Deadman Hill and Fire Tower

A bit about the name "Deadman": yes there are stories about fatal events on this hill.  But early wagon freighters used this trail to get over Deadman Pass to carry materials from the Livermore valley into the Larimie valley. This was a common term in the early days to someone who hauled supplies and equipment over steep, unimproved mountain roads. The engineering term ‘deadman,’ spelled and pronounced ‘ded’-mun,’ is defined as a log or any concrete mass serving as an anchor for a guy line. In the days of trails, freighters used well-rooted, snubbed-off trees as deadmen around which they threw ropes or chains to help lift or lower loaded wagons. Your choice on what to believe: fatal events or anchor! First up is the Deadman Hill SNOTEL site: the "water-year" precipitation accumulator: 12" dia pipe, about 8' tall, with vanes at the top to stabilize "horizontal" winds.  Here there is an ultrasonic snow depth sensor on an arm near the top of the radio tower and on the ground, a "snow pillow" which is a fluid filled bladder that measures the weight of the snow-pack, and is convert to water equivalent. There is a lot more at the SNOTEL site, so if you're headed to the fire tower, be sure to stop at the SNOpack TELemetry site. Next up is the Deadman Hill Fire Tower and observation point.  Interpretive volunteers are present on weekends from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, summer months only. The original wooden truss fire tower was built by the CCC in 1938.  The wood structure was replaced with a lattice steel tower in 1961.  Reportedly the wood tower "...swayed in heavy winds, just like a tree!"  The Deadman steel tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Register in 1991. Finally, the "summit" of Deadman Hill (10,500')... +70' vertical above the road.  The summit is so slight that it's hard to determine the peak.