Me at the "summit" (read:...

Me at the "summit" (read: imperceptible high-point on a very large table) of Black Mesa. Not knowing there was a "new" trail because I have an older edition of Holmes' book, I took the old cross-country route from the ranchland ESE of the high point. This proved to be about 4 miles shorter roundtrip and maybe even more interesting than the new trail. I had to be aware of the cows in the field I crossed then keep my eyes and ears pegged for slithery things that might be lurking in the long grass and the rocks below the mesa escarpment. There's a convenient pile of rocks about 20 feet from the monument that can be used to prop a camera for a timer shot. Upon leaving Black Mesa by driving around its east end, I came upon the new trailhead. Too late the hero. July 2003.