Certificate Presentation
by Susan Epstein, CO/UT FFLA
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On Wednesday, June 2, Susan
and Lenny Epstein of the Colorado/Utah FFLA presented
representatives of Dinosaur National Monument with a certificate of
dedication of Round Top Lookout to the National Historic Register.
Ms. Epstein briefly described the purpose of the FFLA and the NHLR
before passing the certificate to Daniel Hazen who currently staffs
Zenobia Peak Lookout, also in the Monument. In addition, she gave
the Monument an NHLR sign to be posted at the lookout, and on behalf
of Jean Polhamus, presented a copy of her book, Guarding Dinosaur,
for the Monument library. Jackie Corona, Fire Program Management
Assistant, made all the arrangements for the presentation. Joseph
Flores, Fire Management Officer, and his intrepid crew witnessed the
event, and Mary Bernard of the "Vernal Express" newspaper documented
it.
Mr. Flores delegated Daniel Hazen to drive the Epsteins and Ms.
Bernard up to Round Top Lookout, staffed by Phil Schultz. Hazen and
Schultz pay a "courtesy" visit to one another once each year, so
Hazen combined the drive with his courtesy visit. This was a
generous gesture on the part of the Monument as the very primitive
road is all on private land, and is not open to the public. It took
about 20 minutes to get from headquarters to the turnoff from the
Harper's Corner road, and another hour to get to the lookout, about
seven miles. Hazen impressed his passengers with his excellent
driving skill. |
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| Susan Epstein and Phil Schultz, looking to the
north |
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| Once at the lookout, Ms. Epstein presented a second
copy of the NHLR certificate to Schultz, along with the metal sign.
Schultz showed the group the steps of the old cabin, replaced in
2002, so they could tell exactly where it had been. He has staffed
Round Top since 1989, living in that drafty structure until they
built the new tower. Schultz said that when it got really cold and
windy, he duct-taped the door, turned on all four burners on the
stove, and stood there and shivered. The new place is luxurious by
comparison, and is just east of where the cabin stood. Next to the
tower they installed a mobile home, and how they got it up that
steep, rocky, narrow road is a mystery--Schultz said he got there
just as they were putting it in place. Round Top has abundant
electricity provided by a number of solar panels. The new tower
seems very sturdy, and Schultz confirmed its frame is built of steel
girders. Schultz said that prior to the cabin, they had a little
trailer up there, held down by cables stretched over its top. The
bolts that held down the old tower and cabin are still in the
ground. |
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| Yampa River from Round Top |
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| From Round Top, one can see Zenobia Peak and
Flaming Gorge to the north, many bends of the Yampa and Green River
Canyons to the east and west, and miles to the south. On really
clear days, Schultz said he can see the Steamboat Springs ski area.
While Round Top is notorious for its high winds, the weather on this
day was warm, just a little breezy, and sunny, a perfect day for
recognizing the contribution of over 50 years of fire lookouts on
Round Top Mountain. You can read Ms. Bernard's story in the "Vernal
Express" at http://vernal.com/detail/331439.html. |
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| Zenobia Peak, Daniel Hazen's lookout, the high
point on the horizon |