Heart of Dixie: 2 Highpoints (08.09)

Kellisa only had a couple of days left to her 2009 summer vacation. With the limited time, we decided to stay close to home and attempt the Highpoints of Mississippi and Alabama. Even though we were staying in the southeast, the highpoint of MS is 608 miles from our house. The plan was simple, fly to Nashville, drive to the highpoints of MS, AL and then fly home from Birmingham.

Woodall Mountain, MS
806ft. (47/50)
HP totals on summit day:
Chris- 21
Kellisa- 12

Woodall Mountain towers over the surrounding land:

Kellisa pointing beyond her "rainbow" toes to the summit marker:

The only view worth noting, the rest of the summit is covered with fences, buildings & towers:

Having fun driving through Alabama:

Cheaha Mountain, AL

2,407ft. 35/50

HP totals on summit day:

Chris- 22

Kellisa- 13

The Alabama Highpoint is located in Cheaha State Park:

At the summit marker:

Everglades National Park (12.06)

Matt and Seth drove to Jacksonville as part of their Christmas breaks from school. After some visiting with Lisa and Kellisa, we drove down to the Everglades. We spent a few days camping, hiking and kayaking.

One story that stands out from this trip: we stayed in a hotel the last evening so we could clean up a little and have a nice dinner at a restaurant. Our room was on the third floor. Matt was the last one to take a shower. In the middle of his shower, the hotel's fire alarm started piercing our ears. Seth and I looked in the hall and saw people starting to head for the exits. Matt was yelling from the shower, "what's going on"? We acted like we were in a panic and started yelling back to Matt that we smelled smoke. Matt took us very seriously and ended his shower. He was relieved that he didn't smell smoke, but not at all happy that we made him think we smelled smoke. Playing it safe, we headed to the lobby and found out it was just a false alarm.

Back in the Everglades, we kayaked among the resident alligators:

Matt talked to a park ranger at the Shark Valley station to inquire about the endangered Snail Kite. The ranger recommended an area to kayak where we would have the greatest chance of viewing one of these rare birds:

Snail Kite:

We have a second story that will live on from this trip. For my job, several times a year I drive across Florida's panhandle. We also made the drive several times going to and from The Woodlands, TX. Besides Tallahassee and Pensacola, there is absolutely nothing except rolling hills and pine forests. I had never seen a trooper in all my drives through the panhandle. I happened to mention this fact to Matt and Seth so they could make good time on their drive home. I received a phone call from Aunt Jo letting us know that Matt and Seth arrived home. She also mentioned that she understood that I said, "don't worry, you can speed because troopers don't patrol the panhandle". I knew right away that there was a ticket written and I was partially to blame. I won't say who or how fast...

Florida Landscapes

Random photographs, usually taken while driving the backroads:

Halloween 2007

A couple of weeks before Halloween 2007, Kellisa and I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Lisa (with a recently broken ankle) stayed home. Our trip coincided with National Wildlife Refuge Week, which included many activities geared towards kids. One activity was face painting. It was a very long line and I asked Kellisa if she wanted her face painted. I was hoping and crossing my fingers for a "no", but she said "YES"! We waited almost two hours for her turn. We watched countless little kids, mostly girls, getting their faces painted like princesses, cats, tigers, butterflies and super heroes. When it was Kellisa's turn, she started looking at the patterns that were offered. She immediately pointed to a vampire bat. The face painting lady asked if Kellisa wanted fangs and dripping blood and Kellisa answered "YES". I could not have been more proud/happy with her decision. The end result was well worth the long wait in line:

With the face painting fresh in her memory, Kellisa decided to be a bat for Halloween. Again, Lisa gets all the credit for the costume and face painting:

Kellisa and her classmates:

Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia

June 2006

Kellisa started her summer vacation with a father/daughter camping trip to Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia.

Kellisa playing at the campsite:

Kellisa at Massive Gap with Little Pinnacle in the background:
Kellisa practicing her "letters":

Mountainside:

Kellisa waiting, as I find a way up the trail:

The actual summit is a little higher:

The end of the trail:

Summit of Little Pinnacle:

View from the top:

One of the trails leading to Virginia's Highpoint has a trailhead in the park. I was hopeful, but the route is one of the few true alpine trails in the east, so I was unable to get Kellisa to the top of Virginia. During this trip, I came up with the idea of getting Kellisa as close as possible to all the Highpoints we would not be able to summit together. I was making the rules for what I believe to be a unique approach to the Highpoints.

Mountains in the distance:

An overview in the fog:

We went for a several mile hike on the nearby Virginia Creeper Trail. I'm hoping to someday return with Kellisa and complete the entire 35 mile trail through the mountains.

Brazos Bend State Park, Texas

Thanksgiving week 2006 was spent visiting family in Texas. We spent one day hiking and enjoying the wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park.

Alligators were plentiful:

As were birds:

Matt and I decide to camp one night:

Sunrise:

Early morning scenery:

More birds:

While Matt takes pictures of a bird in the tree, I'm trying to decide if Matt is attacked by an alligator, do I jump in to help in the fight, continue taking pictures or call 911?

Alligator in the morning:

You know the alligator sees you long before you see him:

Kellisa with her Aunt Jo, Uncle Jack and cousins Matt and Seth.