- [Greg] The Highpointers is made possible by, Burnsville North Carolina.

A small town with big adventures, big peaks, and home to Mount Mitchell.

Information on hiking and more available at explorerburnsville.com.

Acroball, advanced ink pens engineered for extremes.

Pilot, power to the pen.

Ohio Caverns, adventure for the whole family.

See and discover formations year round.

More information at ohiocaverns.com.

America's most colorful caverns.

FRBO, bringing owners and renters together, find vacation rentals online.

Live local, feel at home.

frbo.com.

Gossamer Gear, makers of lightweight packs trekking poles and shelters.

Take less, do more.

(wind howling) (engine growling) - This week we're climbing Black Mesa, the high point of Oklahoma.

- Welcome to the Sooner State.

- [Together] We are The Highpointers.

- Woo.

- Yeah.

(upbeat music) - [Branndon] My name is Branndon Bargo.

My brother Greg and I have been climbing mountains all over the world for years.

Our obsession is high pointing.

We find the highest natural point wherever we are and do whatever it takes to stand on top of it.

Sometimes it's a mountain, other times a molehill but we've learned the real excitement is found in the journey to get there.

So join us as we climb to the top of all 50 US states.

We are The Highpointers.

Craig, what do you think of this beautiful lake house here for our base camp in Oklahoma?

- This is really nice.

- And you better soak it up because we are headed for extreme heat.

- If you're talking about the high point of Oklahoma Black Mesa, you're right.

It's one of the hottest high points in the country.

- [Branndon] If not the hottest.

And if we're lucky we might even see a tarantula or a rattlesnake.

- [Greg] I mean, I don't know if I'd consider seeing a rattlesnake lucky but if we do get lucky, we gotta be prepared.

So with that, we got the shun list.

So you got location, elevation, precipitation, gear identification and regulation.

- [Branndon] Nice job.

- [Greg] Thank you.

With Black Mesa specifically, we're gonna focus on precipitation and gear identification.

When we're talking about precipitation, we're talking about any and all types of weather.

So this one's typically really hot with direct sun and very little shade.

So with gear identification we wanna focus on bringing sunblock, water and electrolytes.

Last thing a B G H. - Okay, what's a B G H?

A big goofy hat.

- How big are we talking?

- The bigger the better.

- Okay, that's pretty big.

Check this one out.

What do you think of that?

- Yeah, there may be too big.

It's ridiculous.

- Maybe.

- Oklahoma doesn't seem that big but like a lot of high points it's in a remote area far from any major cities which means we have a really long six hour drive ahead.

- I catch a we in there, 'cause I'm pretty sure I do all the driving.

- You're right.

And for our first stop, we're headed to the University of Oklahoma campus to visit the National Weather Center.

The National Weather Center is home to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, also known as NOAA.

And it's one of the best places in the country to provide accurate and timely forecast on severe weather.

They're leaders in research of extreme weather and provide alerts and warnings for the entire nation.

We're meeting up with our new friend, Kaitlin Frost who works at the center and offered to show us around.

Good morning, Caitlin.

- Hi guys, good morning.

Great to meet you.

- Great to have you guys here at the National Weather Center today.

- So Greg and I, when we climb high points we're constantly looking at weather.

That was one of the reasons we were so interested in visiting the National Weather Center.

Thank you so much for showing us around.

- Yeah, thank you guys for coming.

We have so much going on here.

We have entities that are doing a national widespread forecasting.

We have severe weather research, radar research climate and hurricane research.

We really do have it all here so we're really, really glad to have you guys.

- Mind blown.

(hearty laughter) (upbeat banjo music) - This is actually one of the original movie props used in the filming of 1996, this movie Twister.

The really cool thing about the movie Twister is that this was actually based off a real research project- - Really?

- that occurred in the mid eighties.

We have definitely come a farther long way than back in the mid eighties in terms of our tools that we use.

- Yeah, so we'd like to see some of the the real tools that y'all got.

- Absolutely.

- Yeah.

- Well if you guys wanna follow me I'll definitely show you our radar truck vehicle bay.

It's very cool.

- Let's check it out.

