King County High Point Trip Report
south of Dumont (2,250+ ft)
Date: March 13, 2002
Author: Scott Surgent
King County is the second least populated county (fully organized) in the United States at about 350 people.
Loving County, also in Texas, has the fewest at 70. King County's low population is directly attributable to
the fact it is basically two or three enormous ranches. The famous 6666 ranch covers a third of the county,
I have read. I drove into King county from the south via US-83 from Aspermont, passing through the county
seat of Guthrie, population 200. For such a small town, it is very clean - even the gas station is a nice stone building.
South of Guthrie is a small park with a nice stone monument to G. P. Humphreys, the manager of
the 6666 ranch for many years. I decided to drive all the way through King county north into Cottle county
and take care of that highpoint, then double back and do King last.
After my Cottle "experience", I didn't have much light left so I went quickly toward the tiny town of Dumont,
population 50 (?), King county's only other town. The highpoint was near some dirt county roads
south of Dumont. With very little daylight left, I hoped that the roads and the map agreed so I wouldn't
have to waste time figuring out my route. Fortunately, the map and the actual roads were accurate; about 5
miles of driving brought me to an unfenced pasture just a few hundred yards north of the highpoint,
a distinct little hill straddling the King/Dickens county line.
I didn't waste time: I jogged to the gentle top, made a big loop to ensure I did it properly, and jogged back,
staying clear of a couple grazing cows. Total time was about 10 minutes and about a half-mile hiking.
I snapped a quick photo then drove out to the paved highway, just as dark settled in for the night.