Walking to HPs

My computer ate this message--twice. GRRRR.... Here's a THIRD
try.

While I don't go as far as Mark's climbing half the "prominence",
I do make a point of walking a reasonable distance even to easy
high points. I parked at the grid (cattle guard) then walked to
Kansas' "Mt." Sunflower, then on down the hill to a fence I think
is the Colorado border, and back up. Despite signs warning of "No
Hikers, Bison on Property" (saw none), I walked ~a mile from the
tri-state point to Nebraska's Panorama Point, though I had to get
under a fence as there was no gate. A red ant stung me in a
sensitive place, sitting on the monument eating lunch; the signs
should warn of ants too! In Iowa, I had to settle for walking
from the road across the Sterler's farm to the HP; but I also
climbed Ochedeyan Mound nearby.

For an upcoming "Ozark Safari" (centered on an exhibit on the
Titanic at the St. Louis Science Center), some queries turned up
reasonably challenging hikes to Taum Sauk and Magazine Mts.,
which many apparently drive up. For Taum Sauk, if you start from
the Claybaugh Creek T.H. on Rt. 21 just S. of Hwy. CC, it's an
alleged 6 miles w/a 1250' el. gain to the top. This avoids the
recent accident with that pumped-storage facility.

For Magazine, the Greenfield Trail links the Visitor's Center to
the Mossback Ridge Tr. to Signal Hill, for a total of 7 mi. RT I
think. For Driskill, about the best one can do is to walk a mile
up the road from the church, I'm told.

I hope these trails will provide more than a modicum of exercise
without Colorado's anoxia, and give me a nice sample of the
Ozarks in spring, next month. Roger Williams (16, + many abroad),
Boulder, Colo.