Thanks for taking a look at these photos. Ig, the gray barrel has a brass survey plate attached. I guess because the shale rock is so crumbly, the surveyors brought a solid piece and implanted it at the summit. These plates are common at mountain peaks and are apparently visible from the air, but are also etched with unique identifiers for that location. Had I been thinking, and less affected by the euphoria and the thin mountain air, I might have actually taken an in focus shot of the brass plate itself. Here's a closer shot:
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