Bald Mountain

Arapaho National Forest

I began this hike just north of Boreas Pass at about 11,000 feet. Instead of following the recommendations of the guide book (head through the meadow to the ridge and follow the Continental Divide up over several false summits to the actual summit - 5 miles each way), I decided to head directly up the mountain to the summit.

My hike began just below tree line and after passing several defunct mines the slope turned to talus which made my footing tentative at best. I continued to head directly up the mountain to what I thought was the summit. I reached the top which turned out to be the first of several false summits (13,679 feet) in one hour and 32 minutes. From this point it was an easy walk across (up and down) several false summits until reaching the actual summit furthest to the north.

The view from the top consists of looking directly down on the town of Breckenridge (aka: Dick-n-Marge - a local sometimes-used nickname), Colorado. To the north lay Lake Dillion and the towns of Dillon and Silverthorne. To the northeast is the back side of Keystone Mountain, Torreys and Grays Peaks (14ers), and the continuation of the Continental Divide. Directly south was an excellent view of South Park.

For my trip out I thought that I would try to capture the next major summit to the south (named ?) and walked in that direction (again) crossing several sub summits (or false summits) along the way. Just before and several hundred feet below the last summit in the chain (furthest south) I found myself in the middle of what must have been utopia for Pica - they were everywhere. By now weather had become an issue and once it started to hail I decided it was time to head straight down the mountain to the road and back to the car.

Along on this hike with me: no one.