GOING TO THE HIGHEST POINT IN Illinois - Charles Mound, IL

In this video, we take down our first highpoint in 7 months - one which we have been referring to for a long time as the "last easy highpoint in the country." Well, for a number of reasons, it was anything but easy. You'll just have to watch to find out why. This video was filmed February 13, 2021.
US State Highpoints Playlist: highpoints.grtshw.com
This video was filmed using Canon EOS R6, GoPro MAX 360, and iPhone 12.
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Twitter: / grtshw
Instagram: / grt.shw

[@ryleenafziger9873]

Garrett Shaw. Confirmed NEGA-TED CRUZ. Instead of fleeing south to avoid the power loss, you went to the worst possible place. PURE GENIUS!

[@greekmythdude9053]

Honestly, texas was still worse because in Illinois there is winter infrastructure. Trust me I'm from Illinois.

[@ryleenafziger9873]

@@greekmythdude9053 oh, that's obvious enough. Illinois in winter is absolutely preferable to this Iowan native than that BS from last month

[@grtshw]

LMAO that's pretty clever. Although Greekmythdude is right, it was bad in Illinois but it actually was worse in Houston. Unfortunately, I got back home to Houston just in time for the worst of the outages so I actually had to deal with both, haha.

[@ryleenafziger9873]

@@grtshw ouch! At least you guys are safe. That's what counts ultimately. You didn't lose power for long, did you?

[@grtshw]

@@ryleenafziger9873 We only lost power for a couple days, but lost water for over a week. It was surprisingly bad - the state just wasn't ready for a weather event like that. Either way, you're right. We're alright now so that's what matters.

[@st.peterunner8758]

Saw your video about the highest point in Florida from 3 years ago, glad you’re still working at it!

[@nwharbes]

Great video can't wait till u do some more soon

[@thepretzel2]

I did this one about 2-3 years ago now during this same weekend. It wasnt nearly this bad. Snow was about 1 inch deep, instead of up to my ankles lol and the temperature was bearable. I did end up sliding off the road afterwards though and waited 24 HOURS before I got back in my car to get back home. I would say it was worth it though. Very beautiful drive and area.

[@grtshw]

Wow, what an intense experience. Believe it or not (what are the odds on this) we also slid off the road into a ditch with the jeep. Luckily, a plow was coming by with a winch and pulled us out. It was especially amazing because we were 3 hours away from Chicago with a flight leaving in 4 so the timing was super important. Glad you got it sorted out!

[@troutonland26]

I went here in June of this year it was alright not the best of the 20 I’ve been to but not the worst

[@TastyCookingSP]

Looking so cold weather, nice view from airplane. Thanks so much for your sharing💞💞

[@DWNY358]

Good training for Denali. 😉

[@grtshw]

Hahaha, I guess every little bit helps??

[@moosefactory133]

I am getting cold just watching this video.

[@thepickleeaters5671]

Miss the videos brotha

[@willhuhn6032]

So I’m also a high pointer and just found your channel. I was checking out a couple of your videos and realized that I also did Charles Mound this same weekend in 2021. And as I watched I realized that you literally passed us in this video for a second at 7:14 / 7:15! Safe to say those were definitely not the most ideal conditions for this highpoint haha

[@grtshw]

No way! I think that's the first time anyone in the comments has actually been in the video / seen me at the highpoint. That's a pretty big deal! But yeah definitely not an ideal day for that hike hahaha it was a bit cold. Ended up being a fun adventure and made the video a bit more interesting though so can't complain. Hope to see you out there again in the future!

[@willhuhn6032]

@@grtshw For sure man, good luck completing the rest!

[@erinmanale662]

This one’s gonna be gooood 😎

[@indigo1324]

Ayy, it’s my state! I’ve been looking forward to this episode for a while! Even though I know it’s not a very exciting high point, I’m still excited because I’ve lived my whole life in Illinois. :)

[@grtshw]

Don't sell your state short yet! It was actually a surprisingly exciting one. You'll just have to wait and see to find out why, haha. Glad you're looking forward to it!

[@indigo1324]

@@grtshw oh wow, that’s great to hear! Yes, I’m definitely looking forward to it!

[@greekmythdude9053]

Same

[@nwharbes]

@@grtshw i love your high point videos are you going to film any more

[@guaporeturns9472]

Can’t wait until you do California , Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

[@Ryno-fp7pm]

What is the next one? I'm running behind you by quite a bit, gonna hit OH and IN this coming weekend, that will be 17 & 18.

[@grtshw]

I'm late to this comment so it sounds like you already hit those two, hopefully it went well! Next up for me, generally, are ME, NM, NV, UT in no particular order - no concrete plans just yet but those should be next up

[@BeholdenYeti]

SIck vid man killer editing! Just discovered your channel and you only have 11 more to go!!! Aside from Maine, which big boy mountain are yall thinking about tackling next?

[@grtshw]

Thanks man appreciate it! There are a few that are already locked down for this summer (one of them is Maine), not sure what the order will be though! Should be an exciting time.

[@greekmythdude9053]

Looks like this is the last none mountain highpoint! Epic can't wait for Maine and the rest of the west!

[@grtshw]

I can't wait either! Plans are being made for the summer and it's going to be an exciting couple of months.

[@greekmythdude9053]

@@grtshw any new videos in progress?

