Crow Nest 8/8/08, part 2

[Mike Powell]

The Wieburt marker, elevation 4,387 ft, N45 26.808, W107 08.393





The obligatory recreation of the White Man Runs Him, General Scott, Tim McCoy 1919 photo, elevation 4,359 ft, N45 26.856, W107 08.362.



Note the WMRH photo was taken below the Wieburt marker, maybe 100 yards down trail. Now, here's a theory: WMRH led the party up the slope from the nest to the lookout point where he brought Varnum, everyone took in the view and then they stepped across the trail and took the photo, said photo of course looking roughly northwest into the nest and to Davis Creek and beyond. The lookout to the northeast, some fifteen yards from the 1919 photo site, gives this view toward the Little Horn valley.



The pony herd area lies just right of the darkest tree top just left of center, the tree top which just touches the farthest horizon.

Here's the view taken at 6X.



The dark tree top is now at the center of the image and, if I've got my bearings right, the pony herd area is around that faint strip of light cultivated land extending to the right from the very top of the tree. Fairly clear day but some distant haze, about 1:00 PM MDST.

As I said, a theory of where Varnum's lookout occurred, based in part on the idea that WMRH took the party up the slope as far as needed to get to the point he remembered and the 1919 photo was taken at the same elevation. It's not in the immediate marker vicinity and it's not the highest point on the hill (neither is the marker). If you believe old men would go no higher than necessary, I think it has some merit.

Yours,

Mike Powell

[biggordie]

Great photos, Mike, and credible theorizing.

Gordie

[Mike Powell]

Geordie,

One clarifying point. The theory isn't my creation, just one that was given to me. I've yet to have an original thought on the entire mess, but I did snap most of the pictures. That said, I do kind of like the theory, given that it's based on something as tangible as an old photo and a reasonable interpretation of the priorities of older, heavy set men. In my mind, Scott says "Hell, if this is where you think it was I see no point in climbing any further."

Yours,

Mike Powell

[biggordie]

Mike

And how could he argue the point, anyway, since he was at the mercy of WMRH?

Gordie

[Lawtonka]

Thanks, those links work well, must have had a faulty connection last time!

I appreciate it, your photos of the Crow's Nest are great!

Tim

[crhipkins]

Good theory. I can see why Custer did not see anything. Even if there wasn't a haze.

Craig

[Mike Powell]

Two things: No part of the camp could have been visible; the bluffs that rise above the east side of the river completely mask it, though smoke rising above may have been apparent to the expert eye.

The pony herd was, at least theoretically, partially visible - the southern portion of it, however large that may have been. Visible in the sense that the expert eye, again, could have detected some hints of motion, the "worms in the grass" description and known it represented a herd. One guide who has been there many times said he was once able to see what he knew had to be combining activity occurring in the pony herd area as he watched.