Storm King Memorial Trail
Host | 1 December 2006
Storm King Memorial Trail is a moderately hard trail which is steep and/or rocky in many places. It is about a mile long. The trail is in memory of the 14 firefighters who died on Storm King Mountain. There are numerous plaques and monuments which gives the hike additional historic interest. Many firefighters visit this spot - check out the stickers on the sign in box.
The trail was left rugged and steep as it was for the firefighters. An observation point was established one mile up from the trail giving the complete view of the fire area. From this point, a more primitive trail continues up another 3/4 of a mile to the point where the firefighters perished. The path is very similar to the ones the firefighter tood only they carried heave packs and equipment on their backs.
(8 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
Loading …To Get to Trailhead, take Canyon Creek Exit (two short exits from West Glenwood, Exit 108) and then follow Frontage road East to its end.
History:
On July 6th, 1994, 14 firefighters perished as a wall of flames swept over them in a matter of seconds. Trapped by steep slopes and dense vegetation, they gavea their lives in the line of duty on Storm King Mountain about five miles wets of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Kathi Beck, 24
Tamera Bicket, 25
Scott Blecha, 27
Levi Brinkley, 22
Robert Browning Jr, 27
Douglas Dunbar, 22
Terri Hagan, 28
Bonnie Holtby, 21
Rob Johnson, 26
Jon Kelso, 27
Don Mackey, 34
Roger roth, 30
Jim Thrash, 44
Richard Tyler, 33
June 1st, 2008 at 8:16 am
WOW, it was a challenge!!! It is very emotional up there! A firefighter of 20 years, I had to see for myself what my brothers and sisters went throught on that day. This hike a steep and emotionally draining! Not for the meek. But I guess that is why firefighters do what we do. Take water! and take kleenex… Just remember when you feel the breeze up there to cool you off, you think of it as your friend. That day that breeze/wind was their enemy. THIS HIKE IS WORTH THE SWEAT AND TEARS… don’t slip, their blood has already been shed there.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I hiked this trail to Helispot 2 on June 22, 2008.
Having fought fire across Canada and some western states, this ground humbled me. It was steep, hot, dry and consisting of a fuel type that is completely unfamiliar to me.
My first thoughts were why would they attack the fire and try to save this piece of ground. But that is what we do. We go to a place on a map, evaluate the situation and come up with a plan.
While I stood by the memento-draped snags and looked down upon I-70, the phrase “So close, yet so far away” was never more appropriate.
On July 6, 1994, much was lost here. Since then we have tried to learn from our mistakes so that this never happens again.
This trail is not just a memorial to fallen comrades; it is a classroom for all wildland fire-fighters.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Two uncles and two cousins of mine are volunteer fire fighters in Lawrence, Indiana, therefore the trip to Strom King Mountain was especially meaningful to me. Since the fire, I have visited the memerial in Glenwood Springs four or five times traveling west on I-70 but have never taken the trail up the mountain to the observation point to get a first hand look at just what it was the fire fighters were up against. I am 73 years old and in fairly good shape and the journey was not easy. I hiked with a friend who was in better physical shape than I.At the observation point, we got a chance to see the west face of Storm King, where 14 brave men and women died. I plan to continue the journey and eventually get to that spot where the Hotshots fell. There are so many very important reasons for me to do so.