Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Sangre de Cristo Range, CO, USA
Trailhead: Lake Como Road
Summit Objectives: Blanca and Ellingwood
Summit: Blanca at 14345 feet
Starting Ele: 8100 feet
Ele. Gain: 6245 feet
Distance: 20.0 mile
Day 1: Arrived at Lake Como Road (worst road in Colorado!) around 330p on Saturday after picking Hobo up from COS. The Pontiac made it 2 miles up before having to be cached in a grove of pinons and prickly pears. Left the car and 8100 ft. el. at 4p. Were aiming for Lake Como (~5.0 miles, 11,700 ft el.), but lost the sun and had some fatigue going on, so stopped to pitch the tent at ~4.5 miles, 11,300 ft el.
Day 2: On the trail at 630a. Determined that even though we weren't all that far from Lake Como, we were glad we had stopped where we did the night before. Stopped at Blue Lakes to filter water. Made it over 13000ft (above the ledges, above the gully) before the sun reached us peeking over the east side ridge between Blanca and Ellingwood. All route descriptions say "difficult class 2", but I made several apparently class 3 moves on the ridge to the summit. Summitted around 11a, with a friendly group of Ohioans. Took a break on the descent in the valley with said Ohioans. Contemplated an ascent of Ellingwood, but decided against it due to lateness of hour (1p) and fatigue. Watched some others pick their way up the south face. Reached Lake Como again around 315p. Said goodbye to Ohioans and soaked feet in Lake Como. Back to camp by 530p, asleep by 8.
Day 3: Slept in til 7, packed up, and packed out - 3200ft down "worst road in Colo." At car by 1030a.
Distance and elevation are cumulative.
