Hike to B17 crash site near Pingree Park, 1 August 2009

Jim Schafer organized and led a hike up to the 1943 B17 crash site just south-east of Pingree Park campus, west of Fort Collins. Five cadets and three seniors piled into the CAP van for the drive up Poudre Canyon and up to Pingree Park.

The hike is about 5 miles each way, about 1.5 hours each way. There are no signs pointing to the B17 crash site. Start at the Pingree Park campus at the Stormy Peaks Trailhead, follow the signs to Twin Lakes and then follow the stone arrows.

In attendance: cadets: C/CMSgt Stephens, C/A1C Steinbach, C/Amn Emslie and Murphy, and C/AB Sowl. Seniors: Cadet Sponsor Jim Schafer, SM Bob Proulx and Maj Sue Wolber.

 
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  From the road / parking lot Looking back at Pingree Park campus

 
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  Follow the signs to Twin Lakes Do not turn here, go right/straight In June this was Twin Lakes, with concrete spillway on the north end What remains of Twin Lakes in August - pond on right, mudhole behind left

 
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  Notice all the dead trees from the fire about 10 years ago. Stone arrows in the middle of the path mark the way to the B17 crash site Improving the arrows

 
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  For a long ways we walked along a dike. A man-made berm with ditch to right, diverting water.

 
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  The beginning of the dike with spillway. Last stone arrow, nearly there! Wow. Metal everywhere.

 
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  In center is a wooden cross, leaning sideways. 8 crewmen perished here in 1943.

 
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  engine main landing gear

 
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  Small and large pieces of metal everywhere.

 
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  largest intact section, part of the tail. supercharger fuel bladder

 
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  Tailwheel

 
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  Looking downhill to the tail section rest break on the way back downhill

 
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