Blanca Peak Trip Report 09/16/2007

Peak(s):	Blanca Peak - 14,350 feet
Date Posted:	09/16/2007
Date Climbed:	09/15/2007
Author:	Sourdough

Blanca - NW Ridge (Lake Como TH)
The 14ers.com directions to Lake Como are accurate. Unless your vehicle looks like this ...or this you won't be able to get by this shelf at about 11,000 feet. I parked my stock Suzuki Samurai at a nice camp site at 10,300' because the trail had gotten really rough. I think I could have driven to 10,600' because the 'Zuki has a short and narrow wheel base, good clearance, and low-range torque characteristics that compensate for its 1.3 liter engine. Even when riding, this is slow-go terrain. Next trip, I will park at the three old log buildings adjacent to the road a little above 10,600'. As I hiked up the 4WD trail, I got a beautiful view of Little Bear in the evening light. At nightfall (1930 hours) I set up my tent to the southwest of Lake Como. It is a pretty alpine lake with a derelict cabin on the south shore. The next morning, I started hiking solo at 0715 hours. I passed a herd of young bucks including an eight pointer. This is a shot looking west over Blue Lakes. A little higher, there is a rock dome with Ellingwood high on the horizon. The weather was cool, with broken clouds. The route takes you up the west face, so you are shielded from the morning sun The 14ers.com trail directions are accurate, as far as they go. It seems cairns are in abundance where the trail is clear, but they become scarce where the trail is ambiguous. I stowed my trekking poles and ascended the ledges at 13,000' to the climber's right. At this point, Dave, another solo climber, overtook me, so we teamed up. Above the ledges, we scrambled over talus up a little farther to the right of the Ellingwood-Blanca saddle than necessary. On the ridge, we picked up the trail again. The steep drop-off to the climber's left (east) is impressive. We summitted at 0940 hours. The views of Little Bear, Lindsey and Ellingwood are stunning. To the north, the Crestones are also impressive. There were traces of new snow on Blanca's north face, but there was none on my route. Dave decided to go on to Ellingwood. I had not done the proper preparation, the trail was not obvious to me, and I still had to break camp and hike down to my vehicle, so bid him farewell and headed down. Because the mountain over 13,000 is all talus, it was a slow descent. Cairns and the trail were more easily visible on the way down. Notes: I should have done more thorough preparation before starting this hike. I will have to cross the unpleasant Lake Como road again to summit Ellingwood. If you are not a confident hiker, you may wish to have company for this climb. It's not difficult, but the trail is not always clear. Hiking times: Ascent (from Lake Como): 2:35. Descent (to Lake Como): 2:20. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Blanca - NW Ridge (Lake Como TH)

The 14ers.com directions to Lake Como are accurate.

Unless your vehicle looks like this

...or this

you won't be able to get by this shelf at about 11,000 feet.

I parked my stock Suzuki Samurai at a nice camp site at 10,300' because the trail had gotten really rough. I think I could have driven to 10,600' because the 'Zuki has a short and narrow wheel base, good clearance, and low-range torque characteristics that compensate for its 1.3 liter engine. Even when riding, this is slow-go terrain. Next trip, I will park at the three old log buildings adjacent to the road a little above 10,600'.

As I hiked up the 4WD trail, I got a beautiful view of Little Bear in the evening light.

At nightfall (1930 hours) I set up my tent to the southwest of Lake Como. It is a pretty alpine lake with a derelict cabin on the south shore.

The next morning, I started hiking solo at 0715 hours. I passed a herd of young bucks including an eight pointer.

This is a shot looking west over Blue Lakes.

A little higher, there is a rock dome with Ellingwood high on the horizon.

The weather was cool, with broken clouds. The route takes you up the west face, so you are shielded from the morning sun

The 14ers.com trail directions are accurate, as far as they go. It seems cairns are in abundance where the trail is clear, but they become scarce where the trail is ambiguous. I stowed my trekking poles and ascended the ledges at 13,000' to the climber's right. At this point, Dave, another solo climber, overtook me, so we teamed up. Above the ledges, we scrambled over talus up a little farther to the right of the Ellingwood-Blanca saddle than necessary. On the ridge, we picked up the trail again. The steep drop-off to the climber's left (east) is impressive. We summitted at 0940 hours.

The views of Little Bear, Lindsey and Ellingwood are stunning. To the north, the Crestones are also impressive. There were traces of new snow on Blanca's north face, but there was none on my route.

Dave decided to go on to Ellingwood. I had not done the proper preparation, the trail was not obvious to me, and I still had to break camp and hike down to my vehicle, so bid him farewell and headed down. Because the mountain over 13,000 is all talus, it was a slow descent. Cairns and the trail were more easily visible on the way down.

Notes:
I should have done more thorough preparation before starting this hike. I will have to cross the unpleasant Lake Como road again to summit Ellingwood. If you are not a confident hiker, you may wish to have company for this climb. It's not difficult, but the trail is not always clear.

Hiking times:
Ascent (from Lake Como): 2:35.
Descent (to Lake Como): 2:20.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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