After the renaming of one of Colorado's 14ers last year, efforts to rename the wilderness area in which the 14er resides began (and are still underway; such name changes require an act of Congress). I wondered if the name of the annual bicycle race up the renamed mountain also would be renamed. Turned out it already was... decades ago. The Bob Cook Memorial Hill Climb became the new race name in 1981 after five-time winner, who had succumbed to cancer at the age of 23.
Many climbers have tongue-in-cheek wondered if they will have to reclimb the renamed peak. I'd climbed the mountain with my feet and my then teenage adopted daughter (one of only two peaks we climbed together) AND multiple times on my bike. I seriously doubt I will be able to reclimb Mount Blue Sky now, although I probably would if I could, but more for fitness than to check a box. However, I can design a new snowflake inspired by the flake I gave the mountain's second name. Yes, second name. The mountain originally was called Mount Rosa (thought to be the Native American name for the peak) and/or Mount Rosalie (which name now rests on one of the sub-peaks of the renamed mountain).
The name Rosalie was considered as a new name for the renamed peak, and many thought that would be the romantic choice because the mountain is connected via saddle to Mount Bierstadt. Rosalie was the wife of artist Albert Bierstadt, after whom that 14er was named. (I also designed a Mount Bierstadt Snowflake, the second peak I climbed with my then teenage adopted daughter.) Ultimately, Mount Blue Sky was selected as the third name for the high point on the renamed mountain, honoring the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.
To come full circle, I think I'm going to have to design a Mount Rosalie snowflake. Perhaps that might be the perfect Valentine's flake this year...
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: 7 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
Mount Blue Sky Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [2 sc in ring, ch 10, sl st in 10th ch from hook] 5 times; 2 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc, ch 4, 1 trtr in same starting sc to form 6th ch 9 point of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: 3 sc over post of trtr directly below, [ch 13, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 3, 5 sc in next ch 9 loop] 6 times, omitting last 3 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.
Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 4), in next ch 9 point work (5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc), ch 4, 1 1 sc in middle sc of next 5/sc group] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 5.
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Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, in next ch 9 loop work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.
Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 4), sk next 2 dc, [1 dc in next dc, ch 3] 2 times, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 9, 1 dc, ch 5), [1 dc in next dc, ch 3] 2 times, 1 dc in next dc, ch 4, 1 dc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in2nd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.
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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
That is a beautiful flake to go with the mountain's lovely new name.
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