My ascent of Blanca Peak, Colorado's 4th highest mtn., by way of its NW slopes on July 7, 2021. Starting from 8,000' in the San Luis Valley, this route has me gaining a hefty 6,500' in elevation and going about 17 miles round trip. The peak is also the highest mtn. in the Sierra Blanca - the group of mtns. for which it is named - and the highest peak in the entire Sangre de Cristo range. The route takes me first up the long Lake Como road with sweeping views of the immense San Luis Valley, through the forest, past several blue alpine lakes, and finally up to the rocky cloud-enveloped heights. At the beginning I explain a bit about the history of the area, and at the end I explain how from just an endurance perspective, this could be the hardest single mtn. I have yet climbed. As always I have included maps and route descriptions. Enjoy the footage!! Below is a table of contents for this video:
0:00 - intro.
1:22 - Views of the mtn. from various vantage points, & history
3:30 - Getting started on foot
4:10 - Route overview & statistics
5:52 - Initial stretch of the Lake Como road: ~8,000' to ~8,800'
6:39 - 2nd stretch of the road: ~8,800' to ~9,700'
9:56 - 3rd stretch of the road: ~9,700' to ~10,600'
14:05 - 4th stretch of the road: ~10,600' to ~11,800' and Lake Como
19:13 - Final stretch of road from Lake Como at ~11,800', and the first stretch of trail up to Crater Lake at ~12,800.
28:02 - The section of the trail up Blanca Peak's NW face, from ~12,800' to ~13,800'
33:38 - The final ascent to the summit, up Blanca's NW ridge, from ~13,800' to 14,345'
42:59 - Scenes & comments at the top
45:47 - Descending the final pitch, and thoughts
46:29 - Final reflections on the climb
48:10 - Some final scenes from the day
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Music selections:
1) "Solo Cello Passion" - Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions (RU-vid audio library)
2) "Eagle Rock" - Wes Hutchinson (RU-vid audio library)
3) "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" - Zachariah Hickman" (RU-vid audio library)
4) "Arkansas Traveler" - Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum (RU-vid audio library)
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Additional sources:
1) For maps: U.S. Geological Survey - USGS
2) "A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners" by Walter R. Borneman and Lyndon J. Lampert. Pruett Publishing, 2nd edition, 1988.
3) "Colorado's Fourteeners - From Hikes to Climbs" by Gerry Roach. Fulcrum Publishing, 3rd edition, 2011.
4) 14ers.com: Blanca Peak/routes/Northwest Ridge
5) For signs: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA
6) "Colorado's Highest - The History of Naming the 14,000-Foot Peaks" by Jeri L. Norgren. John Fielder Publishing, 2020.
27 июл 2024
