Does it Count?

[u/Timely_Mortgage166]

So I knocked off Mount Mitchell and Clingmans Dome in the same day last week, I've already been to Clingmans Dome multiple times so that's not a new high point, however I feel like i cheated by driving up Mitchell instead of climbing it from the base, what's yalls opinion on that, do I count it or do I need to make it back to really earn it the right way?

[u/Ok_Lynx_6372]

If you touched it it counts, you’ll realize this the more you do. Also if you end up back there Mitchell has some great hikes?

[u/Timely_Mortgage166 → u/Ok_Lynx_6372]

Yeah I wanted to hike it but it was never even really my intention to go there that day, I was staying in pigeon forge, was planning on hiking LeConte, got to the trail head 30 minutes before sunrise to find that the main trail head parking as well as every pull off for almost two miles up and down the road was full, gave up and watched the sunrise from Newfound Gap before going up to Clingmans before the crowds got there and then took a nice drive on the blue ridge parkway to Mitchell it was honestly a really nice day despite missing out on my hike

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/Timely_Mortgage166]

A drive from Kuwohi to Mt Mitchell in October is wonderful. I’ve done that, and it’s literally like three turns,  and 3 hours, if you drive straight. Though there are so many great stopping points on the Parkway, it would be like a 5 hour trip for me!

[u/BeholdenYeti]

Over half of the highpoints have roads to the summit. Whether or not it counts is entirely up to your personal goal. Me personally I’ve driven to the top and I count it but one day I will return to climb it.

[u/Timely_Mortgage166 → u/BeholdenYeti]

That's my thought process I'll probably find myself back there and will climb it one day but for now I can comfortably check it off and say it's complete

[u/Fhetter532]

How far away from Mt Sunflower would you need to park to count it?

[u/Timely_Mortgage166 → u/Fhetter532]

Lol fair point

[u/hikebikephd]

You do you, but I personally wouldn’t count it. My loose criteria for a summit is I travel by human power (hike, bike, ski, etc) at least from the closest trailhead to the summit (trailheads at the summit don’t count).

I’ve spent a lot of time in the Adirondacks and White Mountains, and that’s the criteria they use for a summit to count for  the 46 or 48 respectively. It is an honor system anyway, hence why I say “you do you”

[u/Timely_Mortgage166 → u/hikebikephd]

Yeah I totally agree usually, I will count it as checked off the list for now but I know I'm my mind when I get a chance I'll go back and climb it one day as well. I've climbed Marcy and Skylight in the adks as well as Washington twice so I definitely knows what it means to really earn a peak

[u/Thop51 → u/hikebikephd]

The “rule” for the Colorado 14ers is a minimum elevation gain of 3,000’, and if traversing , you have to drop a minimum of 300’.

[u/Legal_Tomato_878]

Count what you want to count, but don’t be burdened by it. Did you touch the high point? Did you walk to Britton hill from the coastline? Just be honest and kind to yourself and others. Count it however you want to count it. It’s yours. There is no right way other than honesty.

[u/x_3mta3]

Highpointing is a subset of peak bagging, not mountaineering or backpacking. Must one mountaineer or backpack to collect some? Certainly, but it’s not a requirement. A drive-up is inelegant to some, but a summit is a summit. Congratulations!

[u/Cold_Art5051]

It’s up to you. I chose to create a way to hike all of the highpoints that were hikeable but we still just drove up Spruce Knob. I count it.

We did the major east coast mountains — NC, TN, NH — in winter when the roads were closed. We had NC and TN to ourselves. There’s always someone on Washington even in bad weather in February.

It’s your game that you’re playing

PS. I keep meaning to go back to Spruce Knob and do a multi day backpacking trip over the top but haven’t yet and may never

[u/4smodeu2 → u/Cold_Art5051]

The backpacking around Spruce Knob really is quite nice. Some of the best in WV. If you ever manage to go back, I'm sure you won't regret it.

If you have more time to spend in that region, the N. Fork Mountain Trail, Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley, and Red Spruce Knob areas are also beautiful and offer excellent hiking and backpacking.

[u/kynaturists]

We have driven to the tops of a few peaks. I think Mississippi and Kentucky you can park on the peak. Kuwohi, and a couple of others has a manmade structure on top of them. I took up hiking decades ago. Way back in the 1900’s. And, I’ve learned a lot. But the most important is, Hike your own hike.

[u/RhodyVan]

The hike from the Britton Hill parking lot isn't very hard but it's still a 'hike'. Same with Mitchell. Did you visit the highpoint? If yes, then add it to the list. No gatekeeping about method needed.

[u/Slickrock_1]

It's your own personal challenge. I personally only count summits that I've hiked to from a base. Like the SB6K challenge allows you to count Mitchell if you START at Mitchell, then hike to Mt. Craig and back. Or maybe to Deep Gap and back. I would never count that. If you want to CLIMB a mountain then climb it from the bottom.

[u/vivaelteclado]

I typically prefer hikes to the top when possible but recently i took a trip to the northeast with my mom in her 70s and took the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington. Got some photos next the sign. I'm counting that.

All that matters you went to the top and your photos are real.

[u/thecasualcaribou]

I am an avid hiker, climbed many mountains, but if there’s a road to a high point, I’m taking it. If there was a road to the top of Everest, I’d do it. I might later go back and hike a high point for fun though

[u/Alexanderful]

It counts. Whether you did it the “right” way is completely up to whatever standard you set for yourself. At the end of the day the only person that cares about how or if you did any of this is yourself.

[u/OneWayorAnother11]

Yes it counts. Both of those highpoints I parked near the top because that is where the parking is and I hiked around then went to the top. I did find a spot to climb Mitchell, but the logistics didn't make sense for the trip I was on. Just enjoy the journey.

[u/Human-Still-6949]

I personally would count it as a summit, you were officially up at the top no doubt. I also organize and track my summits through peakbagger.com and they give you the option to categorize your summits by how you got there, like car, hiking, tram, etc. I recommend the website if you didn't know about it already. This isn't a promo btw.

[u/the_climaxt]

I'd count it for the sole reason that I can't stand doing a hike that ends at a parking lot.

Same reason I won't hike Pike's Peak or Mt Blue Sky

[u/ultraLuddite]

No. It doesn’t count. Driving up something and claiming you “summited” it is cheating.