Blair Mountain
We did Clinetop Mesa in 2015, and that's when we saw the big hill heading up Blair Mountain. We didn't have time to head up the hill back then, but this year it was our goal. We were really looking forward to checking out the rest of the trail, and it turned out to be even better than we'd imagined.
We started after doing Meadow Creek, and we were in a great mood. Our plan was to do Blair Mountain to the trailhead at Adams Lake, and then head back in to do Crater Lake on the way out. Everything seems to take longer than we think it will, so we had to save Crater Lake for another day. It was still awesome.
The western end of the trail is bumpy and we couldn't get going with any speed, but there were interesting rocks all over the place that sparked conversation. The sun was shining, and everything was gorgeous.
We turned after Cow Lake and then it got bumpier. But then we found the ledges and 4-wheel drive was finally needed on the tougher lines. It was a good time.
At the overlook, we headed north expecting amazing views. But it was so much better than we'd hoped. We went all the way to the end first, and we were there for a while. Where we were parked was beautiful, even if you didn't look over the side. But when you looked off the edge you were treated to a deep valley with a few, small lakes, long stretches for miles, and rolling hills in the distance. We couldn't get enough, and we stayed there for a long time.
Then we went down to the next overlook where there was a weird, metal sculpture. There, in the middle of nowhere. That was pretty cool. There was a narrow stick of rock that went out into the air, and Matt ran back and forth across it like a crazy person. He's always been the adventurous one. We stayed there for a while, too.
But we knew what was coming, so we headed south on the main trail. The trip down the slick, rocky hill was a blast, and it was distracting to go down it with such amazing views of the plateau below us. We passed the end of Clinetop Mesa where we'd been before, and then ended at our intersection with Adams Lake.
We thought we would turn around and head back up, but Walt and Chad talked for a while about heading east and out Coffee Pot Road. Chad hadn't seen that trail and that area before, and Walt thought it would be less bumpy. So, we split up there and Mike and Matt headed back up the trail.
Chad and Walt took the longer, southern half of Adams Lake and out to Coffee Pot Road. They saw rain and slick conditions on the obstacle on that half, and it turned out to be a rougher, longer route. Still, they had a good time on Coffee Pot Road and they were the only ones to make the trek all the way through the Flat Tops.
Matt and Mike had a blast going up the big hill, of course, and it was a rocky climb. We were with some other trucks on their way up, but they hadn't seen the scenery yet so we left them behind at the ridge. Then we headed out Meadow Creek and Buford Road to Little Box Canyon and out.
We all found each other at Rifle Falls State Park in the campground, and there wasn't much time between our arrivals. Everyone had a great day.
