Labour Day weekend 2014 – what better way to kick off the Fall season than with a 14er hike.  Wait – how ‘bout backpacking followed by two 14er summits.  Sweet!

Because of work obligations, I could not travel down on Friday with my Fort Collins-based hiking friends, Cammy & Erik so woke early on Saturday, loaded the backpack (with newly acquired camping gear) & hit the highway.  Stopping only once along the way, I arrived at Blanca Peak trailhead in under 5 hours (yep, it’s a haul).

Drove a quarter-mile up Lake Como Road & parked – Prius is not the right ride for this extreme off-road trail.

Lake Como Road in the Sangre de Cristos is regarded as one of the roughest in Colorado. Hikers, accessing fourteeners Blanca and Little Bear peaks and Ellingwood Point, hate it. Extreme off-roaders love it.

My 70lb rucksack was crazy heavy.  In addition to a tent, sleeping bag & water, I packed poles, a winter jacket, ski cap, gloves & long johns.  Who doesn’t in August, right?  🙂

Backpack propped on the hood of my car, I slide under the sack thinking this my best approach to stand upright.  100ft down the road, pop – lost 2 straps.  Argh.  Jerry-rigged my tent onto the top of the backpack – off I go again.

7 miles UP.  Really questioned hauling winter gear with starting hike temps in the low 90’s.

Arrived lakeside 5 hours later (welcomed by Cammy & Erik), tent set-up (super easy, thanks Marmot), filled my stomach (dehydrated food packet & hot water), campsite greet by 4 deer, then crashed an hour later.  Early start tomorrow – Blanca awaits!

(After the sun goes down at 12,000 ft, was mighty happy with the jacket & long johns.  Just saying.)

Up at dawn & immediately hit the trail.  Struggled a bit with altitude.  Haven’t climbed high peaks since early July, compensated with extra water intake.

Rock…lotta rock on today’s trek.  Lucky for me, super hiker Cammy blunted skillz on the prior day’s (Class 4) 14er climb (allowing me to keep pace).  Little Bear Friday, Blanca Peak & Ellingwood Saturday.  Seriously HARDCORE.

Abandoned poles & rock climbed the last 500 feet – only scary if you look down 🙂

SUMMIT SUCCESS!  Genuinely stunning, view created by the gods – SPECTACULAR!

Hiked 1,000ft down to Ellingwood junction, said our goodbyes to Erik (ditched us to fly fish) & started navigating a seemingly endless boulder field.  Two misfires, then spotted a descending hiker.  Started climbing UP his direction, gathered advice & just kept at it.  Wasn’t punking out, eye on the prize.  Sooooo much rock.  Lotta short breaks – my stomach was churning (altitude & poor food management – hadn’t consumed enough calories, now couldn’t eat).

10:30am – SUMMIT SUCCESS, 2^nd of the day.  FAAAANNNTASTIC!

Lost our way on the trek down.  Climbed back UP, rock traversed & scoured for safe passage down from Ellingwood’s towering rock shelves. Wasn’t pretty but ultimately made our way on trail near Blanca’s base.

Crashed in my tent for the afternoon.  Amazing what sleep can do a body.  Highly recommended.   Downed a 2^nd packet of food – refueled, all good now.  Tagged along & watched Erik fly fish at Como – catch n release, fish were a bitin’.

Lack of serving dishes dictated a formal 3 course meal – a camping fiesta.  Hot tea, followed by couscous, followed by Ramen, followed by dehydrated red beans & rice.  Yep, kept re-using the same cup.  LOL>

High altitude air, alpine lakes, sunsets, fly fishing, star gazing, smell of pine, darting marmots & deer.  Absolutely nothing like it in the world.  LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.

 Blanca Peak summit clip