Alpine Guard Station Update

After a long summer of hard work, it looks like the Alpine Guard station is ready for business! I just heard from Elizabeth that almost all of the work has been completed. That's excellent news because we were very concerned that it wouldn't get done before the snow started falling.

Since I've been blogging on a weekly basis all summer, you pretty much know what we did and how we did it on each of the three buildings. So for this blog I'm just going to show you some amazing before and after pictures. Some things will look exactly the same- but rest assured there was a lot of hard work to keep it that way! That's one frustration with preservation, sometimes the better your work is, the more it looks like nothing was done! You'll also see some significant changes too. But first lets start with this incredible picture from many years ago...


Seeing that photo made me quite inspired to work on these buildings. If we thought it was hard to get all those supplies up there via a work truck and trailer, I can't imagine how difficult it was via horse! Here's a picture of what this same building looked like when we arrived in June:


Looks like 100 years has taken it's toll on it. Now here's a picture of how it looks today:


Here's a before and after of the interior of this cabin:



Now here's a before and after of the main cabin. Doesn't the porch look awesome! (The porch was original to the building though it failed after only 2 or 3 years. We decided to add it back in a more structurally sound manner).




I think everything looks great, and I'm really proud of our team for getting so much accomplished. We put in some long hard days out there, but it was so worth it! Now if you want to spend a great vacation in the middle of pristine mountain landscapes, fantastic fly fishing and wonderful restored forest service cabins- you can rent this out!

I hope to get more opportunities like this in the future. This is why I decided to get into this field! Thanks to Elizabeth for sending me all the great photos. And here's a special one to leave you with...it really was amazing up there!

Tight Spaces and Precarious Places

Oh the things we'll do in the name of preservation.

I recently heard from my co-workers from the Alpine Guard Station that nearly everything was finished up in the last days of September. That's fantastic news as we began to have our doubts we'd get it finished this year.

Elizabeth sent me some photos from her last day and the results are just awesome. Stay tuned for a blog with those photos. In the meantime I was looking through my 'before' photos and realized that we really went the extra mile with this project. Well, at least lets say that I did some things I would never have done in 'normal' civilization.

For one, I lived among the rats, mice and chipmunks day in and out. (We all did for that matter). I know I might sound rather whiny here- I mean that's just how the natural world works. But I'm a product of this modern environment, and I've become quite used to rodent free home. Ugh, who wants these things around anyway:



Luckily that one was shot by Helaman. We also put out so much rat poison that I'm sure their numbers dwindled substantially.

Then there were the very odd and cumbersome spots in the cabin that were just dang hard to reach. Like the foundation for example. When we tore up the floors inside the cabin it was obvious that the foundation needed some work. The floor joists pretty much just rested on the dirt underneath. Well, then how do we get down there and fix it. Oh, this is how...




Don't ask me how I squeezed into that little hole. I didn't mind the tight space really, but it was kind of scary thinking about what was in that dirt that I couldn't see- there were holes and stuff down there...spooky. Nothing bit or grabbed me though so it all worked out.

The one that really takes the cake though was the day that Helaman installed our new vault toilet! Was that a glorious day or what. After three months of fertilizing the Rocky Mountain Wilderness we finally got a toilet! Mind it was only a vault, it's not like it flushed or anything but I sure didn't care.

First we dug an enormous pit for the vault, then laid it in, and poured concrete all around it. From here we built an outhouse on top of the concrete. Our very own bathroom. Helaman then installed the toilet. Unfortunately for me, he dropped a wrench down the hole when he was installing it. That's right, I was the lucky one that had to be lowered down into that scary dark dungeon. (Don't Worry- it had not been used yet!!) It was still freaky though. Just the thought of the fact that I was getting lowered into the toilet was weird. I must admit it was pretty hilarious though. Helaman's a tough dude. I grabbed onto his arms and he lowered me down- like he was setting down a book- dang.



It was awfully dark down there! I found his wrench though, and then he grabbed onto my hands and pulled me back up. We were laughing so hard at the insanity of the situation I almost didn't make it.



There are plenty of other examples, but these just happened to be the ones I caught pictures of. You know, photos to show the kids some day so they can be so proud of their mom!

What are these?? ...Anyone.... Anyone...

