sharing my love for philanthropy, cooking, and adventure

Sunrise illuminating the summit glacier on Mount Kilimanjaro, with ice formations in the foreground and a sea of clouds in the background.

Tag: Kansas

Mount Sunflower summit area on the Kansas High Plains with directional signs, fence enclosure, and wide open prairie under a blue sky.

Mount Sunflower | Kansas (#33)

A “Peak” Experience in Kansas

In far western Kansas, near the Colorado border, lies Mount Sunflower, a towering summit by Kansas standards at 4,039 feet above sea level. As the highest point in the Sunflower State, it ranks #28 among U.S. state high points by elevationand marks my 33rd summit on this ongoing high-pointing journey. While it may not boast rugged peaks or dramatic cliffs, Mount Sunflower is a subtle reminder that Kansas has more topography than it often gets credit for.

Instead of jagged ridgelines, this summit owes its height to the gradual rise of the High Plains as they slope toward the Rocky Mountains. It’s understated, yes—but that’s part of the charm.

Winter view of Historic Lake Scott in western Kansas with frost-covered trees and partially frozen lake.

Historic Lake Scott State Park | Kansas

Road Trippin’ into 2025!

Happy 2025! After a fun New Year’s Eve in Nashville — raving to Sofia Kourtesis at Night We Met — I decided to kick off the year with something equally energizing: exploring, hiking, and high-pointing. If you’re going to start a new year, why not begin on a literal and figurative high note? Historic Lake Scott made for the perfect start to 2025.

So far, I’ve visited 32 of the 50 Best State Parks in the U.S. (as ranked by The Discoverer). I’ve also stood atop 32 of the 51 State High Points — yes, including Washington, D.C., because why not? That leaves some serious ground to cover.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén