Blanca and Ellingwood Combo

This route begins and ends on Lake Como road, typically from the trailhead located at 8,800', and reaches the summit of Blanca peak at 14,350'. The type of vehicle you are driving will determine from where you should start; most cars can drive about 1.5 miles up, while 4WD SUVs and trucks can slowly make it 3.25 miles to several pull-offs at 8,800', where this route begins. This is a popular parking spot and almost gets you to within 4 miles of Lake Como. From parking, hike the rough Lake Como Road about four miles to Lake Como at 11,750 feet, then continue past it through forest to treeline near 12,000 feet. The road ends near Blue Lakes at 12,200 feet; from there, a trail climbs a 300-foot headwall beside a waterfall, passes two small lakes, and reaches Crater Lake at 12,800 feet. Above Crater Lake, climb a second headwall through talus and ledges to a cairned corner just above 13,400 feet — mark this junction, since you'll return to it. Turn left onto the fainter Ellingwood trail, traversing below a mining hole and beneath the connecting ridge's difficulties. Continue onto Ellingwood's south face, climb toward a notch at 13,800 feet, then follow the ridge over a false summit to Ellingwood's true summit. Backtrack to the 13,800-foot notch to begin the Class 3 traverse. Crux: From the 13,800-foot notch on Ellingwood's east ridge, descend about 150 feet to a cairned path below the ridge's main difficulties, taking care not to drop too much elevation. Midway across, a gully filled with loose, white rock demands careful footing. This stretch is rated Considerable for exposure, rockfall, and route-finding — not a place to be in bad weather or low visibility. Crux: Merge left onto Blanca's northwest ridge, and ascend staying close to it's crest. Navigate a short, steep section near the top, best climbed directly rather than via the loose bypass to the right — to Blanca's summit. Descend the same ridge back to the 13,400-foot junction and retrace the approach to the trailhead.