Looking for opinions...which is the easier walkout (given assumptions below), Willow Creek or Lake Como?
- start at Willow Creek 4wd TH at 8,850 elevation
- or start at 8,800 feet on Como Road (could probably push that another 1,000 feet to Jaws 0.5?, but sounds like it's not worth it)
- backpack to and camp in vicinity of either Willow Lake or Lake Como night before
- climb either Challenger & Kit Carson or Blanca & Ellingwood via standard routes and walk out same day
- ideal weather, sunny and clear (ie. sometime this week)
Thanks!
Troy
Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
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- HikerGuy
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
Willow Creek, by a factor of 10.
Bill W.
Time for the next great losing streak to begin.
#forcedrefocus
Time for the next great losing streak to begin.
#forcedrefocus
- gdthomas
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
Willow Creek. The WC trail is much easier on your feet/legs than the Como Lake road.
- HikerGuy
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
That was my suspicion, but keep those opinions coming and/or I might never visit the Como Road
- summitwolf
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
WC for sure !
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Another option...
You can also do Ellingwood and Blanca from the Zapata Falls TH and avoid the Lake Como road. I did this a couple months ago and it does make for a long day but is definitely doable. Geojed wrote up a nice trip report here:
http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
although there is one error - the Zapata Falls CG charges $7 a night. He is also a faster hiker/climber than I am as it took me almost 16 hours to do the route. But then I have a few years on him...
http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
although there is one error - the Zapata Falls CG charges $7 a night. He is also a faster hiker/climber than I am as it took me almost 16 hours to do the route. But then I have a few years on him...
Last edited by Jay521 on Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:59 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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- altidude
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
I will say that Como Road is definitely worse, but the Switchback Lake, er, Willow Lake approach is a grunt.
The mountain always wins, we do not always lose.
Carpe mañana
Carpe mañana
- HikerGuy
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Re: Another option...
Thanks for the trip report link, I will check it out. I am familiar with that trail/trailhead having done California Peak a few years ago.Jay521 wrote:You can also do Ellingwood and Blanca from the Zapata Falls TH and avoid the Lake Como road. I did this a couple months ago and it does make for a long day but is definitely doable. Geojed wrote up a nice trip report here:
http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
Willow lake is about 1000x prettier too.
- MtHurd
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Re: Easier walkout, Willow Creek or Lake Como?
Willow Lake. Como Lake Rd. blows.