Today, July 6, is the 25th anniversary of the fatalities on the South Canyon Fire near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. In 1994, 14 firefighters were overrun by the fire on Storm King Mountain.
A trail leads to the spots where each of them were found. Granite markers, 14 of them, have the firefighters’ names and their years of birth — and death.
People who complete the strenuous hike to the 14 sites often leave something that to them, and perhaps to the deceased, had a special meaning.
During several trips to the mountain over the last couple of years Barry Stevenson of Outside Adventure Media shot video of the memorial sites. There is no narration or musical sound track. You will hear only the sounds of nature — birds, insects, and an occasional breeze.
The Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail honors the 14 hotshots, smoke jumpers, and helitack personnel who perished in the fire:
Kathi Beck, Tami Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Robert Browning, Doug Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso, Don Mackey, Roger Roth, Jim Thrash, and Richard Tyler.
For more information about the South Canyon Fire visit southcanyonfire.com.
Hallowed Ground. Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail from Outside Adventure Media.
In the next video you will see the fire from the perspective of 11 firefighters that were there that day.
To learn more about the South Canyon Fire:
- Lessons learned from the tragedy.
- The 20-year commemoration of the fire.
- Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire
Outstanding work! Thanks to all of the survivors that shared their thoughts and memories of this tragedy.
I agree with Terry. The hike is well worth it.
Well done, thank-you. For those that have not yet done the hike…it is well worth the time and energy.
I thought that was an outstanding video.