I was on a long-day's journey atop the Llano Estacado in Eastern New Mexico visiting the miserably easy county highpoints of Harding, Curry and Quay County (most recently). Curry and Quay Counties sit atop this flat featureless plain, and their highpoints were easy affairs, mostly walking amid flat ground and trusting the mapmakers surveyed carefully. The eye can play tricks otherwise - everything looks higher farther away. From the Quay County highpoint I worked my way southerly toward Roosevelt County, and its easy highpoint. It was probably about 3ish in the afternoon with steady clear weather, and pleasant temperatures.

I worked my way south to the Village of House, one of New Mexico's least populated incorporated municipalities (about 50 people). House is an apt name because it seemed be just that. Maybe a few more than one. From House I followed highway NM-89 south three miles to a dirt road on my right, marked Quay County Road-91. Actually this road is right on the Quay-Roosevelt County Line. I went west 2.7 miles to a windmill, which accroding to the map would place me right near the northeasternmost corner of Roosevelt County. Surprisingly, the state thought it wise to put a county line sign here (see photo). This, then, is the highpoint, or close to it. The map shows a 4,780-foot contour that wanders through northeast Roosevelt County, with a 4,782-foot spot elevation south in the brush a few hundred feet. I parked and walked to the fence line, and lined myself up with the county line sign, then tried to view the area. Total flatness. I scampered past the fence and walked south for maybe three minutes. Nothing looked high, and there were no mounds or anything. The surface here is limestone, which erodes very flat. I couldn't tell which, if any point, was highest. I called it good after maybe five total minutes, and got moving. From here, I continued my travels with a vist to Loma Alta, the De Baca County highpoint.