Blanca Peak - 14,350 Feet

Lake Como Road is widely considered the most brutal, vehicle-destroying 4WD road in Colorado. It features extreme, named rock obstacles like "Jaws 1 through 4" that will instantly high-center or flip standard SUVs. Unless you possess a highly modified, rock-crawling rig with massive tires and locking differentials, you must park standard 2WD or vehicles at the lower lot (around 8,000 feet) and normal 4WD vehicles near 9,000 feet, and backpack the remaining 5 to 7 miles up the unrelenting, loose-rock road to reach Lake Como. However, some stock 4WD vehicles crawl as high as 10,000 feet on the road and park along the road.

No, both peaks sit at the upper limit of Class 2 difficulty and should not be attempted by beginners. Above 13,400', the trails completely dissolve into boulder fields and talus. The final summit pushes require route-finding, steady balance over shifting rock blocks, and a high level of physical stamina to manage the elevation gain.

Because both peaks wrap around the same upper basin, most climbers bag them as a single "doubleheader" day trip from a base camp at Lake Como. That means first packing in to Lake Como and setting up a camp. On peak day, the standard method is to ascend Blanca Peak first via its Northwest Ridge, drop back down the trail to the high ridge saddle at 13,800 feet, and then navigate the rugged traverse across the connecting ridge to Ellingwood Point. This saves you from having to descend all the way back to 13,400 feet to start the second peak.

While bear canisters are not legally mandated, hanging your food or using an animal-proof container is highly recommended. The Lake Como basin is heavily populated with aggressive marmots, mice, and porcupines that will easily chew through tent fabric and backpacks to reach food or salt from sweat-stained gear. Bears also frequent the drainage, so all food, trash, and scented items should be secured well away from your sleeping area.