Peak Condition Update | Blanca Peak

Peak:	Blanca Peak
Route:	Northwest Ridge
Range:	Sangre de Cristo
Posted By:	SnowAlien
Date of Info:	12/29/2012
Date Posted:	12/29/2012

Details
Approach to Lake Como is boot packed. Wore snowshoes from ~9'500k as there is decent amount of snow on the road. Snow gets much deeper from Lake Como through the trees. We found the trench from last weekend non-existent, so made our own. Slopes of Blanca above 13k are windblown, mix of rock/snow, no avy concerns at this time. Took standard route up Blanca and scrambled up the ridge. Ellingwood appears to hold more snow. Weather was sunny with little wind, but very cold. Image 1: Blanca upper slopes Image 2: Ellingwood Point Image 3: Little Bear Image 4: Blue Lakes basin

Details

Approach to Lake Como is boot packed. Wore snowshoes from ~9'500k as there is decent amount of snow on the road. Snow gets much deeper from Lake Como through the trees. We found the trench from last weekend non-existent, so made our own. Slopes of Blanca above 13k are windblown, mix of rock/snow, no avy concerns at this time. Took standard route up Blanca and scrambled up the ridge. Ellingwood appears to hold more snow. Weather was sunny with little wind, but very cold.

Image 1: Blanca upper slopes
Image 2: Ellingwood Point
Image 3: Little Bear
Image 4: Blue Lakes basin

Comments or Questions

geojed	Snowshoe tracks 12/30/2012 5:36pm We could see your snowshoe tracks from Little Bear! Good job getting Blanca.
SHmids	Nice job! 12/30/2012 6:23pm That deeper snow up from Lake Como (without snowshoes ) is really what got us last weekend. Could tell that snow would not be an issue after another 1K of elevation, but just did not have the energy for postholing another thousand feet! Nice work and congrats on Blanca

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