Flag Day 2019: One Mesa County Flag You Should Visit
Today (June 14) is Flag Day. There is one flag in Western Colorado you should see for yourself. There is a catch, though. Seeing this flag will require a little work on your behalf.
If you're really lucky, you can catch a glimpse of this flag from I-70. This is assuming, of course, you aren't the one driving. If you are, please keep your eyes on the road.
This flag is just a few feat east of the summit of Mt. Garfield. This particular flag pole has been there a little over two years. A group of determined individuals took on the task of raising a new flag (and pole) at the top of Mt. Garfield over the Memorial Day weekend back in 2017.
On average, a flag at this site has a lifespan of two months at best. Wind on Mt. Garfield is strong and constant. Even a high quality material won't last much longer than two months.
I shot the video about a year ago at roughly 9:30 in the morning. My foot is right on the edge of the rim of the mountain. One inch to the right and it's Whooosh, right off the side of the mountain. As you can see by the direction the flag is waving, wind that morning was blowing south. I was struggling to keep my footing. This, more than anything, is why the video is so short. It seemed wise to get some quick video and then get away from the edge.
There are, of course, thousands of American flags around the valley. This one, though, is one of my favorites. It's well worth the hike.