Moments in Dirt and Ink

Grand Mesa National Forest Rather than go to a high point on the mesa, like Crag Crest, this trail travels the typical top of the mesa that claims to be the highest flat top mountain in the world. I thought it would make a nice evening hike. This is another that is not on my map, although it is well signed from the road. (It is a Trails Illustrated 136 Grand Mesa map that seems so incomplete.) There is a map at the parking lot showing a trail progressing a few miles southwest with connector trails to the road to the west. I think I will maybe do a little loop and a couple hours. Wide grasslands lined with pines at the top of the mesa. Past a line of pines, there is wide grassland just getting started. It looks like it becomes cow pasture eventually, but is not yet. A faint old road seems to travel the middle of the meadow. Dotting the flat grasslands are a number of shallow ponds. Some areas are marshy and require careful foot placement to keep dry feet. One o...

Grand Mesa National Forest I took a fancy to a loop I saw on the map which someone else must have also taken quite a fancy to because it has been made a National Recreation Trail. At nearly 11,200 feet, it should not be too warm either. In fact, while stopping off at the nearby Visitor Center to get a map for backpacking later, I am told there is still snow to clamber over although people have been making it. There is a little snow at the trailhead just under 10,500 feet, but this only makes a bit of mud to clamber through. A cartoon map illustrates the 12 mile route trough the area. I head out on the connector to the actual loop passing a trail back to the Visitor Center I just came from. Starting on the trail with just a little bit of snow under the trees. Hiking along volcanic rocks. The trail climbs a little as it gets to the junction. I take the high route, since that just seems much more interesting, and continue to climb. The frogs in a brown pond come ...

Grand Mesa National Forest Mesa Creek is the site of the first ski run on Grand Mesa before being abandoned for Powderhorn. At the trailhead, there is a large informational sign all about it. Behind that is a trail sign and a trail. This trail does not appear on my map, so it is difficult to know where it goes, 1.2 miles to nice views according to some sources. Hikers, horses, and bikes allowed. No motor vehicles.