Only Nancy Chase signed on for what was originally a hike on Burnt Mountain. After some discussion, we decided to climb Bald Mountain near Weld instead. Unfortunately, our attempt to climb Bald was foiled by tiny Wilson Stream that was overflowing its banks. Mount Blue became our third choice. It was my idea so I get the blame. Decades since we’d hiked Mount Blue, we struggled to find the trailhead in part due to poor signage. The first two-thirds of the hike went well. However, at about an elevation of 2,700 feet, we encountered a difficult icy section that continued to the summit. Thanks to our micro spikes, we successfully negotiated up and down the ice; albeit at a snail’s pace. It was very gusty at the top so parkas were necessary. Since our last visit, the old dilapidated fire tower has been replaced by a new structure with an observation deck; a welcome improvement. The hike to the summit of the 3,187 foot peak with 1,774 feet of elevation gain seemed longer than 3.2 miles. Maybe the signage is wrong; or, it could be old age.
Participants: Nancy Chase and TC Ron Chase