My States' Extrema Streak

13 Months

March, 2003, through March, 2004

On July 22, 2003, I realized the full extent of my streak: That I had been to an elevation extremum of a different state, traveling with a different traveling party using a different vehicle to get there during each of the previous five months. Thus, the streak started somewhat by accident, but I was interested in how long I could keep such a streak going. Obviously, this streak could not have continued forever, for I would have run out of states' highest and lowest points in June of 2011, barring any additions of new states to the union or a geologic cataclysm, but there were many things that threatened to bring it to an end before then:
  • Insufficient traveling funds (Unfortunately no corporate sponsor was found.)
  • Lack of free time
  • I don't yet have the mountaineering skills required to summit Mt. McKinley
  • Shortage of friends willing to go with me in new combinations
  • Shortage of access to different vehicles

At first, it seemed to be more of a test of climbing skills, but the more I thought about it, the more I became intrigued by the logistical problems of finding a way to get a certain group of three people with whom I could go to the lowest point in Arkansas on jet skis, or to the lowest point in North Dakota on snowmobiles. Also, I needed to plan a single trip to Hawai'i, but plan it well enough so that one day (the 31st of some month) I'm on the beach and the next (the 1st of the next month) I'm on the top of Mauna Kea but with a different group of people than the day before.

Alas, the streak is now over. However, the drive to visit each place in a memorable fashion remains.


Look! It's the highest point in Pennsylvania!

Trip NumberDateDestinationStateExtremum TypeElevation Above Sea LevelTraveling CompanionsVehicle*
13March 27, 2004Atlantic Ocean,
Fenwick Island		DelawareLowest0 ft
(0 m)		A random strangerJohn's 2002 Hyundai Elantra and whatever the stranger used to Ocean City, MD
12February 21, 2004Ebright Azimuth DelawareHighest448 ft
(137 m)		Bill GravemanBill's 1994 Honda Accord
11January 2, 2004Gulf of Mexico,
Biloxi		MississippiLowest0 ft
(0 m)		Scott SchwiegerScott's 1998 Toyota Corolla
10December 23, 2003Colorado River
at the California border		NevadaLowest479 ft
(146 m)		Bryan SheldonBryan's 2000 Suburu Outback
9November 30, 2003Atlantic Ocean,
Myrtle Beach		South CarolinaLowest0 ft
(0 m)		Tim HayesTim's 1997 Honda Accord
8October 12, 2003Mount DavisPennsylvaniaHighest3213 ft
(979 m)		Lingxing Yao, Joohee Lee, Xiaoyu Zheng, and Ruhai ZhouThrifty Rental Car's 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
7September 27, 2003Sassafras MountainSouth CarolinaHighest3560 ft
(1085 m)		Greg Robbins, April Morris, and John MayGreg and April's 1996 Ford Escort
6August 23, 2003Woodall MountainMississippiHighest806 ft
(246 m)		Sonic BooneBoone's 1988 Dodge Caravan
5July 21, 2003Mt. MitchellNorth CarolinaHighest6684 ft
(2037 m)		John MayJohn's 2002 Hyundai Elantra
4June 26, 2003Mt. RogersVirginiaHighest5729 ft
(1746 m)		Andy Keller, Tanya Gillepsie, and Michelle NixonAndy's 1999 Toyota Corolla
3May 15, 2003Clingman's DomeTennesseeHighest6643 ft
(2025 m)		noneMy 1997 Ford Ranger
2April 12, 2003Atlantic Ocean,
Wrightsville Beach		North CarolinaLowest0 ft
(0 m)		Emily Choate and Matt McKeeEmily and Matt's 2001 Nissan Altima
1March 8-9, 2003Pacific Ocean,
Rialto Beach and Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park		WashingtonLowest0 ft
(0 m)		Jennifer WhiteheadJenn's 1998 Nissan Altima
*-All extrema were actually accessed on foot, but the vehicle is the one used to get to within walking distance.

Supplemental Trips

I've decided to take an occasional supplemental trip, which while not to a state's highest or lowest point, is nevertheless to a point of interest.
Trip NumberDateDestinationReason of Interest
S2November 26, 2003High Point, NCIt is a place called High Point. Also, it's "The Home Furnishings Capital of the World."
S1August 18, 2003Bristol and Cumberland GapState Street in downtown Bristol lies on the Tennessee-Virginia border. I knew that Cumberland Gap was important in the settlement of Tennessee and Kentucky, but I didn't know why.

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