Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout Tower Traditional Geocache
Greasepot: Sorry to see this one gone. It had a great run! Now there's one less ammo can out there to find.
Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout Tower
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Gorgeous views of Mt Evans, Longs, Pikes, Greys and Torreys. The
road is gated about 1/2 mile before the tower. Drive, walk,
snowshoe, ski
AGENCY/OWNER: Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests DATE STRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTED: The Civilian Conservation Corp constructed the present
USFS Lookout in 1940. The original 16’ X 10’ house was constructed
in 1925 by the city and county of Denver. DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE:
L-4 Gable roof, Native stone base with living quarters. Modified
roof after 1969 Windstorm. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The original
16’ X 10’ lookout was constructed in 1925 at a cost of $731.98 by
the city and county of Denver. A garage was constructed at the end
of the road, also in 1925, at a cost of $408.30. A toilet and
cistern was also constructed. This site was then administered by
the Pike National Forest and transferred to the Arapaho National
Forest on January 1, 1937. The lookout was replaced by the USFS due
to lack of “seen area” for the national forest. The new lookout was
placed higher in elevation by 50 feet, and increased the view by at
least 25%, which covered the Berthoud Pass area of the forest. The
present lookout was constructed in 1940 by the Forest Service at a
cost of $4,472.62. Construction was primarily by Civilian
Conservation Corp (CCC) labor. An electrical line was completed to
the site in 1950 and the lookout was equipped with an electric
refrigerator. A range was added in 1951. The original lookout was
destroyed by a severe windstorm on January 7, 1969 and subsequently
rebuilt. The original gable roof was replaced with a slanted roof
to endure wind and snow loads. 16 individuals or couples occupied
the lookout from June 1941 until January 1969. In 1960 Bob and
Margaret Swanlund began to live in their stone house year around at
the saddle of the mountain. Construction of the house took more
than 16 years. Bob was an Amateur radio operator (W0WYX) and
conducted radio experiments and provided radio communications for
surrounding counties and municipalities. It was the highest
elevation staffed radio station in the nation for many years. The
rock house is now referred to as the “house of radios” as it is
currently a communications hub for government, private and amateur
radio applications. The lookout is potentially eligible for the
Register of Historic Places. Site 5CC194. Status not
confirmed
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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