\u2022 Pike National Forest<\/a> Driving Directions:<\/p>\n \u2022 Drive west on Highway 285 and cross Kenosha Pass. The Hike and Climb:<\/p>\n \u2022 Google Maps show none of the hiking trails near Boreas Pass. Additional Details:<\/p>\n Although Madonna Dome<\/a> is easily climbed from Boreas Pass, few people visit this prominent, pleasant peak.<\/p>\n The summit offers great views of several higher peaks and parts of South Park<\/a> below. Broad Boreas Mountain<\/a> stands east of the Pass, and Bald Mountain<\/a> stands much higher to the north.<\/p>\n The views along the Divide to the southwest are interesting \u2013 Red Peak<\/a>, Hoosier Ridge<\/a>, and Mount Silverheels.<\/a><\/p>\n I set up my radio gear slightly below the summit ridge to escape the breeze. There are no trees, so I guyed my pole to some rocks. I ran the wire to the post at the summit cairn. I had a fun SOTA<\/a> activation, with 37 CW contacts on four HF bands.<\/p>\n Madonna Dome<\/a> is a fine HF summit. It falls away in all directions, and the noise level is very low. Almost no development is visible nearby. A power line runs across the Divide on the west side, but it\u2019s relatively quiet. This peak is likely a poor VHF\/UHF summit, with coverage limited to parts of South Park and the area near Breckenridge.<\/p>\n For a dual activation, consider these high summits nearby:<\/p>\n Boreas Mountain W0C\/SP-030<\/a> Challenging – access from Boreas Pass 73<\/p>\n George
\n\u2022 High altitude hike
\n\u2022 No marked trail to the summit
\n\u2022 Route follows the Continental Divide<\/a>
\n\u2022 Fine alpine scenery
\n\u2022 Excellent HF site
\n\u2022 2.5 miles round-trip
\n\u2022 ~1000 vertical feet total<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8647-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Continue west on Highway 285 about 10 miles.
\n\u2022 Turn north on CR 33 and drive about \u00bd mile to Como<\/a>.
\n\u2022 Pass through Como and drive up CR 33 about 9 miles to Boreas Pass at 11482 feet.
\n\u2022 The route follows a historic narrow gauge rail line <\/a>and continues all the way across to Breckenridge.
\n\u2022 CR 33 is an OK unpaved road, with several rough, rocky sections, but most cars can make the trip along the railway roadbed.
\n\u2022 Park off the road at Boreas Pass, near the old Section House<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8705-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 This is the trailhead.
\n\u2022 Boreas Pass also can be reached from the north, via I-70, Highway 9, and Breckenridge.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 GPS is very useful in this area.
\n\u2022 The hike begins just to the right of and behind the C&S rail <\/a>car at the Pass.
\n\u2022 The route follows the Continental Divide all the way.
\n\u2022 Hike southwest through willows along an unmarked road through a relatively flat area.
\n\u2022 Follow the old road through some trees and up a large hill.
\n\u2022 Continue up the road and across a small summit near 12,000 feet.
\n\u2022 Descend southwest about 100 vertical feet to a saddle.
\n\u2022 There\u2019s an old mine part way down the hill.
\n\u2022 Continue southwest up the next tundra ridge for about 1\/3 miles and 400 vertical feet to Madonna Dome.
\n\u2022 A cairn with a post marks the summit.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8656-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8657-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8652-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8689-2.jpg\")
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\nVolz Benchmark W0C\/SP-046<\/a> Challenging \u2013 access from CR 33<\/p>\n
\nKX0R<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_8692-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t![\"ATTENTION\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Achtung.svg\/877px-Achtung.svg.png\")
\n\n!! WARNING !! There are old<\/b> mountaineers, and \nbold<\/b> mountaineers... there are no old-bold mountaineers. \nHiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required - enjoy!\n<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"