The world record for the fastest time to summit all 50 United States High Points (the tallest point in each state).

USA 2018

The History

The 50-state high points challenge dates back to 1966. Only 273 people had summited all 50 American high points as of Summer 2018. For many, this achievement takes a lifetime.

The Stakes

Colin was in constant motion from high point to high point, racing the world record clock, whether climbing or in transit between the high points. Sleep deprivation, mixed with heavy physical exertion, pushed his limits.

The Journey

Colin traveled nearly 13K miles across the country – through state parks, national parks and forests. It was a great American adventure that spanned from the wilderness of Alaska to the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains to the tropical volcanoes of Hawaii. Colin walked, ran, hiked and climbed over 300 trail miles to set the record.

Beyond the High Points

After an incredible final push, Colin crossed the border into his home state of Oregon en route to his final high point, Mt. Hood. He climbed through the night and reached the summit at dawn. On July 19, 2018, Colin completed the 50 High Points Challenge faster than anyone before, setting the new world record in 21 days, 9 hours and 48 minutes.

June 27 - July 19, 2018

Logistics
Colin reached the summit of Denali, Alaska’s high point and North American’s highest mountain, on June 27, 2018 and the record started moving quickly. The logistics were mapped out for a rapid push, but there were plenty of obstacles along the way.
Obstacles
On arrival to Mt. Whitney, California's high point and the tallest mountain in the lower 48, the trailhead was closed due to a lightning strike that caused an uncontainable forest fire. As such Colin was unable to climb Mt. Whitney with his scheduled July 11th permit. The situation was monitored closely and fortunately, once the Georges fire was 30% contained, Whitney Portal reopened and permit holders were allowed entry within the week. Similarly, with the lack of rain in Arizona, Humphrey's Peak was closed due to fire danger in the area. The formal notice was given that the park would open only once the monsoon rains arrived. We continually checked the weather as we inched closer to arriving at Colin’s scheduled climb in Arizona. Humphrey's Peak was eventually opened allowing Colin to summit.
Western Ultramarathon
With 42 high points completed in 15 days, Colin still had many of the toughest peaks remaining. Over the course of the next seven days Colin covered what he dubbed the “Western Ultramarathon”, completing over 140 trail miles on peaks no less than 11,000 feet in elevation including: Mt. Elbert in Colorado, Mt. Whitney in California, Kings Peak in Utah, Gannett Peak in Wyoming, Borah Peak in Idaho, Granite Peak in Montana, and Mt. Rainier in Washington consecutively.

Expedition Facts

21

days to completion

300+

miles of hiking

50

states traversed

2x

elevation gain of Everest

10

different climate zones encountered

Back on US soil, this project was an open invitation to everyone, to come out and participate under one common goal and collectively set a world record together.

Partners

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”

— John Muir

LIVE TRACKING

The entire 50HP journey was tracked with GPS, monitoring Colin's every step. Live Tracking was available through the duration of the 21 day adventure from June 27 - July 19, 2018.

Go Beyond

My keynotes are not just about the physical endurance required to cross Antartica alone or climb Mt. Everest...

...but instead are about the mental fortitude required to face any challenges, personal or professional. I share strategies for surpassing perceived limitations, achieving peak performance, and unlocking your potential. It’s about showing that with the right mindset, there are no limits to what we can achieve.

BOOK COLIN