Benchmark Lookout

San Juan National Forest


(map link)

As with most manned fire lookouts these days, there is a road all the way to the bottom of Benchmark Lookout. Right about the edge of the 7.5' quad, that road turns from improved to unimproved and that is where I parked. I could probably have carefully driven the little Scion over the rocks that suddenly started popping out of the road, but I was looking for a little walk. I pulled out of the route of travel and started what became quite a wildflower walk. Well, a stroll really. It is a very gentle generally upward slope to the lookout.

00: road with green surrounds and lookout afar
On the left, the remnants of a turn around leave plenty of room for a three point turn. The lookout is just visible in the center in the distance.

01: bright yellow spreads
A small group of mules ear.

02: blue flowers with more in waiting
Tall blue flax was waving in the wind.

03: blue flowers with great horns out the back
The larkspur all along the road.

Mules ear and larkspur were the most abundant of the flowers, but numerous others were scattered along the way.

04: wide and covered in spikes
The larger horned lizard was sitting right in the middle of the road for maximum heat.

05: yellow poof
Wallflowers lend different yellows.

06: spiked lizard not much bigger than a quarter
The smaller horned lizard scampered from its covered spot into the growth.

There aren't a lot of views along the way, but one does expect to get plenty of that right at the end.

07: young oaks growing up
Most of what might be view is blocked by the oaks growing back in since the last fire.

08: white fluttery thing on a yellow flower
Both a butterfly and a caterpillar enjoying a mules ear.

09: distant, wide mountains
Sometimes there's a break in the trees for a view.

10: white with purple striping
Geraniums are likely invaders.

You can't sneak up on the lookout, at least not while coming up the road. They were out and, I'm pretty sure, looking at me at one point.

11: sprig of flowers on a tree
The buckeye is in bloom.

12: tall structure
Getting close to the fire lookout, with working lookout inside.

13: dangling flowers
The oak trees are also in bloom.

14: large green spot
The Glade is far below and the mountain is named for it.

There's a locked gate just before the lookout itself (and the road gets really rough after it) and a little parking lot. A sign invites all who come to walk up the rest of the way.

17: triangulation station marker
The benchmark at Benchmark Lookout.

The lookout mentioned that original fire lookout was on Glade Mountain, the slightly lower peak. They probably guessed wrong which was higher or maybe it was able to look into a canyon that this one doesn't. View mapping was apparently a job, so maybe there was something about the view that was just considered better over there. The surveyors got it right, though. That old one was probably Glade and this new one is Benchmark. And I got to go up it. There were quite a few stairs. I think it's the tallest I've been up.

19: road in and La Plata Mountains
South captures the road in and La Plata Mountains in the distance.

20: dropoff to canyons
Canyonlands to the east after a drop off.

22: patch of green
From here, The Glade hides a bit.

24: tall peaks
Very far off are some 14ers. Wilson Mountain, Wilson Peak, and El Diente.

26: pyramidal peak
The Lone Cone looks interesting on the far side of the canyons.

Eventually I had to go down and head back along the wildflowers.

27: lighter purple and more shriveled
I different sort of larkspur.

28: bright, but warped, butterfly wings
A butterfly inflates its wings for that first flight.

29: white flowers with purple striping
Yellow and these white sweet peas could be found.

I hadn't yet spotted all the flowers I'd seen on the drive up, so I stopped a couple times on the way down to capture some more flowers. There was, in particular, a shot of red I was looking for.

30: tiny morning glories
Tiny morning glories grew all along where the road was improved.

31: purple flowers with a single sharp tooth sticking out
Small bushes of lupin could be found.

32: red blazes
The shock of red had been a scarlet gila.

So that was a delightful little trip.

*photo album*




©2022 Valerie Norton
Written 23 Jun 2022


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