One man’s journey to the highest point in every state.
What is it like to stand on top of the world? If anyone can tell you, it’s BYU grad Walter VanderHeide. Over the last twenty years, VanderHeide has visited the highest points in all fifty states as part of a decades-long “highpointing” goal.
VanderHeide has been climbing mountains since he was ten years old, when his mother took him and his older brother to hike Chief Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana. As a young scout backpacking in Montana, he hiked from Chief Mountain Customs and over Stoney Indian Pass to Goat Haunt, as well as spent some time hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. His love for mountain adventures was born at a young age.
Even decades later, after taking a backpacking course at BYU, getting his degree in economics, and beginning a career as a software engineer, that childhood love for adventure never waned. And VanderHeide and his older brother remained hiking companions— VanderHeide reached the Montana highpoint, Granite Peak, with his brother’s help. VanderHeide’s wife also joined him for seven of the fifty highpoints. Other family, friends, and even strangers became climbing partners for VanderHeide during his journey. “Their involvement reminded me that while the goal was deeply personal, it was far from a solitary pursuit,” VanderHeide says.
When VanderHeide climbed his first few highpoints, his fifty-state goal wasn’t yet planned. “While climbing my fifth state highpoint, Utah’s Kings Peak, I met a fellow solo hiker,” VanderHeide remembers. “I was impressed when I learned he had reached thirty-eight of the fifty state highpoints.” As someone who has always loved the outdoors, adventure, and exploring, the idea appealed to VanderHeide, and he eventually made it his own goal to highpoint all fifty states.
VanderHeide faced plenty of obstacles along the way, including a tornado in Minnesota, a flash flood in Arkansas, and a world-wide pandemic. The variety of highpoints, ranging from landmarks as low as 345 feet in Britton Hill, Florida to mountains as tall as 20,310 feet presents a vast array of challenges. The most difficult highpoint was Denali, the 20,310-foot Alaskan highpoint and tallest peak in North America. It took VanderHeide a whole five years just to find a suitable team, and once he finally did, a disastrous house fire struck that nearly forced him to cancel his Alaska trip. Luckily, five years of planning paid off and he was able to make the trip happen.
Reaching Denali’s peak was a massive undertaking. VanderHeide prepared for the trip for months in advance, learning vital skills like ice climbing, winter camping, glacier crossing, avalanche safety, and hauling gear on a sled across icy landscapes. Typically only half of the climbers who attempt Denali actually make it to the summit. But after three weeks of climbing, VanderHeide was able to reach the peak—and even take a couple of quick photographs before his camera lens threatened to freeze over. Despite the challenges Denali presented, VanderHeide says it was the most rewarding highpoint to summit.
After spending years sneaking in highpoint trips during time-off from work, VanderHeide flew to Hawaii in July 2021 and climbed his final highpoint, officially accomplishing his goal of reaching the highest elevation point in every state. According to the Highpointers Club, he was about the 350th person to do so.
VanderHeide says that “climbing mountains has never been about proving anything to anyone.” From the beginning, it was a personal goal, born out of a true desire and love for the outdoors. “The mountains are where I feel the most alive, and the most at ease,” VanderHeide says. The adventure taught him gratitude—for the support of his family and friends, for the new memories he was able to make, and “for the land, my health and strength...and the privilege to undertake such an adventure.”
“This journey transformed how I see the world,” VanderHeide says. “It’s a reminder that God created a beautiful natural world for us to explore and appreciate.”
Full Name: Hans Walter VanderHeide
Grad Year: BS ’92
College: Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Major: Economics
Post date: June 27, 2025
Author: Avery Stonely and Anna Sneddon