![]() When you return to the main trail down, take the side trail 0.3 of a mile to the second memorial site. Among the mementos left at Brinkley's cross was a pair of skis.Īt the very bottom of these memorials is a moving poem on a plaque (read it below). ![]() A few more steps this way and you'll find six more crosses honoring Tami Bickett, Levi Brinkley, Jon Kelso, Rob Johnson, Bonnie Holtby and Don Mackey. Some were right next to each other when the fire swept over them, taking their lives. Friends, family and even strangers have left binoculars, necklaces, a signal mirror, hats and other items.Ĭontinue hiking down the steep trail to the place where five more lost their lives: Jim Thrash, Kathi Beck, Terri Hagan, Doug Dunbar and Roger Roth. ![]() The high trail goes to an overlook, the low trail drops to the spots where the 12 smoke jumpers and hot shot firefighters were killed.įirst, you'll come to the memorial of Scott Blecha, 27. There are also other items like caps, sunglasses, baseballs, gloves and scarves. There, you’ll see trees covered in T-shirts, many from firefighters who’ve made the hike to remember those who died that day. But imagine making the climb with no stairs and carrying 30 to 60 pounds of gear during the hot summer months of July.Īt the top of the rise, you’ll want to turn right where you’ll find an unmarked trail split. There are stairs to help visitors in making the climb. The trail is still as rugged and steep today as it was for the firefighters that day. The trail is quite steep at times, climbing about 700 vertical feet in one mile. The hike starts with a 1-mile trek to the observation point. At the trailhead, hikers will find several signs explaining what went wrong on Jand the stories of the people who lost their lives that day. The trail starts near Interstate 70 about five miles west of Glenwood Springs. The Storm King Firefighters Memorial and how to get there They also tried to outrun the fire and were overcome.Ī trail was built on Storm King Mountain as a tribute to the 14 firefighters that perished that day. Two more firefighters were 0.3 miles away working at a helispot. Two minutes later, the fire reached the ridgeline and overtook 12 of the men and women fighting the blaze. Within the existing burn area, and moving across steep areas on the west flank of the fire beneath the firefighters. On July 6, 1994, about 50 firefighters were battling the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain when suddenly the winds shifted, creating 100-foot flame lengths – Saturday will mark 25 years since 14 wildland firefighters from Oregon died battling a Colorado wildfire on Storm King Mountain near Glenwood Springs. ![]()
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