Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This is hands down the toughest, most grueling, yet the most incredibly rewarding adventure I’ve ever experienced. A 15 minute YouTube video cannot capture the reality of this brutal trek. I decided to take the 9+ hours of footage I recorded and focus on trying to show what the experience is really like. Not the fluff, not just the good times, the whole thing. The good, bad and the ugly. I realize that lots of people will never watch an hour and a half long video, but I really don’t care. I didn’t make this video for them. I have a non-monetized channel. I don’t record videos hoping for views, or likes, or whatever. There’s no money in it for me. I record videos so I can watch them. I want to look back when I’m in my 70’s and see, in detail, the stuff I was able to accomplish while my knees still worked. Before my hips gave out. When I was willing to risk it all, for an adventure. That’s what this video means to me.
The “Lowest to Highest” route is just that, a route. I’m following a GPS track off trail, cross country, on dirt roads, paved roads, old mining roads, mule trails, game trails, and even actual hiking trails in some of the most inhospitable landscape in the U.S. Unlike every long distance hike I’ve done so far, with the L2H, I’m never exactly sure how far I need to go, or how much I need to climb each day, or where the next water is going to be, because I calculated my data based on a set of daily goals. Goals I failed to reach, day after day after day.
Over 160 miles in total, with 33,000’ of elevation gain in 8.5 hiking days. It just doesn’t get much harder than this for me.
From Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America (-282 ft below sea level) to the highest mountain in the lower 48, Mt. Whitney at 14,505’. The Lowest to Highest route is not for the average backpacker. This is a personal test. This is a test of your ability to dig deep, over and over and over again. When you can’t dig any deeper, this route forces you to find another level you never knew existed.
I wanted to quit on Day 1. By day 4, I was fighting back the tears of hopelessness all day long… wishing for a way out. The only thing that stopped me, was the fact that quitting in an area with zero cell service required pressing the infamous Garmin InReach SOS button to summon a Search and Rescue helicopter ride to the nearest hospital. What would I say? PLEASE come get me, my legs are tired? Please save me….I am really thirsty? Or Please come save me….I bit off more than I can chew.
I’m not injured, I’m just swimming in self-doubt.
I wanted to quit, but I couldn’t. What I did discover is, the tear ducts I thought didn’t work were like a dam holding back gallons of salty grief. With enough pressure, the dam broke and the pain and suffering became overwhelming. Somehow, I made it. I still can’t believe I actually made it.
As I sit back and look at what it took to complete this route, I feel quite a bit of pride. Not the “let-me-brag-about-how-far-I-can-hike” kind of pride, but the kind that is based on the feeling you get when you are forced to fight against your self-doubt and despite every molecule in your body telling you there is no way you can do this, you overcome it. You win.
I did it. I hated it. I loved it.
BTW, if you watched this all the way to the very end, you are just as weird as me, and I’m glad to know I’m not alone. :)
Big thanks to Brent Underwood for all the history and information on Cerro Gordo and The Saline Valley Salt Tram. Be sure to check out Ghost Town Living and support Brent's efforts to keep Cerro Gordo alive!
youtube.com/@GhostTownLiving
I highly recommend Brent's Book "Ghost Town Living". The story of Cerro Gordo and Brent's story of buying and restoring the iconic town. I absolutely loved the audio book!
penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709605/ghost-town-living-by-brent-underwood
Music:
“Closer” Kings of Leon
“I’m on Fire’ Bruce Springsteen
“Righteously” Anna Ash
"I will always love you" Whitney Houston
Guitar covers by James Bartholomew @JamesBartholomewMusic
“Heart Shaped Box” Nirvana
“Dancing on My Own” Robyn/Calum Scott
“Take me to Church” Hosier
“Say Something” A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
“Every Breath You Take” Police
This is hands down the toughest, most grueling, yet the most incredibly rewarding adventure I’ve ever experienced. A 15 minute YouTube video cannot capture the reality of this brutal trek. I decided to take the 9+ hours of footage I recorded and focus on trying to show what the experience is really like. Not the fluff, not just the good times, the whole thing. The good, bad and the ugly. I realize that lots of people will never watch an hour and a half long video, but I really don’t care. I didn’t make this video for them. I have a non-monetized channel. I don’t record videos hoping for views, or likes, or whatever. There’s no money in it for me. I record videos so I can watch them. I want to look back when I’m in my 70’s and see, in detail, the stuff I was able to accomplish while my knees still worked. Before my hips gave out. When I was willing to risk it all, for an adventure. That’s what this video means to me.
The “Lowest to Highest” route is just that, a route. I’m following a GPS track off trail, cross country, on dirt roads, paved roads, old mining roads, mule trails, game trails, and even actual hiking trails in some of the most inhospitable landscape in the U.S. Unlike every long distance hike I’ve done so far, with the L2H, I’m never exactly sure how far I need to go, or how much I need to climb each day, or where the next water is going to be, because I calculated my data based on a set of daily goals. Goals I failed to reach, day after day after day.
Over 160 miles in total, with 33,000’ of elevation gain in 8.5 hiking days. It just doesn’t get much harder than this for me.
From Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America (-282 ft below sea level) to the highest mountain in the lower 48, Mt. Whitney at 14,505’. The Lowest to Highest route is not for the average backpacker. This is a personal test. This is a test of your ability to dig deep, over and over and over again. When you can’t dig any deeper, this route forces you to find another level you never knew existed.
I wanted to quit on Day 1. By day 4, I was fighting back the tears of hopelessness all day long… wishing for a way out. The only thing that stopped me, was the fact that quitting in an area with zero cell service required pressing the infamous Garmin InReach SOS button to summon a Search and Rescue helicopter ride to the nearest hospital. What would I say? PLEASE come get me, my legs are tired? Please save me….I am really thirsty? Or Please come save me….I bit off more than I can chew.
I’m not injured, I’m just swimming in self-doubt.
I wanted to quit, but I couldn’t. What I did discover is, the tear ducts I thought didn’t work were like a dam holding back gallons of salty grief. With enough pressure, the dam broke and the pain and suffering became overwhelming. Somehow, I made it. I still can’t believe I actually made it.
As I sit back and look at what it took to complete this route, I feel quite a bit of pride. Not the “let-me-brag-about-how-far-I-can-hike” kind of pride, but the kind that is based on the feeling you get when you are forced to fight against your self-doubt and despite every molecule in your body telling you there is no way you can do this, you overcome it. You win.
I did it. I hated it. I loved it.
BTW, if you watched this all the way to the very end, you are just as weird as me, and I’m glad to know I’m not alone. :)
Big thanks to Brent Underwood for all the history and information on Cerro Gordo and The Saline Valley Salt Tram. Be sure to check out Ghost Town Living and support Brent's efforts to keep Cerro Gordo alive!
youtube.com/@GhostTownLiving
I highly recommend Brent's Book "Ghost Town Living". The story of Cerro Gordo and Brent's story of buying and restoring the iconic town. I absolutely loved the audio book!
penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709605/ghost-town-living-by-brent-underwood
Music:
“Closer” Kings of Leon
“I’m on Fire’ Bruce Springsteen
“Righteously” Anna Ash
"I will always love you" Whitney Houston
Guitar covers by James Bartholomew @JamesBartholomewMusic
“Heart Shaped Box” Nirvana
“Dancing on My Own” Robyn/Calum Scott
“Take me to Church” Hosier
“Say Something” A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
“Every Breath You Take” Police
