19-Jul-2019 -- I had the pleasure of doing avian surveys across the entirety of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, a property managed by the City of Fort Collins. During my surveys, I found a fairly rare bird, the Ash-throated Flycatcher, at the furthest north-east point on the property. Of course, I entered this bird into eBird, and upon doing so I realized that was within about 150m from the confluence of 41N and 105W.

On July 19, I returned to this point to see if the ATFL (Ash-throated Flycatcher) was still around. I hiked up to the point, could not find the bird, but decided that I'd venture into Wyoming to stand at the confluence. I hiked up the hill, across the butte, crossed 2 barbed-wire fences, and was at the confluence. As I arrived at the confluence, the batteries on my GPS died! I quickly removed the battery cover, flipped them over, and turned it back on. I was able to take a photo of the GPS with the North reading all zeros, and the West reading nearly at all zeroes (105.00.001!) before it died again for good.

I snapped a few photos of the cardinal directions, as well as some of the local flora (Rhus aromatica, Cercocarpus montanus, etc.) and I submitted an eBird checklist for the ~7 species of birds that I detected at the confluence point. The most unusual bird at the point was Western Bluebird, which breeds higher up in the mountains, and is uncommon at this lower elevation this time of year.

I looked around, saw a few insects, and then headed back over the hill to my truck which I had parked at the bottom of the hill on the (private) road near the ranch manager's house. I had the privilege of being able to drive to ~600m from the confluence point, something that nobody else will get to do as the majority of the SPNA property is closed to the public. After visiting the confluence point, I'm impressed with the ambition of all others who have visited this point! It's quite an undertaking to hike in from the east, or ride your bike at SPNA and hike up as the last visitor did! Good on ya!

For future visitors, there is a dirt road that comes in from the east just north of the point, but I'm sure it's a private ranch road. If you can get access, I'd recommend coming in that way!