Looking to see how long, time-wise, the Little Bear-to-Blanca Traverse is taking people. I know everyone's different, from the perspectives of speed, technical skill and exposure comfort, but nice to collect some data points from people. My gf and I are fast, natural climbers who love exposure. We've got these personal data points on two of the other traverses, both done at a relaxed pace on bluebird days:
- We and one other did the Bells Traverse (South->North) last year in 3 hours.
- We did the Crestone Traverse (Peak->Needle) in 2 hours.
So, curious to see the times of others on the LB Traverse in comparison to one or both of these two traverses. Maybe we can make some kind of correlation from there. Thanks for the info!
Great Traverse times
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Re: Great Traverse times
The route-finding is easier on LB-Blanca than on the other traverses, but the exposure is greater. On average, I'd expect 2-3 hrs. Quick-decision mini route-finding and general comfort can knock it down to around 1.5 hrs first time around and pictures/slow and careful/extraneous can up it to around 4 hrs.
Your Crestone time seems reasonable but the Bells time seems quite high. I'm guessing route-finding issues, party comfort, or rope work? Not sure, but I'm guessing you'll be just a tad over 2 hrs for the LB-Blanca traverse.
2p, first time took around 2.25 hrs going over, or backtracking-after-climbing, tricky initial towers and bypassing latter points.
2p, second time took 1.5 hrs skirting initial towers left and staying on top the rest (couple 5.easy headwalls on the latter points. Better than the talus bypass).
I think it would be about an hr going solo now.
Your Crestone time seems reasonable but the Bells time seems quite high. I'm guessing route-finding issues, party comfort, or rope work? Not sure, but I'm guessing you'll be just a tad over 2 hrs for the LB-Blanca traverse.
2p, first time took around 2.25 hrs going over, or backtracking-after-climbing, tricky initial towers and bypassing latter points.
2p, second time took 1.5 hrs skirting initial towers left and staying on top the rest (couple 5.easy headwalls on the latter points. Better than the talus bypass).
I think it would be about an hr going solo now.
"The road to alpine climbing is pocked and poorly marked, ending at an unexpectedly closed gate 5 miles from the trailhead." - MP user Beckerich
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Cthulhu 2008
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- Trip Reports (4)
Re: Great Traverse times
I was a little under 3 hours for the traverse from Little Bear to Blanca and it sounds like I was less accomplished at the time relative to where you are now. From the 2-wd parking to Little Bear, Blanca and back down was a little over 13 hours in one push. With your experience, you'll have a great time.
Here is my trip report.
http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... m=tripuser" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here is my trip report.
http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... m=tripuser" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by Cthulhu 2008 on Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cthulhu 2008 - Why Vote For A Lesser Evil
Re: Great Traverse times
Monster:
There were a few reasons for the Bells Traverse taking that long: lazy few months leading up to it, first time doing something at that level (over-cautious), enjoying a crystal-clear day and route-finding. Oh yeah, and I *may* have forgotten our lunch...
I remember thinking we could have chopped an hour off our time if we really went at it, but there you go.
Cthulhu:
You had to be fairly accomplished yourself to do all that in one push from the lower TH, so props. Thanks for the trip report; I'll be studying up on a few of them, including yours.
Thanks guys, now I need to decide whether to go up the standard West Ridge or the NW Face
There were a few reasons for the Bells Traverse taking that long: lazy few months leading up to it, first time doing something at that level (over-cautious), enjoying a crystal-clear day and route-finding. Oh yeah, and I *may* have forgotten our lunch...
I remember thinking we could have chopped an hour off our time if we really went at it, but there you go.Cthulhu:
You had to be fairly accomplished yourself to do all that in one push from the lower TH, so props. Thanks for the trip report; I'll be studying up on a few of them, including yours.
Thanks guys, now I need to decide whether to go up the standard West Ridge or the NW Face