(upbeat banjo music) - So this is definitely where a lot of the actual research here is taking place.

Primarily they're being used for severe weather research so that's gonna be your severe thunderstorm super cells, tornadoes, and then hurricanes as well.

- There's a sign when you're walking in and it says this is one of like the most unique weather facilities in the world.

What makes this place so unique?

- Absolutely, I would say it's the collaboration and the research that we're doing here together.

And the fact that we have a school of meteorology, all in here.

There's no other building in the world, that's like this one.

(smooth melodic music) All right.

Welcome to the second floor of the National Weather Center.

And this is pretty much where we call the NOAA hubs.

- This is like where the real magic happens, right?

- This is where the magic happens.

So many different entities within the building take that data that we were talking about and they incorporate it into their own research in many different ways.

- So when, when somebody's looking at their weather app or watching the weather on the news I mean is it, is it coming from here?

Where are they getting that information?

- So what the Storm Prediction Center does is that they're looking at everything in the contiguous United States.

They're looking at severe and hazardous weather and they are the ones that are issuing the watches.

So if you're in Boston, Massachusetts and you get a severe thunderstorm watch, it's being issued from this office here.

I'm glad we're kind of here talking about the forecasting office for the National Weather Service because you guys mentioned you're gonna be going to Black Mesa next.

So,- - Yes.

- I figured I might do you guys a favor and talk to some of the forecasters and get you guys a forecast for Black Mesa.

- Nice, yes.

- So that way it's gonna be helpful for filming.

- Straight from the source.

- Straight from the source.

- Gonna be the most accurate, right?

- Absolutely.

- Absolutely.

- We appreciate it.

Thank you so much Kaitlin.

- Thank you guys so much.

It was a pleasure.

- Now way we have our forecast, we're ready to go.

- Awesome- - Appreciate it.

- be safe you guys.

Thanks for stopping by.

- Thank you.

- Thanks guys.

(upbeat country music) - [Greg] All right, where are we headed next?

- Well, as the expedition leader, I'm in charge of fun, food and friends.

So I'm thinking food, and some of the best fried chicken in the country is right here in Oklahoma and it's the oldest bar in the state.

- [Greg] Sounds like a cool place.

(upbeat country music) - Sometime in the sixties we started frying chickens as a reward for a shuffleboard contest and after that it just took off and it's been a fan favorite ever since.

- When we're about to go climb a high point, we always look for like a really good place to eat to fill us up.

This is it?

- Yeah, you taste that fried chicken, you're gonna be hooked.

(upbeat music) - That was fast.

- We tried.

- I'm ready man, you ready?

- That is good.

- And man, it's juicy and crispy.

It's good.

(upbeat banjo music) All right Branndon.

We've had fun, now we've had food.

So who's our guest?

- Our guest is Shane Hammond.

He's often referred to as the strongest man in America.

He's a two-time Olympic weightlifter in the super heavyweight division and as a power lifter he holds the world record in the squat where he's lifted over a thousand pounds.

- That's insane.

- Yeah, we haven't had a guest like this before so this is gonna be a fun high point.

- Yeah, so here's the thing let me give you little brotherly advice.

- Okay.

- So you like telling stories and they're all true but I think you need to tone it down just a little bit.

Maybe act a little bit more normal.

- More normal.

Okay.

(upbeat music) - Hey Shane, how's it going?

- Great, how are you?

Good to meet you.

- Yeah, good to meet you too.

- Hey Shane.

We are the Bargo brothers.

I am Branz.

This is my brother Granz.

- Are we really doing this?

Man, come on.

- Greg show Shane, how puny your little muscles are.

Look at your pectorals.

You are like, honey, I shrunk the muscles.

Shane, what do you think of this bicep?

Look at my three ceps.

(maniacal laughter) Okay, little brother, let's see what you've got.

- Okay, you ready?

I got Granz one, Granz two, Granz three.

- This is nothing.

Look at this.

(heaving grunts) - First thing.

I think you boys have been skipping leg day but I'm gonna be waiting over here in the dune buggies and I'll see you guys.

