Sometimes the real tragedy lies in the nature of the casualty...

On April 8, 1952, Capt. Hilton B. Wilcox, Jr. and Lt.Col Merrill E. Smith lost their lives in a B-25 bomber crash in the area of what is now Golden Gate Canyon State Park. I dedicate this trip to the memory of those who lost their lives in this crash.

This hike takes you to the crash site. Unlike most touristy war memorials, there are no concrete walkways, statues, and bronze plaques. What lies here is as real as it gets: raw plane wreckage scattered over a beautiful mountainside.

There is no trail to the site, this is a backcountry bushwhack all the way. The journey through sawmill gulch might just be too much for you, but if you can make it through, you will be rewarded with a fascinating, if not solemn, experience.

I ask that you remember what happened here and respect the area for what it is. At first this wreck may seem senseless, but if you ascend to the top of the wreckage area and look eastward, you can clearly see how this could have happened.

I have assembled a photographic archive of the area, you can access it by clicking this link:
Plane wreck photo archive

I created 2 track logs. Route A is the course I took enroute to the site, and Route B is the way I returned from the site. Route A was horrendous, so I took a slightly different route back (Route B), which did seem to be slightly easier. Route B has a Bee problem (Bumblebees, that is). If you are allergic, better go another way.

Feel free to get there by either route, or better yet, find your own route that is better than either of these! Please be respectful of private property in the area so they aren't inclined to put up any more fences.

Download the routes and waypoints here: Planewreck

If you are not quite sure how to get the routes and waypoints to open correctly, read the FAQ on the subject for help: Downoading Routes And Waypoints FAQ.

Also, here is a link to another site about the plane wreck site: Colorado Wreck Chasing Site .