Can Blanca Peak in Colorado (14er) be hiked in a day (starting below Lake Como)?

asking all co people wrote:

Hey all, I'm going to be in CO for some days in early August and was wondering if Blanca Peak is something that would be doable to hike within a day. I would not have a great car so it sounds like I'd have to park early on and hike to Lake Como first. I'm in pretty good shape though. Do you think it would be doable in a day? I've heard August shouldn't be too bad in terms of temperature.

Yup. I did this over 15 years ago in late August. Start early, like 5:30am, and you should be fine. It's a boring slog up until Lake Como. After Como there are some cool high alpine lakes, and the peak looms above you.

If you're coming from a low elevation, I wouldn't recommend climbing this in one shot right away. Go get acclimated by hanging out/walking around the Pikes Peak area or something the day before.

Yeah the plan is to get into Boulder two days beforehand, and then the day before hang around the Pikes Peak area, maybe do Manitou Incline and then go to Blanca peak. This will be a regular car, so it sounds like we'll have to park 5 miles from Lake Como (since we won't be able to drive further).

What time did you get back? Just wondering, if it's doable to start around 6-7 AM (and get back by evening) or if 5:30 AM is best. This would be coming from low elevation before CO too... was thinking to try to get as far up as possible based on how things go.

In August, would there be anything to worry about temperature wise, or rocks/terrain wise?

You want to start early because the thunderstorms hit around noon or one and you want to be headed down. Certainly below tree line. Thunderstorms above treeline suck and are dangerous. If you haven't yet check out 14ers.com. There's a ton of info there as well.

Yes. It will be a slog up the road but definitely doable. As already stated, start early to avoid thunderstorms. A 4:30 start is reasonable if you're in decent shape and altitude doesn't put you down too much.

Thanks. Do you know of a nearby place to stay? We won't have camping gear, etc. I was thinking Alamosa but that might be a little far, maybe the city of Blanca or Fort Garland? We would have to drive to the base and then climb, and it sounds like we should start driving there super early so we can start climbing by 5:30.

Also would you say Crestone Peak is easier? Thinking about doing that instead as well.

Blanca from Lake Como is a long day for a flatlander, no matter your 5k time, your income, or the hotness of your wife. Don't underestimate the altitude. It's effects are unpredictable, and can really kick your ass.

Crestone is shorter, but arguably harder.

As others have said-get going early. If you are set on Blanca-sleep in your hotel in Alamosa from 4 to midnight, drive to Blanca and start hiking at 1 or 2 AM. You want to summit and be back in the trees by noon or one that time of year. The jeep road to Lake Como should be easy hiking in the dark--pick a full moon night, and it could be really cool.

There are better choices for a vacation fourteener, particularly if you've never climbed one before. Salida is an hour north--Shavano together with Tabaguache is likely an easier day than Blanca. And the hotels are 15 minutes from the trailhead, Blanca has got to be a solid hour from Alamosa. Those other towns in the valley don't have much in the way of accomodations.

You mentioned you'd be at Pikes Peak--The Barr Trail is pretty cool-you can camp with only a sleeping bag at the cabin halfway up, and then take the train down. Without camping, it's doable in a day, but far more pleasant if you take the train down.

Be safe, and have fun.

The reason Blanca peak was appealing is because the final destination that I'm heading to is actually Santa Fe (which I was aiming to be at the next day or two). This would make Blanca peak right on the way.

Do you know of any good peaks between CO springs and Santa Fe that wouldn't require going too far off path and might be more manageable than Blanca peak? It sounds like one should start very early to be done before afternoon.

Unfortunately I don't have any camping gear so it would all be day stuff.

The other option would be Pikes Peak..

Colorado Springs-head to Canon City (Hwy 115) then head west on 50 to Salida. I'm guessing Springs to Salida is 90 minutes--but I don't go that way often, so it might be 2 hours--don't really know.--Tabaguache, Shavano, Antero are right there. Cool town, hotels, restaurants, beer, etc. When you're done, head south on 285-then bear left on the gunbarrel highway 17 (avoiding the Monte Vista Bypass)-no hill or curve for 60 plus miles--and then you're in Alamosa. Back on 285, it's 2 or 3 hours to Santa Fe. I'd guess 90 minutes from Salida to Alamosa.

You'll spend that 90 minutes screwing around getting to and from the Como Lake Road. The San Luis Valley Is big--it's the size of New Jersey-but with only 20,000 people, and the roads that are not state highways are pretty bad.

Other alternative from Colorado Springs is US 24 to Buena Vista--Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Harvard. Bueney is half hour north of Salida--not as cool a town. And I think there's a construction project on Trout Creek Pass that might spoil your drive this summer.

If it's me, I go to Salida-and pick one of those three peaks-then haul ass to the land of enchantment.

Look at Barr Camp Cabin. All you need is a sleeping bag--they serve spaghetti at night and pancakes in the morning. Leave Manitou at noon, sleep in cabin after a nice dinner-hike the other half the next day, and return to Manitou by either train or hike. Did the train option with an 11 year old--pretty cool trip.

asking all co people wrote:

The other option would be Pikes Peak..

Do you think doing Pikes Peak would be a better option than detouring to do Salida? It sounds like splitting it over two days might be wiser, though it's tempting to try to do it all in one day from Manitou springs.

Unfortunately I'm flying into Denver, so may not have room for a sleeping bag.. :/

Salida's not much of a detour. Maybe an hour out of your way versus i25 to 160.....

Pikes is good, but crowded and touristy on top. Do one of the Salida 3 on a weekday, you'll see a dozen people. On pikes you'll see 300.

Pikes is a long day from manitou-particularly hiking both directions. The train descent cuts it down to size, but if you plan on it and then miss the last train of the day because of a slow hike, it's a long way back down by foot.

I go with Salida.

Boulder all the way

Flatlander living at sea level here. I've done Leadville and Hardrock. The first day I get to CO I have acclimated by going up Elbert or Handies.

Just start early, bring water/snacks, and go slow. Enjoy the view.

Tentatively, I was thinking the plan would be flying into Denver and then going up to Boulder on day 1, going to CO springs on day 2 (for things like some hiking around Pikes Peak or Garden of the Gods), some sort of extra hiking/14er on day 3, and then day 4 head towards New Mexico.

In this case do you think at the end of day 2 it would be best to go to Salida? Will there be enough time based on this?

Do one of the Collegiate Peaks, i.e. Mt. Princeton.

asking all co people wrote:

Hey all, I'm going to be in CO for some days in early August and was wondering if Blanca Peak is something that would be doable to hike within a day. I would not have a great car so it sounds like I'd have to park early on and hike to Lake Como first. I'm in pretty good shape though. Do you think it would be doable in a day? I've heard August shouldn't be too bad in terms of temperature.

I would argue that there is NOT a 14er in CO that can't be hiked in a day.