Snowflake Monday

At the turn of the 18th century, Prussian scientific explorer Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was among the first to suggest the lands bordering the Atlantic Ocean may once have been joined. Although he was groomed for a political career, his habit of collecting plants, shells and insects earned him the title of "little apothecary."

Humboldt began his long-awaited travels the summer of 1799, and that November witnessed a spectacular display of the Leonid Meteor Shower in Venezuela. A few months later, he and fellow explorer Aimé Bonpland discovered and captured electric eels. The electrical shocks the two men received during their studies were deemed potentially dangerous.

In 1802, Humboldt, who climbed mountains in his spare time, and his party attempted to summit on Chimborazo in Ecuador, the highest peak close to the equator (one degree north of the mountain), and reached an altitude of 19,286 feet, a world record at the time.

Humboldt's South American expedition laid the foundation for the science of physical geography and meteorology. His name rests upon several species he catalogued during his studies, including penguin, squid, lily, orchid, skunk, dolphin and willow. Schools, colleges, cities and counties bear his name. Edgar Allan Poe dedicated his final major work to Humboldt. Fitting, then, that Prussian immigrants in Colorado designated state's 37th highest peak Humboldt in his honor.

14,064-foot Humboldt Peak is the least challenging of the Sangre de Cristo 14ers to climb, and I walked up it in 2008, a year before the 14-mile route was extended to 18 miles to protect the beautiful South Colony drainage the trail follows. Humboldt is the last new 14er I successfully climbed; downclimbing is very difficult on my back. I can get up mountains, but I need a helicopter or an elevator to take me back down! (I've been to the top of Mount Evans on my bike and the top of Uncompahgre Peak on my feet since then, but I've been to the top of both of those also special peaks many times.)

I hope one day to be able to climb (and descend) mountains again, especially now that physical therapy has been successful in helping me better manage chronic pain. Until then, Humboldt and its extraordinary views of the dramatic Crestones hold a very special notch in my peak bagging list. I'll share the trip report (and a couple of surprise elements) in tomorrow's post.








You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 6.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Humboldt Peak Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, * ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 1, 3 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form last ch 2 sp of round, ch 3, 1 tr over post (body) of hdc just made to form last ch 6 loop of round. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: 1 sc in loop just made, * ch 8, 1 sc in next ch 6 loop; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 4, 1 dtr in starting sc to form last ch 8 sp of round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc) 2 dc over post (body) of dtr just made, * ch 12, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 6, 3 dc in next ch 8 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 2 and 3 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form last ch 2 sp of round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post (body) of hdc just made, * sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch 6 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 7 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 3, sl st in top of dc just made, 7 dc in same loop, 1 dc in next ch 6 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch (picot made), 3 dc in same ch 2 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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