{"id":7296,"date":"2017-02-24T13:56:22","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T20:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/?p=7296"},"modified":"2017-02-24T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T20:57:13","slug":"w0csp123-blue-mountain-2813-9230-ft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sota-trip-report\/w0csp123-blue-mountain-2813-9230-ft\/","title":{"rendered":"W0C\/SP-123 (Blue Mountain) &#8211; 2813 m \/ 9230 ft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>W0C\/SP-123<br \/>\nBlue Mountain<br \/>\n2813 m \/ 9230 ft<br \/>\nDec 09, 2015 with N0TA<br \/>\nMay 21, 2016 with N0TA<br \/>\nFeb 20, 2017 with N0TA<\/p>\n<p>By KX0R<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.summitpost.org\/blue-mountain\/563096\">Blue Mountain <\/a>is an easy, fun <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/\">SOTA<\/a> summit a few miles south of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lake_George,_Colorado\">Lake George<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/main\/psicc\/about-forest\/about-area\">Pike National Forest<\/a><br \/>\n\u2022 West of Colorado Springs<br \/>\n\u2022 Relatively easy to climb<br \/>\n\u2022 Short hike<br \/>\n\u2022 Relatively good access, even in winter<br \/>\n\u2022 No marked trail to the peak<br \/>\n\u2022 Excellent SOTA Peak<br \/>\n\u2022 ~ 1.0 mile round trip<br \/>\n\u2022 ~ 300 vertical feet<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-7296 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sierra-exif-jpeg-1600\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2-250x188.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6270-2-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-7304'>\n\t\t\t\tBlue Mountain &#8211; Saddle and Summit from FR-244\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Driving Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.fed.us\/r2\/recreation\/map\/vis_maps\/psicc\/pike-nf-map\/index.shtml\">THIS MAP <\/a>is very useful for driving in the Pike National Forest.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Drive west on Highway 24 from Colorado Springs.<br \/>\n\u2022 Pass through Woodland Park, Divide, and Florissant.<br \/>\n\u2022 Continue to the small community of Lake George.<br \/>\n\u2022 Turn left, southwest, on CR 96 at Lake George.<br \/>\n\u2022 After less than a mile, turn south on good dirt road CR 61.<br \/>\n\u2022 Drive about 3.3 miles on CR 61 \u2013 pass the Blue Mountain Campground, and continue south along the east side of Blue Mountain to an intersection with CR 98.<br \/>\n\u2022 This intersection is south of the summit, and it would be possible to park near here and climb the mountain directly, as the terrain is open.<br \/>\n\u2022 Head west on CR 98 for about one mile, to where two roads lead off to the right.<br \/>\n\u2022 The left fork goes to an obvious ranch property.<br \/>\n\u2022 The right fork is USFS FR-244 &#8211; it leads east toward Blue Mountain.<br \/>\n\u2022 If this road is dry, it\u2019s passable in cars with adequate clearance.<br \/>\n\u2022 If the road\u2019s open and in good condition, drive northeast about one mile, up near the mountain, to a turn-around at a campsite.<br \/>\n\u2022 This is the trailhead.<br \/>\n\u2022 Otherwise park farther down, and hike up the road to the trailhead.<\/p>\n<p>The Hike:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Blue Mountain is a long ridge running roughly N-S.<br \/>\n\u2022 The actual peak is near the south end of the ridge.<br \/>\n\u2022 From the end of the road, hike up toward the mountain on a jeep trail.<br \/>\n\u2022 The summit is on your right.<br \/>\n\u2022 Pass the remains of a miner\u2019s shack.<br \/>\n\u2022 Continue north about 150 feet, and find a crude trail leading up to the right (south).<br \/>\n\u2022 Don\u2019t follow any route farther to the north.<br \/>\n\u2022 Hike south up the faint, rough trail \u2013 it soon fades out<br \/>\n\u2022 Continue diagonally southeast up game trails through bushes to the broad saddle at 9200 feet, north of the peak<br \/>\n\u2022 Hike south along the ridge on a path for about 200 yards to the summit<br \/>\n\u2022 The route passes by some old prospect holes and a trench<br \/>\n\u2022 The summit is south of the diggings \u2013 a small cairn marks the top<\/p>\n<p><strong>Additional Details:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The activation zone is large, open, and pleasant, with some large pine trees. We found dry, sunny spots just south of the peak, out of the wind. This area offers nice views of Pikes Peak and the area south and west of Blue Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-7296 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sierra-exif-jpeg-1603\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1995\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2-768x1021.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2-770x1024.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2325-2-250x333.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-7307'>\n\t\t\t\tBlue Mountain &#8211; N0TA SOTA Activation\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sierra-exif-jpeg-1601\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2-250x188.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6266-2-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-7305'>\n\t\t\t\tBlue Mountain &#8211; KX0R SOTA Activation\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The peak is a good radio site, and the HF noise level is low. \u00a0It&#8217;s easy to set up a SOTA activation and make contacts up there. \u00a0VHF\/UHF coverage is probably limited to the area around Lake George, and the north side of Pikes Peak.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-7296 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sierra-exif-jpeg-1602\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2-250x188.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_6268-2-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-7306'>\n\t\t\t\tBlue Mountain &#8211; View of Pikes Peak\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/Summit\/W0C\/SP-123\">Blue Mountain<\/a> is close to several other SOTA peaks and might be combined with any of them for a dual or multiple activation:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/Summit\/W0C\/SP-124\">9083 W0C\/SP-124<\/a> \u2013 about 7 miles to the north<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/Summit\/W0C\/SP-125\">9036 W0C\/SP-125<\/a> \u2013 about 10 miles to the north<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/Summit\/W0C\/FR-066\">Tappan Mountain W0C\/FR-066<\/a> \u2013 about 10 miles to the north<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sota.org.uk\/Summit\/W0C\/FR-165\">Signal Butte W0C\/FR-165<\/a> \u2013 about 11 miles to the northeast<\/p>\n<p>The forest near Blue Mountain looks like a good place for hunting. Wear hunter safety orange if you go there in the fall!<\/p>\n<p>73<\/p>\n<p>George<br \/>\nKX0R<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-7296 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sierra-exif-jpeg-1604\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-7308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2-250x188.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_2324-2-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-7308'>\n\t\t\t\tBlue Mountain &#8211; N0TA Operating SOTA\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<HR>\n<p style=\"font-size:10px\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Achtung.svg\/877px-Achtung.svg.png\" alt=\"ATTENTION\" style=\"float:left\" height=\"41\" width=\"41\"> \n\n!! WARNING !! There are <b>old<\/b> mountaineers, and \n<b>bold<\/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":"<p>W0C\/SP-123 Blue Mountain 2813 m \/ 9230 ft Dec 09, 2015 with N0TA May 21, 2016 with N0TA Feb 20, 2017 with N0TA By KX0R Key Points: Blue Mountain is an easy, fun SOTA summit a few miles south of &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sota-trip-report\/w0csp123-blue-mountain-2813-9230-ft\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,16],"tags":[25,17,696,153,8,542,181,9,472,24,695],"class_list":["post-7296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sota-trip-report","category-wo","tag-activation","tag-amateur-radio","tag-blue-mountain","tag-kx0r","tag-mountain-topping","tag-pikes-peak-region","tag-route-description","tag-sota","tag-south-platte-canyon","tag-summits-on-the-air","tag-w0csp-123"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7296"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7310,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7296\/revisions\/7310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}