James M John WMA, Colorado (trailhead to mesa)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.07 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,903 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 282 ft
- Max elevation
- 9,183 ft
- TrailRank
- 30
- Min elevation
- 7,520 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Coordinates
- 394
- Uploaded
- July 12, 2014
near Sugarite, New Mexico (United States)
Viewed 1156 times, downloaded 1 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
A very rough and primitive trail leading up onto the mesa. Two of my group rode mules and led a packmule with our camping gear, while I hiked on foot with my pack and gear.
The trail begins near Lake Dorothey and quickly gains eleveation as it heads up towards the mesa. Along the way you pass through Ponderossa forest (recovering from a bad forest fire a few years back). We saw lots of elk and one bear along the way.
There were a few water sources before reaching the mesa. We set a basecamp near a mountain spring that provided good water.
On the second day we continued up onto the mesa, which is above the treeline. It is a rolling prairie with lush grass and lots of wildflowers. We again saw alot of elk coming up to graze. It was pretty windy on top, and the sun was very intense. An afternoon storm blew in and caused us to have to turn back, not being able to reach the highpoint on this trip.
The trail begins near Lake Dorothey and quickly gains eleveation as it heads up towards the mesa. Along the way you pass through Ponderossa forest (recovering from a bad forest fire a few years back). We saw lots of elk and one bear along the way.
There were a few water sources before reaching the mesa. We set a basecamp near a mountain spring that provided good water.
On the second day we continued up onto the mesa, which is above the treeline. It is a rolling prairie with lush grass and lots of wildflowers. We again saw alot of elk coming up to graze. It was pretty windy on top, and the sun was very intense. An afternoon storm blew in and caused us to have to turn back, not being able to reach the highpoint on this trip.
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