KSJohn Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 While on vacation this year, I wanted to try and climb this hill to find this benchmark. JL0707 "Hill" Have been going to this area for 40+ years for summer vacation. Have always wondered about the building on top. Finally got brave enough to try the climb this year. Where you park to start the climb is at 12,300' and from there to the building is 1/2 mile (as the crow flies). Was a great day, a little hazy. Got to the top and could see for miles. Could see the town of Pitkin to the south, the town of Tincup to the north and Taylor Res. and Union Park further to the north. What I thought was haze was actually smoke from a fire on the UT-CO border so all distant pictures are really hard to make out. For a bit of history, the building was built in 1910 under the direction of William Kreutzer who is noted as being the very first Forest Ranger. The building was used as a fire lookout station until 1914. Seems the building was known for attracting lightning strikes and finding workers to stay up there was next to impossible. The building is still in good shape except for some holes (said to be from lightning). Quote Link to comment
+TrailGators Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 While on vacation this year, I wanted to try and climb this hill to find this benchmark. JL0707 "Hill" Have been going to this area for 40+ years for summer vacation. Have always wondered about the building on top. Finally got brave enough to try the climb this year. Where you park to start the climb is at 12,300' and from there to the building is 1/2 mile (as the crow flies). Was a great day, a little hazy. Got to the top and could see for miles. Could see the town of Pitkin to the south, the town of Tincup to the north and Taylor Res. and Union Park further to the north. What I thought was haze was actually smoke from a fire on the UT-CO border so all distant pictures are really hard to make out. For a bit of history, the building was built in 1910 under the direction of William Kreutzer who is noted as being the very first Forest Ranger. The building was used as a fire lookout station until 1914. Seems the building was known for attracting lightning strikes and finding workers to stay up there was next to impossible. The building is still in good shape except for some holes (said to be from lightning). That is a very cool spot! The benchmark or cache is what gets you to places like that so you can log your adventure. That IS what it's all about to me. Quote Link to comment
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