake, it's epicenter about 15 miles from the Sheraton where we stayed 3 days earlier (we later learned it sustained minimal damage). We felt nothing, knew nothing until 2 hours after the rumble. HI Earthquake '06 Survivor t-shirts were already being silk screened.

Unknown was if we could land per schedule in Maui, seis-ing in with 3.2 which caused some power outages there. But, we alit ok - the airport had electricity, there were no cracks in the runway nor reports of a big wave headed for our tour group. But, the 2nd night there, at 230AM, we were awakened by a hotel alarm that sent a few hundred guests outside in their pjs. Another quake? If it was a tsunami, why were so many of these early risers tending toward the beach lemming-style? For the next 20 minutes, much speculation ensued until one of the big hotel's 3 graveyard-shift personnel appeared to announce a false fire alarm. Was it really a drill or just somebody's post-quake jitter?

Our "Road to Hana" event was changed to an in/out rather than the usual circuit drive owing to landslides. On the "passable" section, our very capable HI native van driver was sometimes required to stop for big errant rocks and throw them off the winding, undulating, narrow road before continuing. All the while, it was raining hard. This island route already had a rustic reputation. Afterwards, the driver issued everyone who rode with her a "survival" certificate. I inquired about endorsements for today's trek. The next day, we also got certificates for surviving a ride to the Haleakala crater. (Say, did we make a wrong turn somewhere and somehow wind up in The Amazing Race?).

We took off and landed 10 times, counting our Kauai helicopter ride, and de-shoed 5 times. All our commercial legs seemed bumpier than usual. We came too close to missing our flight out of Denver; our LA seats were given away. We luckily got others, but apart. The airports are generally a bucket of worms: The Security Checks, hurry up and wait, lines, crowds, baggage, eateries w/inflated prices, squirmy/squealy kids + strollers, callers screaming into cell phones, and a red-eye w/o blankets, pillows, or audio for the "free" movie. Jet lag. And, clueless tourists, too many, shuffling about, hoping to survive it all, maybe even get some-where.

Will we return? Naahhh.... T-shirts? Go here:
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Hawaii/?click=true&CMP=KNC-G-PP-DOM&ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=Places+-+Domestic+Basic&ovcrn=sr2DP1go40529go513pi1ai450+Hawaii+t-shirts&ovtac=PPC&SR=sr2DP1go40529go513pi1ai450

HAWAIIAN BREWS

And The Most Southern Bar in U.S.A.

Back to the rental car: Before returning it at the Kona airport, we'd hoped to have dinner at the Kona Brewpub. But, it began to rain hard in Kona and our windshield wipers quit. Then, with our heads out the window, it was a 7-mile race in commuter traffic to the airport before it got dark. Never mind calling the rental company for a rescue - we didn't have all day.

Nevertheless, earlier we did have lunch and a Kona beer in Na'alehu at the "Shaka Restaurant and The Most Southern Bar in U.S.A." before our venture to South Point. Kona brews are outstanding and several of their products were tried while on the islands except their "coffee" flavored. Other local brands sampled were from the Mehaha (Mauna Kea Pale Ale) and Keoki (Keoki Gold) breweries - all nicely crafted.

Some islands brewery links:
http://www.konabrewingco.com/tap.html

Also, Suck Em Up:

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/dining/beer/

SOUTH POINT, HAWAII
Key West, upstaged...

HighPointing, TriPointing, and throw in "GeoXtreming." The latter for us being the acquisition of "South Point" (Ka Lae) on our Hawaii, 4-island Globus tour "free" day. While Key West is the southern-most of the 48, it's HI with it's Big Island lava-gnarly rock equator-side shore that qualifies with the southern-most point of the U.S. 50.

West of Na'alehu the 12-mile gradually deteriorating South Point Road takes you past a forlorn stand of has-been windmills. At mile 11 or so go right where the road forks more directly to the shore. Driving this southbound route to Ka Lae was even more challenging since it was also on the car rental off-limit list. Hey...if you rent a 4WD, what do you use it for? Duh.

