07 October 2013

Snowflake Monday

Twin Peaks, Ellingwood Point, Blanca and Little Bear

I grew up in the shadow of Sierra Blanca Peak, home of the southernmost major ski area in North America. Growing up, I always thought it was the second tallest peak in New Mexico, behind Wheeler Peak. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it is the 46th tallest peak. Who knew New Mexico had so many tall peaks?!?

I also was very surprised when I moved to Colorado and found another Sierra Blanca, a mountain range also known as White Mountains, just like the range in my home state. Colorado's Sierra Blanca is a sub-range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and includes the high summits of Blanca Peak, Little Bear Peak, Mount Lindsey and Ellingwood Point.

Ellingwood Point was named after Albert Ellingwood, the third person to climb all of Colorado's 14ers and who pioneered difficult mountains such as Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Lizard Head Peak and Ellingwood Ridge on La Plata Peak. Of his 1920 ascent of Lizard Head, Ellingwood wrote, "A rottener mass of rock is inconceivable." In addition to mastering the art of rock climbing, he was a Rhodes scholar and a professor of political science at Colorado College. Most notable, perhaps, he darned his own socks while on outdoor adventures.

After graduating from Colorado College in 1910, Ellingwood attended Oxford and became active in technical mountain climbing. He revolutionized climbing in Colorado when he returned to Colorado College to teach in 1914 and introduced European climbing techniques to his climbing peers. His climbing group walked nearly 150 miles from Colorado Springs to Crestone to attempt the first ascent of the Crestones, later explaining, "We didn't have much money in those days."

14,042-foot Ellingwood Point often is climbed with its higher neighbor, Blanca Peak. Some climbers don't consider it a true 14er because it rises only 322 feet above its connecting saddle with Blanca. Others don't consider it a true 14er because the summit is only a mile from Blanca, the fourth tallest peak in Colorado. Ellingwood Point isn't listed in 14er guides or literature prior to about 1988.

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!

Ellingwood Point Snowflake

Finished Size: 4 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 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

Ellingwood Point Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), * 2 dc in ring, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.
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Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), * 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch; ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 5 ch, ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (sc picot made), ch 3, 3 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (sc picot made), working back down ch, skip sc picot, dc picot and sc picot and work1 hdc in next ch, ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, sk next branch on opposite side of ch and sl st in next ch, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 5 ch, sk next branch on opposite side of ch and sl st in next ch, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sk next branch on opposite side of ch and sl st in each of next 2 ch, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (or top of dc on succeeding repeats), 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc and ch 2 of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 4; 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.

Ellingwood Point (14,042 feet, ranked 42) from the west; Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado

7 comments :

  1. Quite the peak indeed and never would have guessed there were 20 let alone 46

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You made me chuckle, Pat. Actually, there are 59 14ers in Colorado, and something like 600 13ers. Too sleepy to look it up right now...

      Delete
  2. The mountains are wonderful. Living in New Zealand we are blessed with many mountainous regions. Love being up in the hills!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to see your mountains one day, Paul. I have read so much about them!

      Delete
  3. Love your snowflakes, and want to try them. How do I make a 'magic ring?'

    ReplyDelete
  4. How did I miss this post? What a truly stunning snowflake (the points really remind me of roses and leaves). And a fascinating bit of history too - can't believe they walked that far to climb a mountain. I wonder how long it took them?

    It's interesting to read of the debates about 14ers - the arguments for and against a mountain's classification as such.

    ReplyDelete


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