(heaving grunts) (upbeat music) - [Branndon] The park is known for its beautiful sand dunes and the only way to explore the 1600 acres, is by ATV.

Shane, what a beautiful place out here.

Little Sahara State Park.

We just thought it would be a great place to meet you and do some fun stuff.

- You know, I remember this place, I remember coming here as a kid, but I don't remember it being this big and this, you know, just massive.

So this is just so exciting to me to have you guys come out and check this place out.

- Yeah, it's a cool spot.

- Well we're excited to, to get to really ask you about power lifting, weightlifting but I think we should go ride these ATVs.

What do you guys think?

- Let's go.

- Look forward.

- Okay.

(upbeat whistling music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (excited shouting) - All right guys.

We've been having a lot of fun out here.

It's been really exciting.

Love driving these things but I know how competitive you are.

- That's right.

- Yes.

- So, how about a little competition here?

- I love that idea.

- Let's do it.

- Greg.

- Okay, got an idea.

First one to that big dune way over there and back.

- Yes.

- Is the winner.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

May the best man win.

(upbeat music) - Are you ready?

- I'm ready.

- Are you ready?

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) - Oh, yeah.

- Congratulations.

- Yes.

- Good job.

- Yes, it feels so good.

- Nice effort Greg.

- It doesn't feel good.

- Nice effort.

- It pays to be a winner.

- It does.

- Oh, Shane, I'm feeling revved up.

Pumped up.

Do you want to go climb the high point of Oklahoma, Black Mesa with us?

- You know what?

I've had so much fun so far, that I'm willing to walk Black Mesa with you guys, so let's do it.

I'm excited about it.

Ready?

- Oh yeah, I like that.

High five.

- Let's go.

- Yeah, Black Mesa.

(upbeat music) We want to get an early start to beat the heat and the best place to do that, is at the Black Mesa bed and breakfast.

The ranch style B and B is set against the beautiful backdrop of the nearby nature preserve.

And best of all, it's only three miles from the high point.

(stringing banjo music) (rooster crowing) Good morning guys.

What a beautiful day.

One thing that we love to do, it's one of our favorite things, is to go through the gear before we climb the high point.

Greg's in charge of the gear.

So what do we got Greg, for this one?

- Yeah, so we've been stressing how hot this high point can really be.

So we got kind of our typical hot weather type of gear.

We got our sunblock, we definitely need some snacks.

We got water and we got our BGH,- - Yes - Right here.

- Yeah, for the BGH though there's a couple of different options.

One, I just, I wanted to put out here because sometimes we will take an umbrella.

The umbrella works like a BGH, this one is light, it's reflective.

So it's a perfect way to block out sun.

And I like to wear long layers just so I don't have to put on as much sunblock but definitely thinking about the heat for today.

- Yeah so, we need to make sure to top off our water here 'cause there's no water at the trail head or anywhere along the hike.

- Well I've got mine ready.

I also wanted to mention to you guys and I had told you before that my knees have a lot of pain from all the years of lifting.

- Yeah.

- And so whenever you guys asked me to do this hike I didn't think I could do it at first.

You know, I, I was like this knee, my knees are hurting pretty bad.

So I started training it and I started training up and down hills a lot.

And I'll tell you, my knees got so much better.

So I'm really excited to get up here and do this eight and a half mile hike.

- So one thing I do have for you, is we have some trekking poles here.

It's good to keep balance, I think it'll really help your knees.

- Greg and I have been using those quite a bit over the years.

At first we're like, ah, we don't need trekking poles but they save your legs, your knees so much.

I think that will, like Greg said, that'll be great for you.

- I think I'll give these a shot today.

Thanks guys.

- Yeah, well if you guys are ready we're just a few minutes from the trail head.

- Let's go, let's do it.

- I'm ready to go.

Let's do this thing.

- Yeah.

(smooth guitar music) - All right guys, this is the start.

4.2 miles to the top.

- Here we go.

- You ready Shane?

- I'm ready.

- This is, it's exciting energy, right?

- It is.

- So we always start with a high five and we finish with a high five.

So if you're ready, let's do it.

- Let's go.

- I'm ready.

