Somewhat o/t, but perhaps of interest:
Introducing a brand new, recently explored hiking route from the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere to the tallest peak in the lower 48.
The Lowest-to-Highest Trail (L2H) is a backcountry hiking route between Badwater in Death Valley (-282ft) and Mt. Whitney (14,495’). Unlike the traditional “ultra race route,” the L2H avoids pavement and vehicle traffic as much as possible, in favor of a scenic, silent journey across the wilderness, as it seeks the soul of a rugged, often harsh, and ultimately beautiful land. If the traditional approach is to complete an extreme journey on foot, then the L2H is about living a journey in a land of extremes completely. Indeed, this off-highway journey encompasses even greater extremes of geography, ecosystem and climate, and is intended to submerse the traveler far more deeply within the environment.
More info, maps, and planning details:
http://www.simblissity.net/L2H.shtml
PhotoJournal of blisterfree’s pioneering June 2006 trek (story in captions):
http://tinyurl.com/qarem
blisterfree