Blanca Peak

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/13/2012, By: jdorje
Info: The Blanca group got snow on the 12th, which last at least through the 13th (picture 1). As of morning on the 17th, no snow was visible from Alamosa. However in the afternoon a fairly dense storm blew through and dropped a hefty dusting across the whole Blanca group. 

Route: Gash Ridge
Posted On: 6/17/2012, By: Neil
Info: Gash Ridge conditions, taken from summit of Lindsey. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 6/15/2012, By: Stevo
Info: Road is completly clear to above Lake Como. Tree‘s previously mentioned have been removed. Summer conditions exist the whole way and the one snowfield to the saddle can be easily avoided. Tennis shoes got me to the top of Blanca and Ellingwood. 

Route: Gash Ridge
Posted On: 6/18/2012, By: Doug Hemken
Info: The Ridge itself was dry. Found a little snow hiking up from Huerfano Valley, and snow was useful in getting us back via Winchell Lakes. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 5/29/2012, By: lemurtech
Info: Climbed in one day from bottom of road. Winter gear no longer necessary, no need for microspikes or ice axe on Blanca. Few small snow fields can easily be walked across or avoided above 13,000‘. Anyone attempting to drive Lake Como Road - 18+" spruce down across Jaws 3, will need chainsaw and wench to remove. Tree down across road (fell on Sat 5/26) just above Lake Como, probably can be moved by 4-5 guys. Very windy, smoky, and dusty, no views. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 4/30/2012, By: jscampoli
Info: I hiked in trail runners up to Lake Como, but switched to snowshoes above. Some new snow had recently fallen, slightly crusty and every step we broke through and sunk a few inches - not terribly difficult but pretty annoying. Summit was in the clouds and getting iced. Still winter conditions up there, be prepared for snow travel and winter camping. Broke trail up until 13k +/-, then some weather moved in, snow and wind picked up, and we were pretty mashed from the slog up (parked at nearly the bottom of the road), so we bailed. Gorgeous area though. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 3/24/2012, By: Artvandalay
Info: Climbed Ellingwood on Thursday (my partner did Ellingwood and Blanca). The Lake Como approach is free of snow until about 11000 feet. I drove my jeep to 10,300 (.7 miles short of Jaws I and 2.25 miles short of Lake Como) and never saw snow. The snow got deep after Lake Como and I felt snowshoes were necessary until 13,300. The snow was at it's deepest in the trees after Lake Como where there is now a pretty well defined trench. It's getting warmer but there's still plenty of snow up there. Photo 1: @12000 feet just above lake como Photo 2 : The south face of Ellingwood taken at 13500 Photo 3: Just below the ledges where you split for either Blanca or Ellingwood Photo 4: Just above the ledges looking back taken at 13300. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 3/6/2012, By: WDavis
Info: Conditions are very iffy and unstable right now. If you go anytime soon be ready to turn around. I made it to 13k and had to turn around because I was having traction issues and things were too avalanchey to continue safely. I picked a line that skirted the cliffs/ledges to the north. At one point I was crossing a 15-20 degree slope and it whoomfed 25-30ft to my left. I immediately hit the rock rib and stayed there as much as I could. Up higher it looked like more of the same except steeper. Since it was so warm I was also having trouble getting my crampons and axe to bite. I was rattled and very uncomfortable because of the way the things had turned out and after debating for about an hour (I was only ~1 mile from the summit) I decided to turn around. Things were dicey on the way down as well. It‘s easy going to Lake Come. Definitely take snowshoes. Lots of post holing around Lake Como. Pics to come later. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 1/30/2012, By: SnowAlien
Info: Approach to Lake Como does not require snowshoes (2-4 inches of snow on the road). Snowshoes needed after Lake Como. There is a faint snowshoe track through the trees to the gully that leads up to Little Bear. The Blue Lakes basin is wind scoured, and with clever route finding, only occasional trail breaking and postholing was necessary. Ellingwood Point seems to hold more snow than Blanca. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/25/2011, By: ledhead69
Info: The upper parts of Lake Como Rd and up to Blue Lakes had small patches of snow here and there, but nothing of issue. After Blue Lakes and up to Crater Lake, there was mix of hard snow, no snow, and posthole to your knees snow. After Crater Lake, the tracks largely diverge and the cairns seem to point in various directions, so you can pick your poison, but I was able to do some talus hopping and stay largely on solid rocks for most of the day. An ice axe was handy for a steep, hard snow section (and the subsequent glissade!) 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 10/11/2011, By: LynnKH
Info: Lots of powder in the Como area. Monday morning I had to park my car below 8,500 due to snow. By 10,000 feet the snow on Como road was a about 6 - 9 inches. By the lake I was post-holing up to my knees in spots (about 2 feet). I hadn‘t brought the snow shoes so it took much longer than expected and I called it a day at Lake Como. Not sure how much will melt with warmer and drier days this week, but should be significant. By the time I got back to my car, snow below 9k was nearly gone. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 9/19/2011, By: pinhead
Info: On Sunday I hiked Blanca from Lake Como, parking at 8800. The area above 13000 is snow covered to a depth of about 6 inches. The valley down to 11000 was dusted with snow in the morning but had melted away by the afternoon. An ice axe is definitely recommended for the Blanca route above 13000. The snow made for relatively easy climbing once on the ridge, but slowed things down in the lower talus fields. Much of this may melt off if we get some dry weather -- Thursday and Friday saw heavy storms. The attached picture looks from Blanca back down the ridge toward Ellingwood. 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 8/10/2011, By: etrex
Info: In regards to the bear sightings, it seems that bear has been a big problem snatching food all night. My friend hiked it last week and said that all they could hear was banging pots and whistles to try and scare the bear away. The DOW showed up and they had decided to euthanize the bear. At 5:20 the next morning they heard a gun shot and they saw the DOW had shot the bear. Sad, but did make them sleep better. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 8/2/2011, By: Artvandalay
Info: I just wanted to post a bear sighting in the vicinity of Lake Como. There was a large lone bear at the log cabin just above Lake Como. When he saw me he shimmied up a tree about 30 feet and I was able to get around him to continue hiking. Talking to others that day that had been camping in the area it seemed like that bear had been making quite a few appearances. Just wanted to let anyone know going into that area that they might get eaten if not careful. Brady 

Route: Lake Como Approach
Posted On: 6/27/2011, By: mrschaible
Info: Blanca and Ellingwood Point are clear of snow. Summer hiking conditions are here!