- Oh yeah.

- Yeah.

- Let's go guys.

(upbeat banjo music) (upbeat banjo music) Good job guys.

- Yeah.

- This high point is always easy to know where you're at 'cause the bench tells you, right?

We're at mile one.

- As I was hiking I was thinking, there's this common misconception that this big powerful guy is not necessarily somebody that's athletic.

And I know that you went from power lifting early in your career and then transitioning to Olympic weightlifting.

And some people say that's practically impossible to do.

So how did you do something that people said couldn't be done?

- Well it was a good thing that I, the way I power lifted I did it a little different.

I did everything quickly, you know, with just the way that I lifted, the explosive type lifting I was able to do back flips, dunk a basketball, you know it was just some really strange things started happening with developing these fast switch muscles and lifting heavy really quickly.

- So you could dunk a basketball and you were like 400 pounds like super heavy weight.

- That's awesome.

- Exactly.

- I mean I would've loved to have seen that.

That's crazy.

You know, you went from nothing to being elite level in nine months.

I mean, how were you able to do that in such a short amount of time?

- To do the Olympic lifts, I started with a PVC pipe and I just started lifting that and snatching it and clean jerking it and falling down all the time even with that.

And then moved to an empty bar.

When I finally got the, the pipe down.

I made sure my technique was right before I started putting weight on.

Luckily I had the strength there already from power lifting and I was already really strong.

I just had to get that technique down, you know learning that patience during that time, 'cause I've never been a patient guy.

I really think that helped me whenever I got married and had kids, you know, for everyday life, you know that kind of thing.

- People often just wanna skip steps, right?

Like they want something fast, they wanna make money fast they want to just get to whatever that goal is and they want to do it quickly, right?

So it's like, it sounds like what you're saying is you just gotta be patient, you gotta plug away, right step by step.

Which really is a lot like high pointing, right?

- Yeah.

- You just kind of plug away you don't think about the four miles to get to the summit.

You think about what's the next mile what's the next hundred yards.

- One step at a time.

- Yeah.

Speaking of one step at a time if you guys are ready to keep going?

- Let's go.

(smooth rhythmic music) Black Mesa gets its name from the original layer of black lava rock that once covered the mason.

Its remote location is perfect for stargazing and viewing meteor showers and it's considered to have some of the darkest skies in the country.

(smooth rhythmic music) - Guys we're here at mile two.

- Yeah.

- How are you feeling Shane?

- A little tired, but I'm looking forward to seeing if I can make it up this climb.

- You're making it man.

(laughs nervously) You're making it.

- This is one of my favorite rest stops because you can look back and you can see the switchbacks leading up to the top.

So we got two miles of flat, then you got like a quarter mile climb and then two more miles of flat.

And I also like this because Greg and I when we climb high points so much of it is about mental preparation.

I'm interested to know what was your mental preparation like when you were stepping up to the bar to pick it up and you were going for records, American records World records, what was your mental process like?

- It's easy to get in your mind that you're not gonna lift it.

Especially when you're trying a personal record.

You have to know, in weightlifting, you're gonna get it before you walk up and get it or you're not gonna get it.

There's just no doubt about it.

And that's why I visualizing it's so important 'cause you can just see yourself over and over and over again, getting the lift and so you know that you're gonna be able to get it when you walk up there.

- Yeah, I, I think that's interesting 'cause it's having a positive mindset but that's not enough.

It's also visualizing yourself walking up there, getting it, boom.

You know, it's very specific.

- I mean it works for everything for, for work, you know a big sales meeting or something like that.

You gotta know what you're about to do when you walk in there and you gotta expect success.

You can mentally prepare for it, know you're know what's gonna happen and make it happen.

- Hmm.

That's good.

- Yeah.

- Well if you guys are ready this is a great time to pull out our trekking poles because we've got that 400 foot climb ahead.

So you, you ready to do this, Shane?

- Yeah?

- I'm ready.

- It's about to get real.

- All right, let's do it.

- All right.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Black Mesa may feel like a desert, but in actual fact it's where the great plains and the Rockies come together and when two different ecosystems converge there's an abundance of both plant and animal life.

