Saturday, November 01, 2014

Devil's Head Fire Tower 11-1-14

This is a short hike (4 miles roundtrip from the road - the campground is closed for the season)  (runtotal 160 miles) with about 1200 feet or so elevation gain.  It was really quiet on the way up but on our way down we ran into dozens of hikers including many with small children.  At the top, it was very windy, and therefore quite cold - needed to get my extra-layer jacket out of my bag and wear it and then I felt much better.  The metal railings on the stairs were ice cold to the touch.  I did this hike once many years ago and found it to be easier than I remembered.  If the ranger had been in, I recall that they handed out cards to the kids (and adults, if you wanted one) admitting you into the Ancient Honorable Order of the Squirrel for making it to the top - and you could buy a souvenir t-shirt, too. Good views all around of Denver, Pikes Peak, the old Hayman burn area, etc.  Please check out the audio files at everytrail.com http://www.everytrail.com/guide/devils-head-fire-lookout  that give the history of Devil's Head, tell you about the Ranger, and the Fire Lookout.

cool roots

there were several funny graffiti comments along the trail



no, it didn't!

the fire tower, as seen from down by the ranger's cabin


the stairs


Pikes Peak, but if you go left from the main peak, you can actually see Almagre, then Mt. Rosa and Cheyenne Mountain, too.

Pikes Peak

downtown Denver on long zoom









ranger's cabin



Clark's Nutcracker


Mountain Chickadee

love the name - I bet there's an interesting story to it, but I didn't find it. This is a trailhead on the Rampart Range Rd.  for motorcycle/ATV use.



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