| Blanca Peak |
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Geology (Blanca Peak)Title: Blanca Peak Geology Entered by: rockdoc53 Added: 10/19/2010, Last Updated: 10/19/2010 Sources: Johnson, B.R. and Bruce, R.M., 1991, Reconnaissance geologic map of parts of the Twin Peaks and Blanca Peak Quadrangles, Alamosa, Costilla, and Huerfano counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2169 Blanca, Ellingwood and Little Bear peaks are part of a granitic batholith formed over 1.7 billion years ago (Early Proterozoic). Blanca Peak is composed predominantly of metagabbro with tonalite gneiss on the eastern side. Metagabbro is a dark gray to very dark green, metamorphosed igneous rock of gabbroic composition, typically with phenocrysts of hornblende and plagioclase. Tonalite gneiss is a white to light gray green metamorphosed igneous rock of tonalite composition, typically 60% plagioclase, 30% quartz 2% potassium feldspar, and 8% percent mafic minerals altered to epidote, chlorite and muscovite. A few Miocene-Oligocene felsic dikes intrude the metagabbro near the summit. |
Climbing History (Blanca Peak)Title: First Recorded Blanca ascent Entered by: gpeoples Added: 5/14/2010, Last Updated: 5/14/2010 Sources: A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, By: Walter R. Borneman and Lyndon J. Lampert, Third Addition, Published 1994. Pruett Publishing, Company Boulder. First recorded ascent of Blanca Peak was on August 14, 1874, by Gilbert Thompson and Frank Carpenter of the Wheeler Survey; yet, much to their surprise, they found a man-made stone breastwork on the summit. Possibly, the Utes had climbed the peak and used it as a lookout. |
Name History (Blanca Peak)Title: Naming of Blanca Peak Entered by: 14erFred Added: 5/14/2010, Last Updated: 5/14/2010 Sources: Borneman, W.R., & Lampert, L.J. (1978). A climbing guide to Colorado's Fourteeners. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company. Hart, J.L.J. (1977). Fourteen thousand feet: A history of the naming and early ascents of the high Colorado peaks (Second Edition). Denver, CO: The Colorado Mountain Club. The name "Sierra Blanca" (Spanish for "white sawtooth mountains") is used to designate the group of peaks that includes Blanca Peak, Little Bear Peak, Ellingwood Point, and Mt. Lindsey. The name probably refers to the snow that perpetually covers the tops of the highest peaks. Sierra Blanca was used to refer to this sub-range of the Sangre de Cristos as early as 1853, when Lieutenant E.G. Beckwith mentioned it in his report of the Gunnison Expedition. Blanca Peak is the name given to the highest summit of this group of mountains. |