Now that it's October (my very favorite month!) I'm getting in as much outdoor activity as possible before the season changes to bitter cold. Unfortunately that doesn't equate to much activity- chemistry just takes up so much time! I was able to sneak in a quick bike ride this past weekend though.

Surprisingly, there aren't as many mountain biking trails in this area one might expect. I mean, we're in the heart of the Rocky Mountains here- the biggest outdoor playground in the country. Leadville also hosts the Leadville Trail 100 every year. You know, that little bike rice that's 100 miles over massive rocky mountain terrain. The one that Lance Armstrong occasionally makes an appearance at and blows away all the other riders. So yes, I'm a little bitter that there is not more single track terrain to play on, but I'll take what I can get. I drove my car out of Leadville towards Tennessee Pass- about 10 miles or so; directly across from the Ski Cooper ski area.

There are some trails around here that I've seen before, but I can't find any information on them. It's important to know what kind of trail you're getting on- is it for Beginners or Experts? Are there long climbs or descents? Is it technical with lots of rocks, roots and switchbacks? These are things I like to know before I start pedaling. In the case of Leadville however, sometimes you just gotta get on the trail because there's no other way to know.

This is exactly what I did on Sunday- I started on a trail just North of the Tennessee pass trail. Turns out this trail was part of both the Continental Divide Trail, and the Colorado Trail (goes from Durango to Denver). Ok so that sounds pretty cool. I started pedaling for a 1/2 mile or so, and then I came across an open field where I see this:


Woa! What is that I thought? I had to get off my bike and go investigate. This kind of looked like a falling down igloo, only made with rocks. The rocks were rudimentary stacks with sand in-between. It was used for fire of some sort. The entire inside was completely covered with soot. Then as I was wondering, I noticed that there were more, only they were mostly gone. There were about five in total- mostly just the ring at the base was left. Two were of this primitive stone, the others were made of brick. What was going on here?


My first thought was that these were some kind of shelter many years ago. But then that didn't make sense, why would they be here? And there was so much soot and ash covering the inside, maybe these were some kind of kilns? But then for what? Then I thought about the 10th Mountain Division. This was a division of the Army that trained in this area during WWII. They trained here in preparation for fighting in the Alps. (Stay tuned for an entire blog dedicated to this fascinating story.) So were these used by the soldiers? Some kind of training activity, or armory?



I attempted to find something online, but my search has proved futile thus far. I don't even know what to call these so how do I search for them? So, here's where I'm putting out the request to all you readers. I know that someone knows what these are. And I'm sure there is a very simple explanation that I'm overlooking. So dear reader, if you have any insight into these stone igloos- please solve the mystery and let us know what these are!

Cool East Coast Towns!

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit some family on the Delaware Coast. We got very lucky with 80 degree temperatures and luxuriously warm ocean water temperatures. It was a fantastic week of swimming, playing tennis, and of course, doing homework. But besides that- I got to see some great historic towns. What else do expect of the East Coast!

First up was Ocean City, Maryland. Ok, I know that this seems far from a 'historic' town, but it does have a great history. (If you've never been there, think kitschy boardwalk, over-priced amusement park rides, water slides and LOTS of miniature golf. You can see what I mean from the picture below.


Don't let that fool you though, Ocean City has kept some of it's historic feel, just not a lot. Here is a classic example of a town investing in the tourist trade at all costs for economic gain. And sometimes, that's just what towns have to do to survive.
I'll be the fist to admit that I take full advantage of such craziness. You gotta look closely at that second picture- I just love the severed head behind Jimmy and I!


In a way this is all right in line with it's history. The town started as resort town in the mid to late 1800's and it's simply evolved with the times.

Ok, so Ocean City is fun and all, but let's move on to a real historic town. We visited Easton, Maryland one warm day and explored it's historic downtown. Colonists permanently settled in Easton in 1695 and the town was formally established in 1725. (Sure puts these Colorado towns to shame!) Here's a fantastic brick home circa 1805:

Since the late 17th and 18th century iron has been the towns industry. Later came steel, the Morse automobile, cotton and thread mills, and my personal favorite, the location of the spring supplying the oldest carbonated beverage company in the country.

