Planning for Little Bear next summer

[H I McDunnough]

Just got back from the Sangre de Cristos. Did Blanca & Ellingwood, but not LB (long story, won't bore you with it here). I want to go back next summer and get Little Bear done but not solo and my regular climbing partner wouldn't be up for it due to the level of exposure.

What's your incentive to go with me, some guy you've never met? Well, I drove up to Lake Como for the trip I just got back from. So if you go with me, you don't have to walk the road up to the Lake

If there's anyone here that would like to put together a trip up there for next summer, let me know.

[daway8]

So you managed to drive all the way up to the lake? I might be talked into another repeat of this peak just for the novelty of experiencing that... (summitted 3 times so far, each on different routes).

[H I McDunnough]

I did get all the way to the Lake. Fun drive. I have a heavily modified Nissan Xterra and I've been offroading for about 25 years. Still, I surprised myself with this vehicle's abilities! In the Venn Diagram of hard-core offroaders and 14er climbers, there's very, very little overlap between the two In fact, I'm the only one I know of that enjoys both.

If you've done LB 3 times, you'd be a great partner to go with. Happy to chauffeur you to the Lake!!

[justiner]

In the Venn Diagram of hard-core offroaders and 14er climbers, there's very, very little overlap between the two In fact, I'm the only one I know of that enjoys both.

Your next level is Mt. of the Holy Cross via Holy Cross City Jeep Road.

[daway8]

I did get all the way to the Lake. Fun drive. I have a heavily modified Nissan Xterra and I've been offroading for about 25 years. Still, I surprised myself with this vehicle's abilities! In the Venn Diagram of hard-core offroaders and 14er climbers, there's very, very little overlap between the two In fact, I'm the only one I know of that enjoys both.

If you've done LB 3 times, you'd be a great partner to go with. Happy to chauffeur you to the Lake!!

I do enjoy offroading but I don't think I qualify as hard-core - I only made it to 10,200ft on Lake Como road...

Sweet, let me know when you start to dial in a specific time-frame - after my recent last ascent (for which I went on to do the Little Bear - Blanca Traverse) I scouted out the West Ridge Indirect route but have in mind to scout out the region a little more to refine that route and/or sleuth out a better one.

The Hourglass would not be my preferred route up, given the rockfall, but we could discuss options. I would be happy to show you up either the class 5 West Ridge Direct or the difficult class 3 (maybe class 4) West Ridge Indirect in exchange for a lift up to the lake!

[H I McDunnough]

I've hiked Holy Cross and I've driven Holy Cross City Road, but I did them separately. Honestly, I found Lake Como Road to be more of a challenge to drive than Holy Cross City, but maybe that's just me.

[H I McDunnough]

[/quote]

I do enjoy offroading but I don't think I qualify as hard-core - I only made it to 10,200ft on Lake Como road...

Sweet, let me know when you start to dial in a specific time-frame - after my recent last ascent (for which I went on to do the Little Bear - Blanca Traverse) I scouted out the West Ridge Indirect route but have in mind to scout out the region a little more to refine that route and/or sleuth out a better one.

The Hourglass would not be my preferred route up, given the rockfall, but we could discuss options. I would be happy to show you up either the class 5 West Ridge Direct or the difficult class 3 (maybe class 4) West Ridge Indirect in exchange for a lift up to the lake!
[/quote]

Sounds good! I'll ping you via PM next Spring and we can put a plan in place!

[daway8]

Sounds good! I'll ping you via PM next Spring and we can put a plan in place!

Great, looking forward to it!

[The_Ramp]

I would also be interested as I have had the Blanca group circled for awhile with the biggest deterrent being LB intimidation and a single point failure in my normal climbing partner. I have done a lot of research into the non-hourglass routes, including the Class 3/4 bypass routes that have come into the 14ers.com consciousness just recently (including the awesome report by daway8 earlier this summer - link below) and am definitely interested in hooking up with 1 or 2 seasoned climbers to help document it even further.

FWIW - I have most of the "hard" 14ers done and consider myself a strong-not-fast hiker/scrambler and a very good route-finder. And I have no desire to attempt the traverse either. Thanks!

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=22632

[mindfolded]

I've also been thinking a lot of getting back up there for more scouting of that route. I'd love to tag along, especially of I don't have to backpack the road!

[Ryan987]

You could try the SW ridge in cooler weather. That's my plan anyways

[nyker]

To at least help (not eliminate) risk of rockfall, going in the Spring on a good conditions day would be a good option if you're ok on steeper snow/ice.
The hourglass when dry isn't really technically that hard, it's just scary with that risk of widowmakers which also will take some concentration off the climbing constantly looking up...and down for anyone below you.