MOUNTAIN KHAKIS - Built For The Mountain Life Blog

Summit Up - Post 4 "What's Taller?"

People often wonder if the highest geographical elevation in a state is higher than some of the states famous structures.  This week, I answer the question of what is taller, Taum Sauk, the highpoint of Missouri, or the St. Louis Arch.  I will be on Taum Sauk next week, so check back in!" Click here to see the answer!

 

MK helps raise money for Non-profits at the Grand Classic Auction - Grand County, CO

On May 9^th MK helped raise over $52,000 for various Colorado non-profits at the Grand Classic Auction put on by the Grand Foundation (Grand County, CO).   As part of this event there will also be the Grand Classic Golf Tournament on Friday, June 26, 2009. 

Glad we could be a part of such a successful and touching event!

Summit Up - 3rd post "The Stopover"

"One of the more random, and therefore enjoyable, things that happened while visiting my first highpoint was getting invited into the home of a couple in Richmond.  They knew I was coming into town, and said they had an extra room if I was interested as I made my way to the highpoint of Missouri.  Of course, my pride was at stake because I had told everyone that I would be roughing it to the extremes.  I didn’t want to be rude, but I knew that the life of an elite climber like me, someone who had just summited the highest point in Indiana at a not so modest elevation gain of “negligible,” as listed by the Highpointer’s Club, could not be pampered.

As I bit into my second brownie with my feet kicked up and my glass of ice cold milk next to me on the table, I decided that maybe the occasional visit back to civilization while on my climbs wasn’t such a bad idea.  Rather than sleeping on rocks or in my Jeep, I got my own full size bed with a heated blanket so it wasn’t “to cold when you get in.”  As opposed to the burnt oatmeal I usually carefully prepare myself each morning, breakfast was amazing enough to ask for seconds, rather than only eat half and then donate the rest to the local worm population like I usually do.

Then of course, it was insisted that I take some food with me.  I am guessing this is probably because I look about as skilled when it comes to culinary as the next ramen noodle connoisseur.  I left there well rested, clean, and with a full belly, looking forward to the next highpoint and to my next one-backpacking-pan culinary masterpiece.

On my way to Taum Sauk, the highest point in Missouri, I drove through St. Louis.  This brought up an interesting question: Is the St. Louis Arch higher than the geographical highpoint of Missouri?  Find out next week."

Where is Spencer Now? – post 2

MK follows Spencer through the PTC:

“I got into Idyllwild, CA yesterday.  Feeling a bit rough and suffering from what I assumed to be heat exhaustion. The day and a half before I got into town, I was unable to keep any food in my system.  However, the hiking through the San Jacinto wilderness was absolutely beautiful and I will be able to upload some awesome pics from my next stop in Big Bear City, CA. I will be getting back on the trail in about an hour at mile 178.6.  My next stop (Big Bear) is mile 256. I will catch you back up from there. Hope all is well on the real world!”

 

New video from MK Ambassador, Jez Blanchard

Check out a new video by MK Ambassador, Jez Blanchard.