"Dry Bluff" 5,260' (Otero County Highpoint)
Statewide research of weather patterns convinced me to head Southeast for mild conditions. Dry Bluff was first on the agenda, and breaking through to blue skies just outside of Pueblo was encouraging. The drive out to the dirt roads took a long time, heading south on Hwy 71 just before La Junta. Parking just beyond the second gate, I started the hike along the south edge of the bluff heading west. It was a little windy, but warm enough to only require a tee shirt. The fenceline finally came into view that denotes the Las Animas county line, and the highest point was visible at the southern edge (photo on right).
|
 |
 |
The roads here are multifarious and slightly confusing. There were some stock trails leading up from the valley just below the final rise. A cairn was placed at fenceline, which verified my location. 20 minutes up, 20 minutes down. The drive dwon had burned up a lot of time, as it was now 12:40. I had decided to abandon plans to head out further East for highpoints, and set my sights on heading up to Fowler and CR 3.
|
"Schubert Hill" 5,220' (Crowley County Highpoint)
After 18 miles of dirt roads, I arrived at the ranch and tried to find the Schuberts, to no avail. It was 2:50 p.m., so I decided to make this a jogging highpoint to at least get on paved roads again before dark. The route is very straight forward for this one, just following the road north and then West (photo on left shows the road from near the ranch). The sandy spots complicated running to a slight degree. The weather was even better here than on Dry Bluff father South. I arrived at the rise at 3:25, and headed toward the highest ground.
|
 |
 |
I arrived at the rise at 3:25, and headed toward the highest ground (photo on left). It was difficult to ascertain the highest area, as there was no benchmark. So I hopped from place to place and eventually found the spot. The jog out took 25 minutes. The agressive cows were an interesting finish near the gate. The northern approach was very easy to navigate up to CO 94 which heads to Colorado Springs. Just after dark, I was back on I-25. It is no joke that getting two of these highpoints in a day is enough of an accomplishment.
|