Today it’s up onto the Mesa.  We start out early hoping to optimize wildlife sighting and to avoid the thunderstorms forecast nearly every afternoon. Once on top of the mesa we drive out to Observation Point.  A mostly well-maintained gravel road crosses through mixed forest and open meadows. Wildflowers are spectacular with predominant colors changing area by area based on moisture, shade, wind and I don’t know what else.  Wild life viewing continues to be disappointing.  We see cattle, they have grazed livestock here for decades, and very tame chipmunks at the observation point.  Below us from the point we look out across a wide arid valley sided by basalt capped cliffs and eroded slopes painted muted rust and tan.  Smooth mounds are scattered on the valley floor, oddly placed and shaped.  All this the product of eons of erosion as the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers come together here.  Now, man has made our own mark as the city of Grand Junction and local agriculture with its associated irrigation have created a sprawling green-grey oasis.  I wonder what it looked like when only the ribbons of green of the two rivers traced along the valley floor?  Heading back from the point we hike the Raber Cow Cabins trail thigh high through the flowering meadows and among cabins dating from early ranching days.  I could look at this view every morning.

Back in the lake section we walk the banks of Mesa Lake.  It is lovely, mostly shaded and cool.  We had been warned about mosquitoes and we find them on this trail.   Even with plenty of repellant they find us if we dally too long or disturb the brush.  Fishing is a big thing up here and we see quite a few rainbow trout in the clear lake.