And for me, my favorite is the Texas horned lizard.

(upbeat music) (upbeat banjo music) (upbeat banjo music) Nice job everybody.

- Yeah - It's mile, mile three.

This is the hardest section.

I mean there were some pretty steep spots.

- Ah, yeah.

- Nice job, Shane.

- Yeah, good job.

- I know this can be, it's tough for anybody.

When you're not used to it and you haven't done it very much can kind of wear you out.

- Yeah.

- Climbing high points reminds me.

It's fun to get to the top but you gotta go through low moments.

It's tough.

So I'm curious, Shane have you had any low moments in your life that really propelled you to your success?

- I definitely have, you know, as far as lifting most people see my, my high points, you know my American records, me competing at the Olympics, doing well, all that kind of thing.

But you know, they haven't really seen or heard about the times.

Like when I went to Australia to do an international competition and bombed out, missed every lift, you know, that's happened to me, you know, numerous times on, on the lifting side.

And also, my mom passed away a few years ago from cancer and that was a really, really low moment for me 'cause she was someone who I called almost every day.

You know, someone who prayed for me over the phone every day during my career and you know to lose someone that important in my life.

That was a, a big low moment for me, but I learned a lot from it and I think it really propelled me into being the man I am today.

- I'm interested Shane to know what your high point moment is.

It could be something that's physical, mental spiritual.

What's been that moment for you?

- You know there have been so many high point moments in my life.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows about my spiritual life.

I love Jesus.

And that really for, honestly that has led me through my career and through my life after my career, you know with my family and my job and everything else.

So honestly that's the biggest peak in my life.

Some of the other big things is getting married.

I really didn't think I'd ever get married.

I was just focused on my sport.

But a few years after I retired, I found my wife.

And that has been such a positive thing for me, to get a wife and you know, and have three kids now.

It's just a totally different life than I had.

- Yeah, I think it's so important to be well-rounded just like that.

It's like you're so singular focused on one thing everything else kind of gets pushed to the side but now it's like you got married and it's like you're building friendships and it's making you more a well-rounded person.

I think that's so important.

- If you guys are ready we've already gotten the hardest part.

We just got the flat section.

- I'm ready for some flat walking.

(hearty laughter) - Let's go.

- All right.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - All right guys.

- Yes sir.

- Congrats.

- Nice.

Good job, Shane.

Yes, 4.2 miles.

We made it the top of Black Mesa.

The high point, you said when we were hiking up the trail this is the longest distance that you've ever hiked.

Is that, is that true?

- Absolutely.

- Man, that is awesome.

- Never hiked this bar far before.

- Yeah, well hopefully you've had, you know over four miles to come up with a high five.

You got one for us?

- I think I've got one for us.

- Okay.

- It's called, the weightlifting high five.

Are you guys ready for this?

- I think we're ready.

- Yes, sir.

- On the count of three.

Ready?

1, 2, 3.

- [Together] Ho.

Ho.

Huh.

- Nice.

- Bronze, like.

(quiet laughter) - Black Mesa's, hot, remote and desolate.

But it's beautifully different and just like high points can be different.

So are people.

- You or I will never be able to lift a thousand pounds like Shane, but it's cool to know that there are people out there like him who can.

The key, is to remember that places and people are all unique and we need to embrace that uniqueness.

So until next time.

- [Together] We'll see y'all on the next summit.

- [Branndon] For more information on the Bargo Brothers High Point Adventures, visit us at thehighpointers.com or at The Highpointers on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

- [Greg] The Highpointers is made possible by Burnsville, North Carolina.

A small town with big adventures, big peaks and home to Mount Mitchell.

Information on hiking and more available at explorerburnsville.com.

Acroball advanced in pens, engineered for extremes.

Pilot, power to the pen.

Ohio Caverns, enter for the whole family.

See and discover formations year round.

Get information at ohiocaverns.com.

America's most colorful caverns.

FRBO, bringing owners and renters together to find vacation rentals online, live local, feel at home.

frbo.com.

Gossamer Gear makers of lightweight packs trekking poles and shelters.

Take less, do more.