The route became more and more a non-road, yet doable. Seaside locals fishing the surf directed us to the obvious blinking beacon with black/white checkered square (left). This should be visible from the above fork. Hereabouts, graffiti takes the form of contrasting white coral chunks on black lava (rt. - unofficial sign twixt beacon and surf). If you must, use a GPS for the lowest latitude; otherwise, tiptoe on slippery rocks as far as you dare for your conquest. Purist/techies who need the periodically visible very southern-most rock must venture even closer to the equator, 1500mi. away.

If asked to choose from the comparatively little we covered on our HI trip, the South Point area was the most simplistic and laid-back we experienced. Don your straw hat, clogs, go a-fishin' or hike to Green Sand beach. SP just might be one of those best-kept secrets. And, of course, don't tell anyone.

Note: There are no tour buses going to SP. Also, most of the highways on the B.I. are "old-fashioned" 2-lanes so don't expect to roar around Hawaii at interstate speeds.

http://pahoahi.tripod.com/kona/kalae.htm

MAUNA KEA REPORT
The Big Kahuna State High Point?

Using the free-day on the Big Island our 13-day Globus tour allowed, we rented a car and bagged Hawaii's high point - Bill: 40, Diane (pic): 36. Ah-lo-ha! (Use Saddle Rd. from the east or west). As is recommended, we spent an hour of acclimation time at the 9000ft. Visitor's Center on Mauna Kea Access Rd., killing time by watching their safety video and perusing the gift shop (the Winger's hp guide is here).

That done, we headed up going from near sea level to almost 14k, a big change. Ranger Dave, the VC manager, said that even he and his staff can get sick if not cautious going up and down. From the VC it's 8 miles. The road turns to a dirt, washboard surface for 6 mi. then back to paved again for the final 2 to the short summit hike. Do baby steps, catch-your-breath pauses, and you're there.

Renting a car for the venture was confusing since rental vehicle liability is a biggie on these islands. Designated roads are off limits. The one-and-only "legal" rental company was too inflexible for our free-day window, pick up and return-wise. One company refused to rent when we mistakenly announced our intentions. Becoming frustrated we assumed a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, rented from a name company, and drove their car to the summit. A 2WD would work; in fact, we were issued a Jeep Laredo with AWD despite our request for a 4WD! Anyway, it ascended flawlessly, a no-brainer!

Dave said there were 9 companies which run tours to the summit. Our Globus guide was of no help with this info. Our pre-trip research only turned up 1 outfit which did a sunset gig with dinner on top for big bucks. We wondered if they carried oxygen for such as a white-haired, white-sneakered 80-ish couple from Passaic who've never been higher than High Point, New Jersey. Sure hope so. Our early AM start made us lone hikers under a bright, blue sky. We spent a 1/2hr. taking pics and got back down for lunch in Hilo.

Using naivete' or owning more "free time" then we had is an advantage. Working out the rental acquisition logistics turned out to be harder then the actual short walk to the 13,796ft. summit after parking at the observatories. Following MK we needed the remains of the day to reach South Point. (See post). That morning we arose at 415 in our hotel south of Kona. A $40 cab ride got us to the airport for car pick up then we were off on a long day and a 200+ mile circuitous drive.

Note: Technically, standing on the top of the Pacific, you're on the highest mountain in the world, exceeding Everest, when scaled from the ocean bottom. And all this time we thought mountain tops were measured from sea level. http://americasroof.com/hi.shtml

HIGHPOINTER TEST
How's your "fast" US geography?

Put-on-your-thinking-cap-and-go-here: http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

CELEBRATING...
Counter Hits Milestone

Keep those Comments and e-mails coming,
Thanks for tuning in and...hey,
Have a good day! TTT

STEVE IRWIN

Eternally Optimistic

1962 - 2006

PLAYING THE LINKS
Maps Continued...

