*man-made, that is

Plans are in the works for a 2,000,' 150-story building in Chicago that would be the tallest in the U.S. If one considers man-made structures, Charles Mound is already behind the Sears Tower for the IL "higherpoint."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2474399.ece

If we had a "hits" counter, i bet your thread headline proves to draw every single highpointer!

This brings to mind an annoying possible debate. So we all pretty much agree that only natural highpoints count. And most of us agree that to "count" a highpoint, one has to touch the highpoint. (Past RI visitors not withstanding.) So, if the real highpoint has a building on top of it, then isn't one required to somehow get IN BETWEEN the building and the ground so one can touch the real, natural highpoint?

If this seems unreasonable, then you might say well of course if you're in the building, you're above the highpoint and that's the same thing and should count. Hmm, then climbing the new building in Illinois should count too, right?

Devil's advocate in search of a black and white world,
markv

So, with that rationale (?), if I climbed Elbert in the winter when there is a goo amount of snow on top, would I have to dig down to the rock so I am not above the highpoint? If not, then would parasailing off a nearby peak and swooping over the Elbert summit about 10 feet off the ground still count as getting the highpoint? Hmm, hope I can sleep tonight with all these questions rattling around.

Snow is another natural solid, so naturally one wouldn't have to dig into it to in order to reach soil. Unless you're a member of the Soiled Highpointers Club. (One square per usage, please.) Parasailing above Elbert though would only count for members of the Gaseous Over High Point Overachiever Organization. (GOH POO) Which of course tends to lead to being a member of the Soiled Highpointers Club anyway.