The town has done a great job of restoring its older homes. Here's a few of my favorites:



The other thing about Easton homes that I absolutely loved are the big porches on most of the homes. Porches were very important in the days pre-airconditioning. Summers can get very hot and very humid in Maryland. Folks couldn't just adjust their thermostat on scorching hot days 100 years ago. Today porches are an after-thought, if they're considered at all when building new homes. We've lost the art of sitting outside on a summer evening and conversing with our friends and neighbors. I think we need to add a 'porch' movement to the increasingly popular 'slow food' movement. If only Americans could learn how to slow down and relax- we might see the beauty in these grand home additions.




Unfortunately we only had time to stop here in Easton for a little while. It was quite a tease for me really. To think of the plethora of fantastic historic towns all up and down the east coast- there's so much to see! I guess I'll just have to go back again soon and do more 'research'!

Fall Semester!

Today is the official first day of Fall- my favorite season! Along with cooler temperatures and falling leaves, fall means the beginning of classes. If all goes well this semester I should complete all of my requisite classes for my Associates Degree by December, great news! I'm definitely ready to join the workforce again- I just hope my hunt for that great job doesn't last me too long.

First though, I need to focus on my remaining courses. I have some very interesting classes this semester, and so far I'm really enjoying it. Computer Aided Drafting is really cool. If you've never played with building houses on a computer before, you should check out this cool site: http://www.graphisoft.com/ We use Archicad technology and it's so cool to see your building come to life before your eyes!

I'm also taking Masonry. I love the hands on classes the best. Actually doing the physical work is great. As we've just started though, we haven't gotten that much time practicing with brick and mortar. What we have done however, I really like. There's such an art to masonry, and we've got a really talented teacher. Stay tuned for an entire blog dedicated to masonry.

I'm also taking Chemistry. That's right, chemistry. I thought I was so clever getting through high school and college without ever stepping foot into a chemistry class. I remember the constant cries of my fellow students trying to learn this fierce subject. I didn't want anything to do with it so I simply stayed away. Well, it turns out Chemistry is a requisite class for my HP degree, so here I am. Not so clever after all.

Here is where I must confess. After several weeks of classes, I actually... really like it! Ya ya I know, bizarre. For some odd reason science always came very easily to me. It makes no sense given that math is my hardest subject. Regardless, I've always enjoyed science. So here I am, doing my labs at home (it's an entirely online class) and I am fascinated. I am actually looking forward to my labs- I mean, watching these chemical changes right before my eyes is so cool! Nature is amazing- so technical and so complicated yet so simple. We really can't do anything without chemistry. I never realized how much we owe to those brilliant scientists of years before. Fantastic!



And lastly I have an independent study of Preservation Dynamics-Law and Economics. I still have a week before this class begins, but I must admit I am fairly terrified of it. This deals with numbers, math, equations, accounting- ahhhh! That's where I don't excel so quickly. I've got a great teacher though so I'm sure I'll be pleasantly surprised about the cool things I'll be learning.

So you can see why I'm excited about this semester. Lots of cool things to learn! To be honest, I kind of wish I could continue as a student- it's a pretty great life. But let's be real, the jobs are calling!

Another kind of home...

If you have read previous entries of this blog, you'll know that my continued search for exciting historical places has taken me all over the state of Colorado. This past weekend, I extended that boundary a bit and made it all the way to Utah- Moab to be exact. When you think of Moab, Historic Preservation might not come to mind, but there are some pleasant surprises here!

As mentioned in the previous blog, the petroglyphs and pictographs are well worth the visit. There is also the amazing landscape. If you know this area, you'll know that National Parks are abundant here. Thankfully these amazing Canyons, Arches, Mesas, and Bridges have been protected through the National Park Service. As a side note, did you know that Historic Preservation in America is actually a part of the National Park Service? That might surprise you but if you think about it, it makes sense.

Moab is truly an amazing place. The landscape is awe-inspiring. But don't get too lost in those red rocks to miss a place like the "World Famous" Hole "N The Rock! I've visited some amazing historical homes, but there has been none like this one.

This is a 5,000 square foot home drilled directly in the rock. Albert and Gladys Christiansen had a small cabin near the rock here in the early 1940's. Albert decided that a better idea would be to live in the rock, instead of near it. They began to chip away at the rock with dynamite and hand drills. Albert worked on the home for 12 years before he had a heart attack in 1957 and passed away. Gladys continued work on the home until she passed away in 1974.

