Carter County High Point Trip Report
West Butte (4,450 ft) and one small area 500 feet east (4,440+ ft)
Date: October 24, 2001
Author: Michael Schwartz
From Boyes on US 212, go 8.1 miles south to fork, with homemade sign for Ridge. I worked my way to
Ridge in snow squalls, poor visibility, on extremely slippery mud, and went right by West Butte to the west,
without realizing it. At Ridge, population 2, the road network became clear, and I took the dirt road bearing
north toward the hill with antennas on top. Go 2.9 miles to a side road right(east) signed West Butte Ranch
- Dick Dinstell. The ranch is not in sight, and I never did spot the ranch or anyone associated with it.
Go 0.7 mile where the track road shown on the topo climbs the butte to the left.
It is a short, steep hike to the flat summit. Look for the BM about 50 yards before the towers, on the right
side of the road, near a wooden post. The area to the east is an easy walk, and seemed lower to me.
It is unposted.
From Ridge it's 4.6 miles west to CR 544, then another 13.1 miles west to MT 59, on much better roads
than from the north. At the junction with CR 544, the road back to Ridge is signed eastbound for Alzada,
some 38 miles east on US 212.