We breakfasted on peanut butter on roll and drove to the high point trailhead. The sun warmed us through a clear sky with hints of cloud cover. The stiff, chilled breeze cooled us during our steady, fast-paced hike on the dirt and gravel road towards the summit. The 4.3-mile trail ambled to the strenuous grade, starting at the base of the mesa, then ambled again across the top of Black Mesa for the last mile to the obelisk marker, at 4,972.97 feet.
A few photos marked our presence before we started to the car.
Four miles never seemed longer.
We built our usual lunch sandwiches at Cottonwood Campground, headed for parts north of Gobblers Knob in Colorado. From Lamar we zigzagged more north than east, across the flat Kansas-like part of Colorado, flat, dry, open space, with more cattle than people, towards the Kansas high point.
Flat land changed to gentle hills.
We traveled gravel roads the last few miles to the Kansas high point, Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet, walked around the fenced enclosure and looked at what appeared to be a grave marker, and the unique metal artwork.
We posed for several photos and off we went.
More gravel roads northward took us to pavement.
Late afternoon upon us, we discussed and determined the campground in Goodland allowed us the most civilized rest for the night.
"What are the mosquitoes like now?" I asked the friendly lady attendant when we checked in.
"There are no mosquitoes this time of year," she said.
The ample time before sunset to set up the tent, shower, enjoy a local meal, re-supply our groceries, felt luxurious. The sky cleared of clouds and a cool, light breeze blew as songbirds serenaded us.
Our mileage today totaled 295.
Low points - seventeen; high points - thirteen.
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| Primate Touches OK High Point. |
A few photos marked our presence before we started to the car.
Four miles never seemed longer.
We built our usual lunch sandwiches at Cottonwood Campground, headed for parts north of Gobblers Knob in Colorado. From Lamar we zigzagged more north than east, across the flat Kansas-like part of Colorado, flat, dry, open space, with more cattle than people, towards the Kansas high point.
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| Lamar, CO. |
We traveled gravel roads the last few miles to the Kansas high point, Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet, walked around the fenced enclosure and looked at what appeared to be a grave marker, and the unique metal artwork.
 |
| Primate Checks for Mail on KS High Point. |
We posed for several photos and off we went.
More gravel roads northward took us to pavement.
Late afternoon upon us, we discussed and determined the campground in Goodland allowed us the most civilized rest for the night.
"What are the mosquitoes like now?" I asked the friendly lady attendant when we checked in.
"There are no mosquitoes this time of year," she said.
The ample time before sunset to set up the tent, shower, enjoy a local meal, re-supply our groceries, felt luxurious. The sky cleared of clouds and a cool, light breeze blew as songbirds serenaded us.
Our mileage today totaled 295.
Low points - seventeen; high points - thirteen.
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