GC2DR84 BLM: Copper Smelter/Charcoal Kiln Cache
Type: Letterbox | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: BLMLSFO @ | Hide Date: 10/30/2010 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 34.611 W108° 38.376 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
 

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BLM Passport Series consists of 9 caches that will take you to a variety of unique locations across Mofatt County. Each cache in the series includes a stamp for you to stamp your BLM Passport. More information is ~COMING SOON~ on the Passport (look for an update once all 9 caches are active).

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Copper Smelter/Charcoal Kiln

This cache is located off of Moffat County Road 10 in the western part of the county on BLM land. The location is on a very scenic overlook, which not only has views of the Kilns but also encompasses a large part of Browns Park and the surrounding areas. The Charcoal Kilns have long been mistakenly called "The Coke Ovens" but coke is derived from coal whereas these kilns were used to burn the impurities from wood thus creating charcoal. They were built by the Bromide Mining Co. in 1898 to create fuel for their 15 ton per day blast furnace.

The copper mine was located on top of Douglas Mountain approximately 15 miles to the west of the smelter and kilns. For the first 8 years the raw ore was shipped to the nearest railroad connection in Rock Springs, WY which is 90 miles to the north. It was a major undertaking in the days of horse drawn freight wagons and poor roads and proved to be very expensive. The decision was made to erect a smelter and associated facilities close to the mine and ship the extracted copper. The smelter and all the other buildings have long since disappeared. They were in use to at least 1917 and supplied copper for WW1 as well as other industries. The four kilns are made from local sandstone and are 20 feet in diameter and rise to around 20 feet in height. They are in excellent condition considering their age and have been called some of the best preserved in Colorado. They have been afforded historical designation and now appear on the National Register of Historical Places. Please take only pictures and memories and leave only foot prints.

Special thanks to cocoalminer, electronicsgeek, Team Laxson, Grand High Pobah, BLMLSFO, and GCCO for supporting this series.
Cache description and images courtesy of cocoalminer.

09/13/2018 By nerak2001
Last one before it got dark today. Thanks for the fun!

09/11/2018 By lesslost2
One of the great takeaways from this and the other nearby caches was learning the difference between coke ovens and charcoal kilns - thanks for that! We arrived at this cache at sunset, making the view of the ovens themselves difficult, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of the view this cache brought us to. Welcome stop - thanks!

05/29/2018 By GrumpyGma
Out enjoying a nice side by side ride. Great weekend

02/10/2018 By momcheers
Wow! No finds in 2017! It’s remote, but an easy find! COLD windy day!

09/30/2016 By k9jayhawk
Found with OF-Erad and Dustykat while touring NW CO...TFTC SL

09/30/2016 By DustyKat
What a steep drop off but a great view. No we didn't take the stamp :) TFTC

09/30/2016 By OF-Erad
Found with K9jayhawk and DustyKat on another fun cache run. Thanks for placing this cache for us to find today. SL, TFTC!