Maclean 2009, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Jul 10, 2019 the territory i cover, colorado s western slope, is a big slice of the map. In 1994, a wildfire on colorados storm king mountain was wrongly identified at. The trail started as the best approach to the tragic spot by grieving family members of the lost firefighters and a local community in shock. The true story of the south canyon fire 9780061829611 by maclean, john n. Jul 06, 2019 the book builds on the piece about the fire that mr. The storm king mountain trail is a memorial to the 14 firefighters who died defending the homes and property of people they didnt even know. Storm king mountain memorial trail colorado alltrails.
The territory i cover, colorados western slope, is a big slice of the map. Storm king memorial trail near glenwood springs, colorado. Fire on the mountain is an investigation of the 1994 fire on storm king mountain in colorado that killed 14 firefighters. I have identified twin thumbs on the storm king peak quadrangle as two separate summits. It was the subject of john macleans book fire on the mountain. Colorados thirteeners from hikes to climbs by gerry.
Sep 18, 2017 the storm king mountain memorial trail is one of many memorials to those who lost their lives battling the south canyon fire. Its purpose is to honor our living and our dead, to help us understand what happened there, and to allow us to reflect on the lessons we have learned so we can prevent future tragedies. With a reporter s objectivity and brisk prose, maclean describes a series of small blunders in fire management that led to tragedy in july 1994 in western colorado when a thunderstorm on storm king mountain, mislabeled by a dispatcher as south canyon, killed 14 firefighters. And was the forest service justified in blaming the four firefighters for their own deaths. South canyon blaze changed how wildfires are fought. The latest news and updates in storm king mountain brought to you by the team at fox31 denver. South canyon blaze changed how wildfires are fought the. Winner of the mountains and plains bestsellers association s best nonfiction book of 1999 award.
Caused by a lightning strike on july 2, the wildfire seemed manageable until july 6, when a shift in the wind cau. The misnamed south canyon fire on storm king mountain slowly progressed from a nothing fire, to a blowup that killed 14 young men and women. Storm king mountain is a mountain in the white river national forest of the rocky mountains, 5 miles 8. It is often also referred to as the storm king fire. Storm king mountain is a mountain in the white river national forest of the rocky mountains, 5 miles northwest of glenwood springs, colorado, in northeastern garfield county. Mark eddy is a former denver post staff writer who helped cover the storm king fire in 1994.
A very insightful and profound narrative of firefighters, the book gave me a good overview of the most famous wildland fire of the late 20th century. Oct 28, 2016 maclean is well known for his first book, fire on the mountain, about the deadly south canyon fire on storm king mountain in garfield county, colorado, in 1994. It is on the north side of the colorado river and interstate 70, between glenwood springs and new castle. Storm king peak weminuche wilderness, colorado mountain.
Storm king mountain article about storm king mountain by. Courage and shock still resonate 25 years after deadly storm king. The steep slopes of colorados storm king mountain were a contributing. Why hadnt the lessons of storm king mountain prevented this tragedy. While grand junction is my cozy home base, im out exploring and reporting. The book describes the events and aftermath of the south canyon fire on storm king mountain on july 6, 1994 in colorado, which took the lives of 14 firefighters. Today i hunted mule deer on storm king mountain near glenwood springs, colorado. Maclean is well known for his first book, fire on the mountain, about the deadly south canyon fire on storm king mountain in garfield county, colorado, in.
Deaths in arizona stir memories of colorados storm king mountain. Why had an arm of the fire split off at the last moment and turned on the firefighters in such a bizarre and fatal fashion. Deaths in arizona stir memories of colorados storm king. Mountain photography and fine art prints by jack brauer. The memorial trail up storm king mountain is rough, rocky and mountaingoat steep. In 1994, a wildfire on colorado s storm king mountain was wrongly identified at the outset as occurring in south canyon. A ski lift at the copper mountain ski resort is named after the mountain. Dec 08, 2009 the book describes the events and aftermath of the south canyon fire on storm king mountain on july 6, 1994 in colorado, which took the lives of 14 firefighters. In 1994, 14 firefighters battling a blaze on colorado s storm king mountain met the same fate, and an official inquiry determined that the victims were responsible for their deaths. Saturday, july 6 is the 25 year anniversary of the south canyon fire which took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters. Wilderness press best summit hikes in colorado 2nd edition. The parent for cooper creek peak is every mountain not point,832.
