Nucla’s Carol Hunter has been working on a project for some time for the Colorado 150, a celebration of the state’s anniversary that also coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary. Called DEEEP, which stands for the “Dominguez – Escalante Expedition Education Project,” the work aims to bring an interactive educational piece to the 150/250 celebration that happens in 2026.
When Hunter became acquainted with Tony Adkins, of Nucla, she learned about his life’s work in geology. Hunter then brought Adkins on board to assist with DEEEP’s mapping work.
Adkins is by profession a geologist. He found the West End in the 1970s during the big uranium days when he was “fresh out of college,” with a bachelor of science degree from Georgia State University. He said it was an exciting time back then, and “lots of fun” when the uranium industry was booming.
When things went bust locally, he moved to Nevada for a bit and worked in gold. After some travel, some of which was international, he and his wife wanted to come back and live in Nucla because of their appreciation for the local area. They returned to the West End in 1996. For a time, Adkins worked as an engineer for the New Horizon Mine, which taught him much in the coal industry too.
His specialty is in the study of rocks, though, specifically metals, and as a result he knows a lot about maps; he is a mapmaker.
“Geologists know how to map,” he agreed.
He has GIS software and the knowledge to create maps that are specialized. About a decade ago, he assisted local nonprofit the West End Trails Alliance (WETA) with their trails mapping initiative. The work then was big for the local biking organization, and it remains so.
To this day, Adkins is still working in geology. He’s consulting for a firm in the uranium industry part-time locally. He said he has enough time, though, and the skill to help the DEEEP organization with their maps now.
While the WETA maps were initially for print (now they’re also going online), the DEEEP maps will be part of the project’s website. Hunter has provided Adkins with the tracks of where the Dominguez-Escalante expedition traveled, and he’s basically overlaying those tracks and the explorers’ nightly campsites onto the maps. He said it takes some time to do, and there have been some questions about the expedition’s route.
Soon, Adkins’ work will be loaded onto the website, so that it becomes interactive for the teachers, students and others who want to experience the history through the project’s site.
Hunter told the forum Adkin’s work has greatly increased the educational project.
“What first comes to mind is his knowledge, skills, professionalism and patience,” she said. “But Tony also brings the ability to think outside the box to meet our objective for an excellent tool for school children, as well as the general public. Our website with Tony's map can be used in preparation for the 2026 celebration across Colorado, but especially for the small, Western Slope communities found along the expedition route.”
Adkins work is all volunteer, something Hunter remains grateful for. Donations to the DEEEP nonprofit work, as well as WETA, are always welcome.
