It took Madison Herrick 11 years, 11 months and 23 days to climb the highest summit in each of the 48 continental states. She set a record Saturday on Mt. Frissell.
SALISBURY, Connecticut — A Connecticut teenager became the youngest female to reach the highest elevation point in all 48 continental United States when she climbed Mount Frissell in Salisbury on Saturday.
While the mountain peaks in nearby Massachusetts, 11-year-old Madison Herrick stood as high as one can in Connecticut.
The moment represented a monumental achievement.
Herrick’s accomplishment has been years in the making, and she chose to save her home state’s highest point for last.
For the elevation expert, holding the world record as the youngest female to hike to the tallest point in every contiguous state was only a dream until she made it reality, with help from others.
Herrick celebrated the feat with friends and family on Saturday.
While climbing Mount Frissell, Herrick led a group of nearly 30 people who wanted to share in her joy.
Together, they embarked on the 2.4-mile hike to the peak of Connecticut, approximately 900 feet in the air.
At the state’s high point, each group member signed a book that is positioned there, jotting down the date and where they’re from.
While reflecting, Herrick took time to shout out her parents, who helped tremendously as she traveled to each state’s summit.
“Thank you, Mom and Dad, for letting me do this. It’s really special to have done this,” Herrick said.
When asked where her eyes are set next, Herrick said she aspires to reach even greater heights.
“We are going to do Kilimanjaro [the highest mountain in Africa] and Mount Renier [in Washington state] and Denali [in Alaska, the highest mountain in North America] if Mom lets us,” Herrick said.
To learn more about Herrick’s record-breaking journey, one can follow her Instagram page.
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Victoria Anderson is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at vanderson@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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