14er TBT: TR: Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak Ski (25 April 2010)
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This is part of an ongoing series re-telling Brittany’s fourteener-skiing story. Look for the reports every Thursday, as part of a Throwback Thursday theme.
After skiing Little Bear, I had my sights on Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak, also located in the same zone. But, I had to wait for conditions to improve. A good spring storm coated the peaks sooner than expected, and I was on it….
Below is a slightly modified version of my report for skiing Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak, which would become my 47th fourteener skied.
After hitting Little Bear a week and a half ago I knew Blanca wasn’t really skiable, as can be seen in this picture. Ellingwood is on the left and Blanca is the pile of rocks on the right.
I knew that in order to ski this peak, I’d have to be patient and wait for a nice wet spring storm to come in and cake Blanca with snow, making it a peak more appropriate to it’s name. Well, that storm came sooner than expected. Much better coverage this time!
Sunday’s plan had originally been to ski Wilson and/or El Diente. With Frank being sick all week, I rallied our friends Chris and Pam to join me. But, upon waking up on Saturday morning and seeing how much snow had fallen in the San Juans, I realized these peaks were not the good choice. Time to shift gears. Snotel was reporting over 7 inches of snowfall in the Sierra Blanca at 10,650′. With spring storms like this, I knew 7 inches could mean a lot more up high. This storm could be what I needed to cover Blanca. Chris and Pam decided to pass this one up. So, I scrambled to find partners. Tom Runcie and Brennan Metzler rose to the occasion, along with AE Films crew Dave and Keith. To ski Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak we would go!
We camped at the two-wheel drive parking on Como Lake road, and then drove up as far as we could get early in the morning. A combination of snow and increasing difficulty of the road forced us to stop at 8,800′, where we had stopped just a week and a half ago on our Little Bear trip. However, this time, we were able to skin right from the car- a surprise that everyone enjoyed.
Dave breaking trail.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Dave and Tom pause past Como Lake, checking out our goals for the day- Ellingwood on the left, Blanca on the right. Everyone was surprised how cold it was. Temperatures were likely in the teens.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
A closer look at Ellingwood. I wish the couloir connected to the top!
Onward.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
When we reached the basin between Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak, just above Crater Lakes, we dropped off Keith. He was to remain there for the majority of the day, posting as our camera guy. Keith had to endure howling winds and cold temperatures all day, all while standing still in his “camera hole”. Thanks Keith!
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Brennan, Tom, and Dave leading the way to Ellingwood.
Tom and I.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Tom nearing Ellingwood’s ridge with Lindsey behind on his left and the Spanish peaks in the distance on his right.
Tom on the summit!
From Ellingwood, it is very clear that Blanca dominates.
We stayed on the summit for a while, enjoying the sunshine, checking out the views. Brennan and me.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Dave and me.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Looking down.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Blanca and Little Bear.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Brennan dropped in first.
And proceeded to rip out a pocket of snow which went crashing over the cliffs below us.
Then Tom dropped.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Me enjoying Ellingwood powder.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Looking at the pocket that Brennan ripped out from below.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
After a break in the basin to eat some food, we headed back up for Blanca.
Though this peak is 300 feet taller than Ellingwood, the peak itself on Blanca is physically closer, and therefore took less time to reach than Ellingwood. Brennan skinning up.
Brennan and I approaching the summit.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
As can be seen in the pictures, poor weather was moving in. Winds increased and the already cool temperatures got colder. We did not last long on the summit. View from the summit.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Ellingwood from Blanca. Peaks always look more impressive from afar.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Me, navigating through the upper rocky section.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Metzler
Past the rocky section, snow was abound. Tom dropped first, and I missed photos of him. But, I did manage to grab a few of Brennan on his way down.
In the basin we re-grouped. Our day was a success. Fourteeners #48 and #49 were done for me, and I now have 5 more fourteeners left to ski. Keith was pleased with the footage we’d gathered. Tom was happy to have tackled his first two fourteeners ever (he didn’t really know what he was getting into when I suggested he come along with me this weekend). And Brennan was happy to have boarded some fourteeners in pow.
Heading back to Como Lake.
A look at Baby Thunder couloir, where we had been skiing just a week and a half before. Pam lost her ski in the hanging snowfield at the top of the couloir to the right. I caught it just before it went sailing down the cliffs below.
Back at the valley floor, the weather was warm and nice. A huge contrast to the cold temperatures we’d endured all day long. Sunsets are beautiful on the plains too.
Photo courtesy of Tom Runcie
Thanks to Tom, Brennan, Keith, and Dave for your support and for making this a fun and successful mission on Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak!
Just 5 more peaks to finish skiing all the fourteeners in Colorado. It was nearly May. Could I finish them this season?
- Mount Buckskin (17 May 2020) - May 28, 2020
- Horseshoe Ski (14 May 2020) – The mountain whose journey nearly killed me - May 27, 2020
- Sayres X-Rated Ski (10 May 2020) - May 19, 2020
