Our First HP!

7/5/03
At sunset during a brilliant, building lightning storm, my sons and I reached the lofty Mt. Sunflower. Damn, Kansas is good for storms!

Due to the late hour and the constant lightning (during which the three of US were the highpoints), we drove up, and were rewarded for this choice by coming across a 3' rattlesnake stretched across the road. Glad to have seen him from the car, and before my 2-year-old did ("Ooooh, I ho'd snake!"). We watched him for 5 solid minutes, which he didn't seem to like much. Eventually, he reared up, rattled and hissed a few more times, and slid quickly into the tall grass.

We joined Highpointers last month, and are excited to have begun. We're already avid wanderers and tent campers, but plan to build our hiking and climbing skills as we add HP's. By the time we get to the higher and more technical climbs, we will be ready for them. Thanks to UP cohort Frank Haverkamp for turning me on!