Small Town News

Highest Peak in Kansas Is Flat

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Now, That's Rural

What are the high points of Kansas? This week we'll learn about the very highest point in our state, topographically speaking. This is a spot which has been dubbed (with tongue in cheek) Mount Sunflower, because it has the highest elevation in Kansas. So put on your mountain climbing gear, this is this week's Kansas Profile.

Ed Harold owns the Harold Ranch, which includes the private property where Mount Sunflower is found in western Wallace County -- four tiers of counties north and four tiers west of Comanche County. Recently, we've learned about other attractions in Wallace County, but this week we ascend to the summit.

Ed explains that his grandfather homesteaded here in 1906, north of the town of Weskan. Ed's father served as the postmaster of Weskan for 28 years, and his mother served for 12 years after that. Ed is now a teacher in the Weskan school. He and his wife moved out to the ranch in 1975.

"When I was a kid," Ed said, "several places in Wallace and Sherman counties claimed to be the highest point in the state. So in 1961, the state geological survey set out to finalize it once and for all." A couple of surveyors studied the topographic maps, evaluated all the competing sites, went to the locations and ascertained the spot with the highest elevation. They put in a pipe to mark the spot.

It happened to be the Kansas centennial year, and someone dubbed this location Mount Sunflower in honor of the state. The site is 4,039 feet above sea level.

Ed's grandfather and uncle built a fence around the pipe to protect it from grazing cattle and improved the site through the years. A gravel access road was built. Local organizations built a shelter, the Wallace County PRIDE group helped with signs, and people donated cattle guards so visitors wouldn't have to pass open and close gates to reach the site.

Ed and his family have a lot of fun with the Mount Sunflower theme, because this is not exactly part of the Himalayan mountain range.

As one writer put it, "Some people would describe Mount Sunflower as a barely noticeable rise in the middle of a field....but they would lack vision."

In other words, one doesn't exactly need an oxygen pack to ascend to this particular summit, but that doesn't change the fact that it is still the highest point in the state. Ed and his family handle all this with good humor.

"Sorry we can't take your call right now. We're out climbing Mount Sunflower," his answering machine message informs callers.

A notice at the site invites visitors to stop by the ranch house to share "about your trials and tribulations to the lofty summit. Local guides are also available at the homestead for an outrageous fee."

In 1998, a group of hikers (including a three-year-old grandson) visited this site and wrote a parody of a popular book about climbing Mount Everest called "Into Thin Air." These hikers called their account of climbing Mount Sunflower "Into Thick Air." Their tongue-in-cheek account describes the harrowing trek up the North Face of the mountainside, the dangerous Fencepost Traverse, and the exhilaration of reaching the top. Somehow, the background in the pictures looks rather flat.

This is all part of the fun of Mount Sunflower. Recent guest books from the site list visitors from all over, including such places as Sweden, Slovokia, England, and Australia.

CBS newsman Charles Kuralt even visited here. Another recent visitor was from a television station in London.

"My uncle, especially, took care of this place," Harold said. "We're carrying on the family tradition."

The site is certainly in a rural location. It's about 14 miles by gravel road north of the town of Weskan, which has a population of approximately 200 people. Now, that's rural.

What are the high points of Kansas? There are many, but the highest point of all is found in Wallace County.

We commend Ed Harold and his family and all those involved with Mount Sunflower for making a difference by preserving and promoting this unique part of our history and topography.

It's great having friends in high places.



Copyright 2009 The Western Star, Coldwater, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Western Star Coldwater, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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