Tag Archives: Blanca Peak

Sangres Six Pack: LB to EP, Plus 3

      5 Comments on Sangres Six Pack: LB to EP, Plus 3

I need to give Kiefer of 14ers.com the credit for coming up with this itinerary in a discussion last year. He couldn’t make it this year, but Ryan “Mountain Socialite” Marsters agreed to come along for the fun, and upped the ante by adjusting our schedule so we could accompany Andrew Hamilton for just a mile or two as he set out to try and break the speed record for the Fourteeners. (Ryan’s high school lacrosse coach is a friend of Hamilton’s.) Thanks to Ryan for his usual great company, for exercising restraint to allow me to lead some sections, and for some excellent photos – more than half in this report are his. Keep reading…

Blanca and Ellingwood Summit Ski Descents

      No Comments on Blanca and Ellingwood Summit Ski Descents

One of the more solidified goals Carl and I had for this spring was to wrap up the Blanca Group on skis.  The first weekend in May had been the plan for awhile, and as a bonus the days leading up to the trip saw some new snow in the Southern Sangres.  Mike, Marc, Carl, and I motored to Alamosa Friday evening after work and pulled onto the Lake Como road around 9pm. Keep reading…

Little Bear/Blanca Traverse & Ellingwood

      1 Comment on Little Bear/Blanca Traverse & Ellingwood

Stu and I departed Boulder at 10:00pm on Sunday the 15th and reached the Lake Como Road at 3:00am. We were able to drive to an elevation of 9,500 ft. (thanks to the 4-Runner), our official start time was 4:00am. The hike up the road revealed why exactly this is one of the nation‘s worst. Pretty amazing stuff. The hike to the trail turnoff was approximately three miles, we arrived at the cairned junction at 5:30am and began the southward ascent up Little Bear‘s west ridge. From the top of the west ridge the route cuts east across the ridgeline to the bottom of the hourglass. We basically stayed on or near the ridge crest until we arrived at the hourglass. Keep reading…