rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

This is Lands End on Grand Mesa just east of Grand Junction. Colorado. It's the largest (500 sq. mi.) and tallest (11,332′) flattop mountain in the world. In this photo wife Pat and daughter Shaylea look out over the Uncompaghre Plateau to the south. You can see for 50 or more miles in three directions. Go in later April or early May and you'll see thousands of acres of Columbine in bloom. They're packed so tight it looks like an unending garden of the giants. Just take the highway to the top of the mesa and look for the Lands End signs. It's a 40-mile gravel loop, but well maintained. Lots of lakes (300+) up there with big trout.

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copladocus

I spent a very cold June night up on Grand Mesa. It was still early enough in the year that the snowpack was still intact and the service road back to where the local astronomy group had their dark site was still under five feet of snow. I went up there specifically to do some telescope viewing and ultimately was frustrated but not disappointed. I live in a relatively light polluted location so the night sky reveals only the most obvious stars and that makes it easy to set up and navigate among the stars. Well I got set up well before dusk and waited. Early on I got great views of Saturn and Jupiter, easy targets and then waited for full dark for deep sky viewing. Well it never really got dark. It was a moonless night but the white ground cover was actually well lit by the rich and endless canopy of stars. My frustration came from my inability to find my guide stars among the millions of stars so after an hour of just hunting about I gave up. Packed up my equipment and then did the best thing of the night. I set up my sleeping pad on the roof of my van, and zipped myself up in my sleeping bad and just watched the night sky. I was reminded of the line from "2001, a space Odyssey, "My God it is full of stars." And so it was. Marvelous. No photos taken (beyond my skills at the time) but memorable and well worth dealing with the cold.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

Nice story. I took a flatland nephew up there for a hunting trip. During the day, he kept staring at the sky because he expected to see blue and saw black/blue. The solid canopy of stars at night was almost more than he could take. As you pointed out, at that altitude, there is no ambient light, so the stars collectively become a mass. Thanks for your writeup. Really enjoyed it.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Great story, nice picture. I'm not all that familiar with Columbine. Seems the deserts in CA are mostly Creosote Bush and Joshua Trees. And in the lower hotter deserts Cactus. And in certain areas Sage Brush or the different plant Purple Sage. I was surprised to find that CA does have small Mesas called Butes.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

Thanks for the comments. The picture would be better, but it dates
back to my years of only taking color slides for show-and-tell parties
with family and good friends. In Western parlance, small mesas are called
buttes, such as in Butte, Montana. Giants like Grand Mesa are technically
flat topped mountains.

Columbines are close in appearance to some orchids. They don't do well in
flower gardens because of their special needs. Seen in the fields enmasse
are as beautiful as anything on earth.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Very nice shot of a dazzling locale

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

Agreed. An okay shot, a supernatural setting. Even better
when you're standing at the edge of that 2,000 foot dropoff.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Been there several times and you have described it very well. Great trout fishing and since it's relatively flat you can hike or backpack at ease even at that elevation to some of the more remote lakes. You don't have to carry much in the way of food. And no water which is the bane of all backpackers at eight pounds to the gallon. Just a small water purifier and eat fish. It's a fantastic place!

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

I was standing about 10 feet out from the bank, not quite waist deep, casting with all my heart. Then I saw a 'shadow.' and looked down to see a 20-inch cut cruising just past my ankles. Frustrating. You're right, perfect for people who like long hikes... no ups and downs until you get out to the far east. Still great elk hunting.