Back In Time - Camp Vanguard

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Camp Vanguard, Colorado

Micro located at Camp Vanguard. Due to the narrow road, trailers and vehicles above 22 feet are not recommended. Bring your own pen & tweezers. Do NOT disturb or deface any ruins.

Please make sure container is closed securely and re-hidden as well or better than you found it. Maintaining the difficulty rating depends on you.

History:

Camp Vanguard was an 1889 Denver & Rio Grande (Rio Grande or D&RG) railroad construction camp for the Lake City Branch. The camp was named by Lewis M. Harrison and E. Hyatt. Camp Vanguard was occupied for about a year. A large frame cabin with a stone foundation was built and you can see the remains of the foundation today. Later this area was also known as Marion siding. (See Back In Time – Thru The Rockies for more history on railroad camps.)

The Rio Grande, one of the most famous railroads in the United States, was incorporated on October 27, 1870 by General William Jackson Palmer and a board of four directors with the motto “Thru The Rockies… Not Around Them”. After careful consideration and investigation abroad, narrow gauge was chosen for its lower construction cost, quicker construction time, and ability for shorter turns in the mountains. The decision did not meet with general approval and the Rio Grande was commonly called the baby railroad for its 3 foot gauge tracks (rather than the standard 4 foot 8.5 inches).

Early in 1881, grading began on the Lake City Branch. Almost immediately, work ceased so the Rio Grande could focus its efforts on the route through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Salt Lake City, Utah. Though the citizens of Lake City expressed frustration, work did not resume until 1889. The Lake City Branch was completed on July 20, 1889. On August 15, 1889, the first Rio Grande passenger train traveled through Lake Fork Canyon from Sapinero to Lake City.

Typical Engineers Camp dated 1879-1880		Typical Railroad Survey Crew Camp dated 1884-1890. Crew poses with transits on tripods, rods, levels, chains, guitar, and axes.

Narrows of Lake Fork dated 1880 - 1886 by William Henry Jackson. Note conductor sitting on cowcatcher.		Denver and Rio Grande Excursion Train in Lake Fork Canyon dated 1880-1890 by William Henry Jackson. Note men and women near the train.

Please take some time to reflect back on the lives of these pioneers and the effort it took to make Colorado such a great state!!

Back In Time Series:

Back In Time is a series of caches placed near historic sites to remind us to remember our past. We can learn so much from studying the past. This series will provide a history tour of Colorado.

Their days are gone but not forgotten!!