Jerimoth Hill

Kellisa's 11th State Highpoint

Jerimoth Hill, RI
812ft.

June 2009

View from along the road to the highpoint:

We arrived later than expected for two reasons. First, I had a 2+ hour phone interview with an adoption worker in Oregon who was helping us in our efforts to adopt. Second, I drove through rain and fog most of the day. The highpoint was on private land in 2009 and the owners requested that all highpointing activities be conducted during daylight hours. Having no idea when we might be back in the area and the fact that we had plans to visit Block Island the following day, it seemed like it was now or never.

We hurried down the short trail in the rain and darkness:

Summit pictures:



Mount Greylock

Kellisa's 10th State Highpoint

Mount Greylock, MA
3,491ft.

June 2009

Mount Greylock in the clouds:

Driving through the clouds to reach the highpoint:

The War Memorial Tower on the summit:

Highpoint picture:



Mount Washington

Kellisa's 9th State Highpoint

Mount Washington, NH

6,288ft.

June 2009

Highpointers have three options for gaining the summit of New Hampshire: hike, drive or ride the Cog Railway. Since Kellisa loves trains, we decided to ride the railway up Mount Washington.

Kellisa with Mount Washington in the background:

We just missed the purple train:

Kellisa waiting to board the blue train:

The beginning of the train ride:

Alpine views in the Northeast:

The steepest section of track:

Enjoying the ride:

As far as you can go with a wheelchair:

Not satisfied with close, I carried Kellisa up the rocky trail to the true highpoint:

Short video from the summit:

Mount Washington is known for its weather:

Weather during our visit:

Mount Washington is also known for its fatalities:

A list of known deaths:

Enjoying the ride back down:

After a long day, Kellisa is asleep in our Northwoods cabin:

Clingmans Dome

Kellisa's 7th State Highpoint

Clingmans Dome, Tennessee

6,643ft.

August 2007

Clingmans Dome is in the middle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail is wide, paved and steep. There is an observation tower on the actual summit. The trail gains 332ft. in only a half a mile and the top of the tower adds an additional 54ft. to your ascent. Both the highpoint and the observation tower can be reached with a wheelchair or stroller. However, assistance and great care is advised because the trail is steep and an out of control wheelchair could be deadly. To be safe, I always tether Kellisa to my body. That way, even if I slip or let go of the chair (it only takes a second), it would only roll a couple of feet before coming to a stop.

 Trailhead views

 

Observation tower at the summit

 Highpoint picture

Mount Mitchell, NC from Clingmans Dome

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia

January 7, 2012

Lisa had to work on a Saturday and both kids wanted to get out of the house to do "something". With both kids, it wasn't the time to push the limits with Kellisa, so I planned on heading to the swamp to enjoy the easy .75 mile boardwalk trail. The boardwalk takes visitors into the swamp for unique views and glimpses of wildlife in a natural setting. Since the boardwalk is flat, wide and has a curb on the edges, it's the perfect accessible swamp trail for a wheelchair.  

Egypt joined us on our first adventure of the new year:

Unfortunately, we found the boardwalk trail closed because the wildfires of 2011 burned the boardwalk and observation decks to the ground:

All that is left of the once beautiful boardwalk trail:

Fire damage:

Eerie light play over the swamp as the sun hides behind a cloud:

All was not lost. We enjoyed the .35 mile long Cane Pole Trail. It's paved like a sidewalk and follows the water's edge. Wheelchair assistance was needed because there are a few little elevation changes and nothing to keep the wheels on the concrete. An out of control wheelchair could end up in the water, so caution is advised.

  

Back at the visitor center, an old juke box was set-up to play "Swamp Songs". This was a highlight for both girls:



Mount Mitchell

Kellisa's 6th State Highpoint

Mount Mitchell, North Carolina

6,684ft.

June 2006

We cut our trip to Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia short because Kellisa had a significant seizure, which allowed us to make an unplanned side trip to Mount Mitchell, the highpoint of North Carolina.