The drive to Oklahoma was windy.  Leaving the Wheeler Park area you drive past vast areas of mountains until you get to an area near Eagles Nest.  Then the mountains disappear and vast wide open spaces seem to appear out of nowhere.  I arrived at Kenton, Oklahoma and the wind was still blowing hard.  Once in Kenton you turn north towards Black Mesa.  This high point is part of one of the largest mesas in the world.  It extends over 40 miles from New Mexico to Oklahoma.  An area where the Rocky Mountains meet the prairies.  Rattlesnake country…

I was lucky enough to have company at Black Mesa.  A young lady by the name of Hailey.  She is the daughter of a friend here in Vermont.  She now lives in Denton, Texas.  We had spoken briefly a couple of times on the phone and she agreed to meet me at Black Mesa.  Her third high point!  It was an easy climb towards the summit, especially as I couldn’t help but compare it to the day before!  At the summit is a seven foot monument.  This monument celebrates the fact that Black Mesa sits in the only county in the USA which borders on four states.  Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Kansas.  Kind of cool!!  Another interesting fact is Black Mesa sits in the panhandle of Oklahoma.  An area that used to be No Man’s Land, not claimed by any state.  And as such. became a favorite hang-out for outlaws.  Their headquarters… the infamous Robber’s Roost!