The home has 14 rooms divided by massive rock pillars for support. Being inside the rock, there was a natural temperature of 65-70 degrees year round. Though Albert did build a fireplace, there was no need for heating or cooling of the home. The couple also ran a diner here. They had a 'commercial' kitchen complete with deep fryer that Albert built directly into the rock. After Albert died, Gladys continued to run the diner and give tours of the home. I wish I could say that diner was still there, but it has since been turned into a gift shop.

Unfortunately photos were not allowed inside the house. But I strongly encourage you to take a look at the rooms from the website here: http://www.theholeintherock.com/photos.html This home is very impressive. I can't imagine the work that was put into building this. Albert drilled 65 feet alone just for the chimney of the fireplace. A fireplace they didn't even need mind you.

From this photo below you can see the front door and windows. You'll also notice that Albert was a big fan of President Roosevelt from his memorial to him right above the front door.


In good American fashion, the area surrounding the home was filled with lots of kitsch. There was a petting zoo, several gift shops, and lots of strange "I'm not sure what that is" kind of yard art. This is definitely worth the trip though. If you're ever in the Moab area, don't miss a trip here.

Oh, and don't forget to go mountain biking either. Funny that Moab should just happen to have some of the worlds best mountain biking! I was lucky to squeeze in a ride in between my historic research!

Beyond buildings...

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, historic preservation is so much more than bricks and mortar- at least to me it is. Beyond preserving buildings there are statues, landscapes, entire archaeological sites, the list goes on. This weekend I had the chance to visit an entirely different realm well worth preserving: petroglyphs and pictographs.



I found this rock art in Sego Canyon in Utah, near Moab. The art from the panel above is called the Barrier Canyon style. This was attributed to the nomadic Archaic people that lived in this area from 8,000 B.C until the introduction of agriculture about 2,000 years ago. Note the hollow eyes and the missing arms and legs. I wish I knew more about that significance to explain here.

This next panel is the Fremont Style. The Fremont people thrived in this area from 600 A.D. to about 1250 A.D. They are believed to be relatives of the Anasazi people of the Four Corners area. I wish I had a better photo of this panel. It doesn't show how incredibly preserved they really are.



The last of the most prominent panels here is from the Ute people. The presence of horses and people riding horses relays a lot of information. As we know, the Spanish brought horses to North America in the 16th century, so these panels date beyond that time period. (Although evidence of horses being native to the Americas has been found, but that's another debate altogether). The Utes lived freely in Utah and Colorado until about 1869 when they were forced onto reservations. The picture of this panel below was taken from this website: http://climb-utah.com/Moab/sego.htm.



I find these pictograpsh fascinating for many reasons. First off, I am amazed at how old, yet will preserved they are. Some of this art dates back to 7,000 B.C! And it's still there! Secondly, it's fascinating that in this location, there are several different panels from different time periods, ranging up to the 19th century. I find this quite interesting. Over those 9,000 or so years, what was happening within these cultures. These are different groups of people with radically different lifestyles. What were they thinking when they came upon the others' drawings. Did they know what they meant? Where they answering them? Did they have any idea how old they were? How and why did they draw them to begin with? What is a spiritual ceremony? Were they sending a message to others?

There are so many questions that run through my mind I just wish I could go back in time and watch it all happen. As I stand there in front of this art, I really can see it all happening, or at least, how I imagine it happened. I can almost hear the drums and the conversation. I can see the people moving about, grinding red sand, blood and dirt for their paint. And then I wonder, where did they go? Were they just passing through, was this were they always stayed, was this a special spot? Why aren't there more drawings? I mean, there is endless rock here, why aren't these walls covered? Why did three different peoples, over thousands of years choose this spot for a few drawings?

The questions go on and on. I'm sure there's an Anthropologist somewhere that can answer some of these questions. Nevertheless it's fascinating to think about. After visiting a site like this in person, it makes me very grateful that someone out there has realized how important it is to protect them. Of course, this is the best kind of preservation- were doing absolutely nothing offers the best protection. In that vain, the site must be protected from vandals and curious people like me that just want to touch them! Here's where education is so important- teaching the public about respect and honor. Telling the story of where these came from and who did them. There will always be unanswered questions of course, but some mystery keeps the imagination strong, at least I know mine is!