Baca & Prowers County Highpoints 01/03/04

Carrizo Mountain 5,280' (Baca County Highpoint) Heading ever south, Erin was making good time driving to Hwy 160, where we would begin our quest for Baca and Prowers counties. This was one of few good alternatives to getting dumped on in the mountains this day. Arriving at the gate where our hike would begin, we were greeted by anxious calves, who followed us for some time before the incline of the route began. Up the road, we continued on and found the Las Animas fence line, which we followed south up the rise. We ended up at the highest ground with a lava-rock vitamin jar register. Many HP celebrities had entries. Back down at the gate, we continued on the drive to Springfield.

Two Buttes 4,711' (Prowers County Highpoint) At the turnoff for Two Buttes, the sun was at an aesthetic angle to view the "massif". We went through the fence and headed for the saddle, grabbing the nothern lesser summit before going over to the highpoint. There really wasn't any bushwhacking to speak of as Mitchler and Covill note. The summit was riddled with inscriptions from at least a hundred pairs of high school sweethearts. The highlight had to be the shadow cast from the west onto the plains below. We stopped for some good Mexican food in Lamar at Leandra's - no beer (owner was a pastor) but traditionally tasty. The drive into Denver from I-70 was interesting with all of the turned over vehicles from the slick snow.