Blue Mountain Attracting Climbers

[DeathValleyDazed]

Seven DEVA enthusiasts have registered (maybe others summited but did not register?) so far since the register was planted there September 2018. I managed to navigate my fourth summit this time via an unusual route up the south east ridge of Artist Palette, over that saddle and down into the south drainage of Blue Mountain, skirting along its base eastward and then straight up to the summit over a very steep but not technical continuous stable large scree field. The scramble up the Artist Palette face was more more difficult than this. 

I was pleased to see people whom I know sign the register and several new to me. Stav Is Lost has a super trip report on he and his companion's adventures of the area.
https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/a...ntain-loop

(Thanks to Candace66 for pointing this out.) The views were just spectacular and the December 11th day was perfect for climbing and photography even though I ended up finishing well after dark. 

In reality, very people will tackle this summit due the degree of difficulty and remoteness which may in some way preserve its grandeur. Although difficult, the best and easiest approach is from Corkscrew Canyon. The problem approaching from Artist Palette is two fold. First there are two major steep ridges to scale before you even approach Blue. The north face approach contains a thirty foot dry fall with bypassing on the south slippery and challenging, and bypassing on the north is even worse with a long and grueling scoot across a steep ledge that really tuckered me out. I avoided returning as I had done previously on the south bypass thinking the north side had to be easier - well big mistake there! 

Now being a glutton for punishment I got a good look at a true "west face" approach to Blue following my Artists Palette approach. If anyone is interested I can provide a detailed screen shot and route proposal. Be my guest, because in reality, I just may have worn out my welcome and my luck on this fantastic blue mountain.   See what you think.

[MojaveGeek]

Interesting that interest in the Blue Mountain has picked up due to social media. It became a hobby of mine some years ago, after I first saw it from Borax BM in 2012, and I worked at it for a couple of years, in consultation with Kauri, (who also turned me on to Borax) to get up close and personal. I have not (yet) been to the peak, however. That Stav TR is pretty good, and I generally find his beta to be valuable, though he is a tougher hiker than I these days. Though I just got back from three great weeks in the Sonoran desert... if it were easier to post pix here I'd put up a TR, maybe will at some point when I can load the pix to a web server somewhere.

[DeathValleyDazed]

It became a hobby of mine some years ago, after I first saw it from Borax BM in 2012, and I worked at it for a couple of years, in consultation with Kauri, (who also turned me on to Borax) to get up close and personal. 

Well MG, it's all your and Kauri's fault for hooking me on Blue Mountain because after reading your reports and seeing those panorama's I had to go check it out and it blew me away. Seeing the north slope of Blue Mounting with its simmering blue hue from various points along the Borax Benchmark was unforgettable, so thanks to you and Kauri. 

I remember getting dead ended so many times struggling around the south slope of BM seeking access to Big Blue but man was is colorful fun! I need to go back and reread my notes and view my old videos to relive those good ol' times. 

I'm afraid my rails will give out before I chance out the greater Mojave. I've yet to set foot in the Owlsheads, Cottonwoods for serious, and several other places in the park.

[MojaveGeek]

LOL! The first time I saw that mountain it was from near Borax BM on a bluebird clear day and oh I was so taken by it! Took a couple of trips and some consultation with Kauri to actually get close enough to touch it. I had to slave drive my crew when we were within sight with an obvious route but still had half a mile and a bit of descent to go to actually get close enough. It was fun to have a goal, always is Not sure I will summit but it has been a fun ride nonetheless.