The guest book container is covered with fire agency stickers from across the western united state at the trail head of the storm king trail. Climbing hard in the false dawn from the river below, i soon found myself enveloped in a gray, somber day, with light rain, low clouds, and misty vapors all around. All teller reads 2020 features fire on the mountain and. Whether youre looking for the best trails in great sand dunes national park and preserve or around colorado springs. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from april until november. As wildfires go, the south canyon fire on colorado s storm king mountain started out in unspectacular fashion. Climbing in colorado s wet mountain by ben bruestle, sharp end publishing, 2003. On july 2, 1994, lightning sparked a fire near the base of storm king mountain, 7 miles 11 km west of glenwood springs, colorado. In this narrative, he looks into a fire that began, innocently enough, on the side of southwestern colorados storm king mountain on the morning of july 3, 1994. The true story of the south canyon fire from publishers weekly. It includes some of the most famous peaks longs, some of the toughest storm king, and some of the most remote lone cone. The south canyon fire was a 1994 wildfire that took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters on storm king mountain, near glenwood springs, colorado, on july 6, 1994. The parent for peak thirteen is animas mountain not monitor peak.
The book builds on the piece about the fire that mr. Families honor the 25th anniversary of the deadly fire on storm. Other fires were burning that day along the colorado river, brought on by a series of lightning storms, and this one went ignored for a time and more dangerously, was mislocated, a dispatcher having placed it on a nearby mountain. See more ideas about storm king, storm king mountain and storm king art center. More recent tragedies include the 1990 arizona dude fire, which took the lives of six firefighters, and colorados 1994 storm king mountain blaze, in which 14 firefighters died. Ive never been to storm king mountain, but after reading this truly exceptional book, i plan to go.
By the time the storm had spent itself and rolled off storm king mountain, it had ignited fifteen fires in the grand junction district of the bureau of land management, which includes storm king and a surrounding area of 1. The wet mountains, a hidden gem of southern colorado climbing, boast steep sport granite, multipitch adventure climbs, ice and historic sandstone bouldering. Following in his father s footsteps, john maclean has become the preeminent writer to document wildland fire fatalities. As wildfires go, the south canyon fire on colorados storm king mountain started out in unspectacular fashion. Well choose three books a year and invite our radio and digital audience to read with us. Firefighters at the 1994 south canyon fire in colorado and at this year s yarnell hill fire in arizona faced rugged terrain. Storm king peak lies in the eastern arm of the grenadier range and within weminuche wilderness area weminuche wilderness is the largest wilderness in colorado. Lightning cracked across colorados skies on july 3, 1994. Dec 31, 2019 fire on the mountain is an investigation of the 1994 fire on storm king mountain in colorado that killed 14 firefighters.
Initially small and well away from private property, the fire was assigned low priority and allowed to smolder for the first two days. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Maclean is well known for his first book, fire on the mountain, about the deadly south canyon fire on storm king mountain in garfield county, colorado, in 1994. Endowed with an abundance of sunshine, a long list of cultural attractions and an even longer list of outdoor recreational opportunities within easy reach, it s no wonder denver, colorado s mile high city draws such a following. A thin plume of smoke soon rose from storm king mountain in the white river. Each of them left their homes, families, and friends to help extinguish a fire caused by a lightning strike in the mountains surrounding glenwood springs, colorado. The guest book at the storm king memorial trail head is filled with notes from family and other hikers one day before the 25 year anniversary of the south canyon fire which took the lives of 14. The storm king mountain memorial trail is a memorial to those who lost their lives while battling the south canyon fire and a tribute to firefighters everywhere. Most climbers and backcountry travelers overlook this mountain, in favor of the more accessible and dramatic ascents that can be made from vestal basin.
First, the south canyon fire which actually occurred on storm king mountain shared a similar topography and course as the mann gulch fire. It was the subject of john maclean s book fire on the mountain. Ap the riflegarfield county airport has won a statewide race to land a new research center to find the best ways to fight wildfires from the air, with researchers hoping to find new ways to fight a fire like the one in 1994 that left 14 firefighters dead on storm king mountain. An observer reported a small smoke plume curling into the sky. Located in the remote heart of the weminuche wilderness colorado s largest wilderness area, these seldomvisited peaks are some of the most rugged mountains in colorado. On july 6, 1994, 14 firefighters died while fighting the south canyon fire on storm king mountain in colorado. If you have read this book and want to share your views send us an email with your full name, dayevening phone numbers, book title and comments. Drainage basins are labeled a through g and are delineated by thin solid lines. Wildfirerelated debrisflow initiation processes, storm king. These firefighters were the best of the best hot shots and smoke jumpers. Maclean s son john, a journalist, was immediately suspicious of this finding, and he quit his job of thirty years to investigate the incident. Firefighters at the 1994 south canyon fire in colorado and at this years yarnell hill fire in arizona faced rugged terrain. Most climbers and backcountry travelers overlook this mountain, in favor of the more.