Walsen Crag

Walsen Crag from the top of North Harrison Avenue in Walsenburg, with Mount Mestas dominating the background. 

The Walsen Crag (elevation 6,709 feet) is a prominent summit on the Walsen Dike that runs roughly from southwest to northeast on the north side of Walsenburg. I've heard folks refer to the dike as "the hogback." However, it's not a hogback in the true geological sense of the term — it's a magmatic dike.

The crag as seen from County Road 599, near the Walsenburg Golf Course. 

One of the neat things about the Walsen Crag is that it lets travelers know they are approaching Walsenburg. If you live in the town, you know, as you head east on Highway 160 from La Veta pass, that you are getting close to home when you can see the crag appear in the distance.

The crag is the location of KSPK's transmitter and antenna, and it's a good choice, for the crag is one of the highest points for miles around. It's also the location of a translator, or repeater radio station, for KRCC, the NPR affiliate in Colorado Springs. Here it's called K231BR, and its frequency is 94.1. I imagine there are other transmitters and stations there as well.

The crag from the north, that is, from County Road 590 in the community the government calls Pictou.

The north side of the crag is more heavily forested than the south side, and the slope is steeper as well. It seems that Walsen Crag functions as a sort of lighthouse for Walsenburg, for it alerts you that you're close to home and it guides you in.