The Lizard Head Trail

My final hike into the Lizard Head Wilderness, looped around the front of Blackface Mountain, around the back of the mountain and onto its top.  The hike started in the sunshine, but it became increasingly overcast during the day.  On top of the mountain, there were clear views of Lizard Head Mountain with its towering volcanic pinnacle and of several high peaks and fourteeners of the San Miguel Range.  There were also views to the north, back to the Sneffels range. The trail crossed the ridge line of the mountain top, dropped into a basin and then climbed to a high point just below the Lizard Head summit.   The mountain side below the Lizard Head pinnacle is black, reflecting its volcanic origin. I returned through the wilderness area on the peaceful Cross Mountain Trail. The final segment back to the trail head was on a relatively level old railroad grade.  On the grade, I walked through a herd of several hundred sheep with the shepherd and his dog down below.