After hiking up Kings Peak in Utah and then spending some more quality time in Breckenridge, it was time to drive back to Indiana, but of course, picking up another highpoint on the way.

The summit of Oklahoma

After cleaning out the condo in Breckenridge, I headed down to Trinidad (near the NM border), stopping at the Pikes Peak Winery in Colorado Springs on the way. Leaving Trinidad early the next morning, I found my way into New Mexico and then into Kenton, Oklahoma.

Directions for the trailhead were simple enough, and I noticed the signboard had warnings about rattlesnakes. Wanting to get as much driving in today as I could, I took off at a brisk pace for the summit. About half the time I jogged along the trail (especially where there was no brush right next to the trail where a rattlesnake might be surprised by my rapid approach).

A few small but dark rain clouds were coming in from the north, and while none looked threatening, I didn't want to be caught on the mesa in a storm.

As I got to the highpoint marker, there was another two people already there, eating lunch and enjoying the scenery. I signed the register (my 25th highpoint!) snapped a few pictures, and took off back down the trail.

View of Black Mesa from the south-east near Kenton, OK.

While the guide books usually say you should give at least 4 hours to hike to the highpoint and back, if you jog much of it, you can easily cut that down to 2 hours.

I found out that Oklahoma flattens out after you leave the mesa country in the panhandle. Shortly afterwards, I found the straightest and most boring section of road I've ever seen: about a 40 or more mile stretch of US 64 east of US 56.

Looking north on the way back to the trailhead.