[@grtshw]

@@greekmythdude9053 Maine and Oregon were both supposed to happen this summer but didn't pan out, sadly. Oregon I got within a few hundred feet of the summit but didn't make it to the top, and the plan for Maine fell through due to a family issue. And just like *that* summer was gone and it was back to work and school. I feel pretty bad that I screwed up and didn't get anything done this summer but considering the extenuating circumstances I'm ready to be at peace with it and wait for next season. Hopefully by that time we'll be out there early to get the first peaks possible (weather-wise). Thanks for your patience and for sticking it out!

[@greekmythdude9053]

@@grtshw completely understandable.

[@malikstanfordfan7856]

do you think you can get denali though

[@erinmanale662]

Please...

[@Byronnnyuh]

Are you going to do alaskas highest point anytime soon 🤔

[@grtshw]

Honestly? Probably not soon. It's very expensive and takes a significant time commitment (I think like at least a full month off of school/work/life) so it will be down the road a ways.

[@mackenziejocelynshaw]

chicken and waffles

[@grtshw]

who asked

[@Hikari24186]

Awesome video. Any ideas which state HP is next?

[@grtshw]

There are a few that are already locked down for this summer, not sure what the order will be though! Should be an exciting time.

[@brianrupp5974]

When will your next high point video be released?

[@grtshw]

Before this time next month! hopefully in the next two weeks

[@brianrupp5974]

@@grtshw oh that's great. My friends and I look forward to your videos

[@foxfoster1]

That upload schedule didn’t hold up

[@grtshw]

@@foxfoster1 Very true! Lol, sadly we attempted Mt. Hood in Oregon on June 1 of this year but did not make it to the top due to weather, finishing about 300 feet away from the summit, so no video came out of it. Working on putting something else together soon.

[@yungthunder2681]

Just curious. I found your channel when this video was new and I just came back thinking you'd probably be done by this time. Have you been too busy this summer to visit any more states?

[@bobstanley3850]

The remaining states are very difficult even for experienced mountaineers. There is a reason less then 400 people have been able to do this.

[@yungthunder2681]

@@bobstanley3850 no... Lol. The reason less than 400 people have done this is because of the "boring" high points on the east coast and travel costs. The actual routes are difficult for an average Joe, but anyone who is in some semblance of shape can do all but Denali with no specific training. I personally know like 30+ people who live in just my city who've summited all the meaningful continental US high points (Colorado & west)

[@bobstanley3850]

@@yungthunder2681 you got picks of you doing them then?

[@yungthunder2681]

@@bobstanley3850 1) I never said I MYSELF had climbed them all. Only that I know/know of people who have 2) yes. The 5 I have done I do have pictures of. (Wheeler-NM, Kings-UT, Borah-ID, Humphreys-AZ, Wheeler-NV)

[@bobstanley3850]

Those are literally the easiest ones

[@andyjay729]

You weren't one of the unlucky Texans who had burst pipes, were you? Glad to see you're all right.

[@grtshw]

Unfortunately I got back in town after this trip just in time for the chaos haha, power was only out for a few days but water was out more than a week. City just wasn't ready for that type of weather! Either way, I'm fine, it wasn't so bad really and at least it's all done now.

[@greekmythdude9053]

Eyyy finally my state! (Also like the most boring state)

[@indigo1324]

Maybe topographically, but at least we have Chicago. :) I know Chicago can be a controversial sometimes, but I like it around here. I’m from a suburb of Chicago.

[@greekmythdude9053]

@@indigo1324 same! I'm from Elmhurst, Il 17 miles outside Chicago

[@indigo1324]

@@greekmythdude9053 nice! I’m from Arlington Heights, which is 25 miles northwest of Chicago!

[@greekmythdude9053]

@@indigo1324 my English teacher lives their

[@LetsRideIllinois]

I definitely wouldn't say that Illinois is the most boring state even from a topographical standpoint.

[@kleenbuckeye]

Garrett, You thought Illinois was “One of the easiest high points in the entire country”?! You must have forgotten about: Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Rhode Island and Delaware (which is literally on a sidewalk next to a city street!) to name a few that were MUCH easier than a 2.5 mile hike up a hill. 😛 I understand what you meant by that statement though. When I did this HP on July 6th, 2019 it was a much different experience. Lol. Anyway, I really enjoyed your video, as usual. Nice job editing and interjecting from the “future” with extra details. I think this is the first one you’ve done without your dad? 🤔 I always look forward to your drone footage in these videos, but obviously you couldn’t do that with the extreme 🥶 and wind. Personally, at my age (51), I think I’m done with 43 completed state HPs. I doubt I’ll do anymore. I only have the very hard ones left (NW 5 states, Alaska and Hawaii $$$) and I don’t want to risk my life for that accomplishment. (Just a week after I hiked King’s Peak in Utah a 25 year old fell and died. 😢) Maybe I’ll change my mind in the future? I look forward to your future videos! Keep climbing and stay safe! 🙂👍🏼

[@grtshw]

Maybe a better name for it would've been "the last easy highpoint," haha. It's not the easiest in the country and I knew that going in, but it is in a class of generally easy highpoints as compared to the western class (also featuring new york and maine) of difficult ones. In any event, thanks for the praise! Always appreciate reading your comment. Also, believe it or not my dad was there! haha. He was a bit hidden as I think he was even more shuttered by the cold than I was and interested in going as fast as possible, but we both made it up and down! Actually, in the cinematic section there are 2 shots of him walking along ahead of me. For what it's worth, his mentality is similar to yours - probably won't finish, but will try his best to do as many as possible - and to be honest, I think that's all that can be asked. Definitely still an incredible accomplishment.