TTT was given a few days off to research Maps Mania for this blog's premise and play the links. (No, not golf, but there are maps for it on MM, yes). Our Post Host kept busy and came up with a few applicable links:
http://www.deepgorge.com/maps/peaks.html
http://geology.com/state-high-points.shtml
http://www.dskendall.com/hiking_sevensummits.html
http://www.dskendall.com/hiking.html
http://geology.com/records/sahara-desert-map.shtml

In the "somebody's been busy" category, www.dskendall.com has been that. Do peruse this site. The bottom link shows where TTT was wafted into North Africa and the Toon Volcano. Good grief! In the pursuit of coveted info, with all this threading, linking could be a curse. Has anyone ever ripple-connected to an unknown cyber plane and never heard of again? Hmmm....

GOT MAPS? Map lovers take note...

The Official Buzz from Blogger at Google makes special mention of this site: http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/. Map freaks, stuck in their jobs like a pushpin, will need a few days off to surf it all. The formidable list includes Map Games, Map Dig, GeoBirds, Map Creation, San Diego Trolley, and charts covering business, sports, social, TV, music, books, travel...name it. Possibly, one of the most practical might be U.S. Urinals.

Somebody's been gettin' er done. Contributors are from several countries. Go lots of places via Maps Mania....

BLOGGOOGLE?
Blogger & Google

Team Up

Look for some gradual upgrades to this blog thanks to a recent coupling twixt Blogger and Google. For starters, at the bottom of a Trek Stop post, note "Label," a means to access similar subjects. E.g., "HPing" yields high-pointing stuff to date. "3Pting" reaps all tri-pointing posts to date, etc. Some other labels: Hiking, GeoXtremes, Adventure, Survive, Environ, BodZone, etc. Also, there's YIKERS: posts which evoke "Yikes!" from fear or astonishment, perhaps infused with some good ole tongue-in-cheek, the lost art of intelligently measured sarcasm.

Meanwhile, if you haven't done so yet, isn't it time you got your own blog, toooo...?

U.S. TRI-CORNERS UPDATES, 05/06:
Add to your tripointing notebook

The file provided below is a compilation/condensation of Bob Whitney's tri-pointing documentation presented in the HighPointers Club Newletter, Apex to Zenith, Summer 05 & Summer 06 issues. Also included are contributions by Bill Wentzel, originally posted on The Trek Stop, 05/06. The updated offerings are intended to complement Jack Parsell's U.S. Tri-Corners Guide (see right hand column of blog).
Tri-Corner Up Dates 05/06

THE STRANGEST THING
Many claim to have seen...

...crop CYLINDERS. That's right. No, really, take a look:
http://www.qubit.org/people/david/UFO/UFO.html
(Check out David Deutsch's Home Page, too).

Note: Countryside travelers have also reported crop cuboids out there. (C'mon!).

Doo-dee-doo-dee -- doo-dee-doo-dee -- doo-dee-doo-dee....

Scary!

MORE BEER DEBATE
For Chris in Merry Ole England

In the new October issue, Men'sJournal provides the 3rd of their beer ranking articles. This time it's back to American brews. Their top 25 choices starts out: 1. Firestone Walker Pale Ale (CA), 2. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (DE), and 3. Stoudt's Pils (PA). You can access their site http://www.mensjournal.com/ for the 2004 (America)
http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/0407/bestBeer.html and 2005 (World)
http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/0507/bestBeer_world.html lists, but you'll have to spring for the current issue to see the '06 picks.

Others of the 25 include Avery Mephistopheles' Stoudt (CO), Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale (OH), and Victory St. Victorious Dopplebock (PA). It's got to be that the guys naming their new brews quaff generous samples in the brewery break room while brainstorming for a catchy label.

Now it's time to sit back and wait for catchy "Comments" by Chris of Yatton, Ale Aficionado. TTT

THE PEAKBAGGING PAGE
TriPointing References, Too...

Some errant surfing bagged me this one. It belongs to Richard Carey and chronicles his impressive mountaineering accomplishments w/comprehensive trip reports and pics. Other good stuff found here are lists, references, charts, links, and info relating to prominence, mountain ranges, waypoints, GPS usage, etc. County high pointers and tripointers have not been left out. Somebody's been busy....

Be informed. Be inspired. Change your life. Surf this site: The Peakbagging Page