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| Report Type |
Full |
| Peak(s) |
Blanca Peak - 14,350 feet
|
| Date Posted |
08/28/2011 |
| Date Climbed |
08/27/2011 |
| Author |
ETA |
| Blanca - Ellingwood |
I drove down Friday afternoon from Denver to Lake Como Road, camped about 2 miles off the pavement. Nice evening after the rain stopped, a decent car camping spot is not hard to find along the jeep road. I was anxious to get started in the morning, I knew it would be long day. From where I parked it took me 2:15 to reach Lake Como, the rest of the day was much slower.
Looking back into the valley floor from near the saddle of Blanca - Ellingwood.
I was pretty tired by the time I took this photo. While I was on the ridge heading up Blanca a couple people off route started a good size slide, this was about 9:00am.
Here is a shot of Ellingwood from Blanca, it looked so steep that I didn't think I would attempt the climb. I don't think I've ever been intimidated by a peak before as I was looking across this saddle, not sure why. Planning this trip I thought I could tackle the traverse, but standing here that was not going to happen. I will add that several people I spoke to later in the day had the same feeling. I will say to anyone, go climb Ellingwood, it's easier than it looks, the standard route at least.
On the peak of Blanca was a guy who wanted to climb Ellingwood, I decided to tag along. I thank him for the encouragement and the route finding, we had a pretty uneventfull up and down of Ellingwood. It really was easier than it looked and the rock was pretty solid. I'm not implying this didn't wear me out, it sure did. Blanca shows an impressive ridge from the Ellingwood.
Here is a shot of Little Bear from Blanca, maybe I'll be back next year. Not sure I'll forget the walk up the road by then, but maybe I will.
I thought I could make the round trip in 8 hours, boy was I wrong. It took 10.5 hours , not to mention the ride from the Colorado Springs hiker (Thanks!) for the last 1 mile to the car. The heat walking the jeep road down really got the best of me. Maybe I'm getting old, but these mountains wore me out, the views were well worth it. Thanks to all I met during the walk.
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