Weld County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: October 14, 2006
Author: Dave Covill
Twenty four persons from 3 states converged on the Terry Bison Ranch in north
central Colorado to hike the highest point in Weld County on Saturday,
October 14, 2006. A group of 22 left Denver at 8 am and drove north on I-25
to the ranch located at the Wyoming border.
The day was clear and relatively warm with a sharp wind. As we had done on our
two previous group visits of this ranch, we were met by the humorous ranch
manager and a knowledgeable guide for a bus tour of the ranch operations,
including an up-close inspection of a bison herd in the field.
The bus grinded its way up and down a couple hills to reach a spot about a mile
from the highpoint. Right there on the range, Bob Michael provided a wonderful
geology lecture, after which we hiked east toward the highpoint bluff.
The group easily made the top, where we inspected the tall wind turbines of Xcel
Energy’s Ponnequin Wind Farm. Most in the group practiced using a hand level to
determine relative heights of the landscape and one of us had a close encounter
of the third kind with a cactus.
After enjoying the full view of the front range (from Pikes Peak to Wyoming),
we snapped a group photo and descended to the bus for a ride back to the ranch
dancehall where we enjoyed a bison burger lunch.
The group returned to Denver by 4pm, although one carload took advantage of the
close proximity to Cheyenne and visited Sierra Trading Post for outdoor clothing.
It turns out that Bob Michael is the author of the April 1976 article
(Colorado Mountain Club's Trail and Timberline No. 688 p. 95)
which listed the highpoints of the Colorado Mountain counties
(a.k.a. The 43 Club). It may not be the earliest known listing in the country
of county highpoints but it is certainly one of them! Bob enjoys the mountains
and does not intend to visit those "silly" plains county highpoints.
However, his trip to Weld County is a good start!
Everyone had a great time visiting the
ranch and socializing and Bob added a special element to this gathering.