Louisiana is a low-lying Gulf state whose highest point, Driskill Mountain, is just 535 feet above sea level. No one comes to Louisiana to hike or climb peaks, but parts of the north and center of Louisiana are covered in piney forests while, of course, the gulf is a mix of bayous and swampy jungle country. We were visiting New Orleans over Christmas of 2004, so we took advantage of some opportunities to knock out some parish high-spots, none of which were very difficult.

We had a fantastic time touring the out-of-the-way spots, the old plantations, some remote bayous, the Big Easy itself (snow on Christmas day, no less), and a trip up north to Natchitoches and the higher forests up there. So yes, Louisiana has its "highpointing" charms, although going there just to visit county highpoints would be absurd, like going to a five-star restaurant for a coke.

Despite the flatness and apparent ease of its highpoints, we were shut out on a few due to private land issues. Iberia Parish's highpoint is a salt dome called Weeks Island, owned by the Morton Salt Company, who denied us permission. Nearby in St. Mary Parish, we drove to the end of a road to a ferry crossing at a bayou, called over to the ferry guy (the phone number was on the sign), but he said the island on which the highpoint sat was also private so he could not help us.

Since Katrina, much of the land along the Gulf has been either swept away or has been built up, so that the maps are probably not accurate, and it may be a long time before these areas are remapped in fine detail, so determining these highpoints are essentially impossible. Many have built-up levees and other man-made humps, which do not count. It can be a vexing hobby, so I'd suggest a nice beer and a steaming bowl of gumbo instead in New Orleans.