Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point

Ski Descent Link UP

Blanca Peak Ski Decent - 14,351 Feet

Scrambling to the summit ridge

The Sangre de Cristo range is a remote range that doesn’t get enough love from the people of Colorado. This is one of the better ranges in the state with rugged, steep and remote peaks.

We decided to head south to the Sangres for this link up because the entire state had terrible weather, and the Sangres had a lot of snow (which can be rare)

Rough Stats:

  • 10.8 miles

  • 5,600 feet of vert

  • GPX File - Link

Trip Report:

Date: April 21st, 2024

Culprits: Chandler, James, Isaac

Me (Chandler) and James met Isaac at the Lake Como Trailhead to camp out and then drive up the road as far as we possibly could. We parked at a curve at 9,900 feet, started in trail shoes (4am start time) and headed off up the road. We did 1.5ish miles in trail shoes then transitions to our skis and got to the base of the first climb up Ellingwood Point at 7am.

The 4am Start Vibe

Almost to the saddle

Skiing down the gully

Under the first climb up Ellingwood

Navigating the cliffs

Topping out Blanca’s ski line (60+ degrees steep)

Skiing the face

Ellingwood Point Ski Descent - 14,048 Feet

Climbing to the saddle of Ellingwood

Traversing the summit ridge

Traversing to Blanca Peak

Just walking off the summit back to our skis

Exit skiing is usually harder than the objective

Cruising back to the car

10 hours and 40 mins car to car.

These two lines were fun and exciting, not classics but I would say if the sangres have a good snow year, they would be on my list.

Gear Notes:

  • 1 Hybrid Axe (frozen snow)

  • Crampons

Strategy Notes:

  • When I was researching this line, Ellingwood Point had a lot of ski options, on a great snow year, I believe you can ski from the summit down the direct face, for us, we didn’t have that option, so we just had to link something together. Make sure to scope it out a little from the basin before going up to pick a line.

  • 2 weeks prior, a party had skied off the summit of Blanca Peak, and to be fair, they skied a lot of rocks… you could go for the off the summit ski, for us, it didn’t make sense. On a low snow year, that face we skied is 100% empty. Just a couple of things to keep in mind.