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| Leon Peak - Mesa COHP, CO | |
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| | Leon Peak - Mesa COHP, CO | | | |
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Leon Peak - Mesa COHP, CO
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| Hiking | 3.55 Miles |
1,350 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.55 Miles | | | |
| 1,350 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | This was a hike to the summit of Leon Peak (11,241 feet), the highpoint of Mesa County. Leon Peak is part of Grand Mesa, which is billed as the largest flat-top mountain in the world and having over 300 lakes and encompassing 500 square miles.
I started and ended the hike at the Weir and Johnson Campground. Gmaps can get you there. The last 10 miles of the drive were on a well graded dirt road.
I started the hike on Sissy Trail #716, which eventually goes to Sissy Lake. I then went through a forest before having to hike on a gawdawful pile of boulders, rock, talus, and other rubble. It was pretty slow going but I eventually made my way to the peak, which is basically just a pile of rocks and boulders.
There are great views at the summit, which features a still-standing frame of a wooden lookout tower that was built in 1911. Unfortunately constant lightning strikes forced the abandonment of the lookout tower, as all of the lightning discouraged people from manning the tower.
In spite of all of the bouldering, I enjoyed the hike -- the views were great, there were lots of wildflowers, and I passed by several lakes. |
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| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
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