Trail Talk: Highpointing Podcast

This episode is part of a “Summit Series” where we focus on one mountain and invite experts to give advice and tell their story about a life in the outdoors. Mike Haugen is a full time chemistry teacher in Colorado throughout the school year and spends his summers with RMI Expeditions guiding on Rainier and some of the world’s most beautiful peaks. He joins this week’s episode to not only talk about his extensive climbing background and summiting all 50 state highpoints, but also to offer insight from a guide for anyone looking to summit Washington state’s highest peak, the gem of the Pacific Northwest, Mount Rainier! 

Please enjoy my conversation with Mike, and check out RMI Expeditions for your next guided summit attempt: https://www.rmiguides.com/

If you’d like to share your experience in the outdoors or highpointing on this podcast, please send me an email at [email protected] 

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Born in Mississippi and living in Washington state, Kelby balances his career as a periodontist with a fascinating life in the outdoors. Having summited all 50 state highpoints, Kelby shares stories from not only his highpoints but other adventures along the way. He’s a canyoneer, a rock climber, and always in search of the next hot spring! He also might be the only Mississippian to finish all 50 state highpoints! Please enjoy our conversation!

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Bird watching-alleged drug smuggling-finding a missing person. Find out how these all relate to highpointing in Robyn Watson’s story! Robyn is also a board member of the Highpointers Foundation. The Highpointers Foundation does much more than bunches, mailboxes, and ammo cans! Listen to our conversation as Robyn explains the important mission of the foundation and how you can contribute!

For more information about the Highpointers Foundation, visit: https://www.highpointersfoundation.org/

Following the Highpointers Foundation on Instagram: @highpointersfoundation

Paty lives in Oregon but her career as an Army officer has taken her and her family across the globe. When she retired from the military, Paty and her family bought an RV and traveled through Canada and the US exploring beautiful places. Apart from being an AT thru hiker, Paty has completed several other long distance hikes throughout the US including the Rim2Rim2Rim Grand Canyon, the Arizona Trail, and the Oregon Coast Trail among others! She’s nearly completed all 50 state highpoints and has enjoyed international peaks, as well. Here’s an awesome fact about Paty-she’s an encyclopedia for state highpoint names!

Paty is the creator and author of Outdoor Pilgrim. It’s a fantastic website and resource for all highpointers and anyone interested in detailed descriptions and trail journals of her impressive accomplishments in the outdoors. 

Check out her website- https://outdoorpilgrim.com/highpointing/

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Shannon began highpointing with her dad and brothers as a young girl growing up in Illinois. She has completed the 50 state highpoints while also graduating from medical school and becoming a doctor! Shannon not only highpoints, but she loves the outdoors and has recently returned from an Everest Base Camp trek with Madison Mountaineering. As a board member of the Highpointer’s Club, she’s dedicated to the highpointing community and is actively working toward getting others involved both in the Club and in the endeavor. Listen to our conversation as Shannon talks about her fascinating life traveling the country and world reaching great heights!

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Phil is a science teacher from Massachusetts who has cultivated an awesome life outside of his classroom. From Greylock to Denali, he takes listeners on a journey through his adventures across the country incorporating new friends, new breweries, and memories along the way. Phil has a great sense of humor and outlook on life-I enjoyed my conversation with him and I know you will, too!

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Follow Phil on Instagram. @therealestdr.phil  

And don’t forget to check out his comedian friend, Joe!

@jokesmedoff

And last, but not least, Phil’s brewery sponsor!

@lostwaybrewery

Lost Way Brewery: https://www.lostwaybrewery.com/

Mike Sloan from episode 7 returns to the podcast to talk about his most recent trip to Nepal. Having lived an adventurous life in the outdoors including summiting the 50 highpoints with his son, Daniel (episode 12), Mike is known for taking young people on retreats in the wilderness that often include soul crushing endurance feats that test the will and stamina of his team. Mike and his team visited remote villages and he’s come back with incredible stories about country, the people, and The Great Himalayan Trail. 

I hope you enjoy our conversation and thank you for listening!  

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]

Austin from Kansas and Nicole from Nebraska have been traveling around the country in a van that Austin built for the past 15 months. They have incredible stories from their journey and offer a refreshing perspective of the “van life” that you thought you knew about from Instagram reels. Their adventurous spirit will make you want to get out and explore, even if it’s just to your local park. They’ve found awesome things to do throughout the country and, of course, have incorporated highpointing into their van life journey! Listen to their stories about life in van and reaching highpoints!

Follow them on Instagram @where.they.beignet

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith,
email: [email protected]

Scott from Charlotte, NC has found unique ways to reach highpoints on weekend trips and incorporate family into the endeavor. His outdoor adventures started in the hills of western North Carolina and have taken him from the top of Colorado’s Mt. Elbrus to Elvis’s home town in Mississippi. Listen to find out the special dedication he does on each highpoint he summits and Scott’s favorite outdoor adventure books!

“The Last American Man” by author Elizabeth Gilbert

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/dp/B00337KPMA/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=604486433652&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9030151&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9605101148336972556&hvtargid=kwd-375261745342&hydadcr=22596_13493364&keywords=last+american+man+elizabeth+gilbert&qid=1683575801&sr=8-1

For more information on the Highpointer's Club, visit: https://highpointers.org 

To contact the Highpointer's Club Magazine, Apex to Zenith, email: [email protected]