David Sylvester is setting off this week on a quest to bicycle to the trailhead of the highest peak in each of the 48 contiguous states and climb to the top of each and every one. He'll be accompanied by his faithful companion Chiva, a 2-year-old shepherd/husky mix.
If successful, they'll be the first dog-human team to accomplish the feat. And you thought all the Earth's frontiers had been conquered. Not with a dog, they haven't.
Sylvester, a 26-year-old from the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, expects the trek to take 18 months and cover some 10,000 miles. Introducing the tour at his blog, Sylvester says:
“I strongly believe that jumping on my bicycle and riding into the wind with Chiva is the best way to combine and enjoy all my interests in life right now. I also plan to use the trek as a way to give back to canines and the environment.”
The peaks
Sylvester told the Ballard News-Tribune (“They will climb every mountain”) that the first mountain summit on the quest is Mount Hood in Oregon. At 11,239 feet of elevation and 8 miles from the trailhead, it's judged the 4th most difficult climb they'll face.
Only Mount Rainier in Washington state (3rd), Granite Peak in Montana (2nd), and Gannett Peak in Wyoming (1st) are considered more difficult by the “Martin Classification of Difficulty for US State Highpoints.” Mt. McKinley in Alaska is considered the most difficult, but they aren't planning to hit Alaska or Hawaii for now.
The easiest is Britton Hill in Lakewood, which is basically a 345-foot elevation driveby.
Chiva
Sylvester has been seeking sponsors for the expedition and is raising funds for the Sierra Club and the Humane Society. You can donate at his blog, David Sylvester and Chiva the Canine Cyclist.
Chiva has her own sponsorship from the Seattle Dog Magazine, which will mail her treats along the way, according to the News-Tribune. The trailer was designed by DoggyRide in the Netherlands, and RuffWear sent some booties and a first aid kit.
Obstacles
Some obstacles the pair will face: some high points are on private land, while others, such as Mt. Rainier, do not allow dogs. He'll have to seek permission for those climbs.
Check out America's Roof for how the different high points stack up.
Good luck to Sylvester and Chiva. I hope they arrive home safe and sound, and I can't wait to hear his answer when someone asks him, “What was the high point of your trip.”
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