While I had already reached Grand Junction, it was too hot to go to the storage unit so I picked up my mail, had lunch at Kannah Creek and headed up to the nice cool Mesa!  Grand Mesa is an oasis when the valley is too hot.

  

First a trek through the forest - spruce and fir mostly.

 

Then on the lava flows.  Lots of lichen around and yet the trees somehow seem to still grow!

 

The views are simply amazing - this one to the north.  Notice two of the 250 or so lakes!

 

Here is a view of part of the crest (ridge) trail!  Quite a drop on either side!!

 

And above a view of the other side - Cedaredge is the town below Grand Mesa.  One of my most favorite hiking treks, the 6.5 miles (if you put a car at either end) is a wonderful hike!