Blanca Peak

[Tnsejed]

Does anybody know what the conditions are like up the trail? Or any information on when it may be passable.

Also I'm trying to find info on completion times.

I've got to go be a vendor with a company that I work with at OEX in flagstaff. I'm trying to plan a fun trip down there hitting some trails along the way.

[Brad]

No idea. What vendor?

[Tnsejed]

Hmm. I may have to just try it and see. I'm leaving 4 days early. Going to try and hit as much dirt as I can. I'm still in the early phases of planning it but there's alot of neat stuff along the way. The springtime may make it interesting though. For the first day I figured Medano pass to Blanca, all depending on passability and time.

Triple Aught Design is the vendor I'll be with.

[sunk]

Blanca is one of those on my bucket list. From everything Ive read it really isnt passible until later in the season, Ive heard people making it to the lake around July 4th, I guess it depends on how much snow they have in the southern end of the state. As far as how long, not sure but if I was to run the trail I would want to camp at the lake for a night.

[Brad]

TAD gear! Awesome. What do you do with that company? (I am a TADdict!)

[Tnsejed]

That's what all of my reading had found as well Adam. I'm guessing I won't make it far due to snowpack. Which more or less makes me want to skip it and save the time for something else in new Mexico or Arizona. Blanca is close enough we can do a trail run during a better season.

Still early planning but Id like to run Canyon De Chelly in AZ as well. Aside from that I think hitting a difficult trail in Az or Nm instead of Blanca will be my plan for now.

Tadgear and my company, Rexford Knives, have been doing business for a long time. I'm one of the custom knifemakers that TAD collaborates with.

You going down to OEX Brad?

[Brad]

I wish. I am in training in Orlando that weekend. I'm going to have to get some knives from you.

[glacierpaul]

It is also called Lake Como Road, done it once in my huge Ford, but only to the first obstacle by the old mining cabins. I parked there and we attempted too hike rest of way to the lake, but we had our one year old daughter in a back pack, and our 3 year old boy at the time got too tired. Funny him getting tired back then, most of you know my boy Aidan now will laugh at that, I know I am. I want to do it with my Rubicon for sure, on our next trip to the Sand Dunes. On a side, check out 14ers.com for camping related info, there are bears who frequent the area, so utilize a bear locker if you camp and leave site. Or hang your stuff from a tree branch. Not in a vehicle either. Just an fyi.

[Tnsejed]

That helped! Searching for Lake Como Road gave me a good trailhead report from a week ago. Sounds like it is clear only to Jaws 1, possibly Jaws 2.

[glacierpaul]

Nice! That would still be a fun trip to Jaws 1 or 2, and do the hike from there. I am still debating in my mind if I would solo(wheel) that, I've got plenty of other trail experience, but that is a way remote trail as for recovery. Going in a small group or at least one other is best, to be safe. There was a tight spot where my rear tire got kicked off the road right on a shear drop. That was when it all came to me about where we were, and no others up there at the time. It is a gnarly f'ing trail, trust me on that, at least it was in my 22' long Ford, full of camping gear. I am anxious to get to the lake via the Jeep or my atv for that matter. We have a travel trailer so we use the Dunes campground for our staging area, for that entire area, but now I have the Rubicon to take too :).

[ColoJeeper]

Blanca is definitely one that I would not attempt alone. There are too many places where a little bit of assistance is the difference between a very nice day and a logistical nightmare. I think I want my Rubicon on 35's before I take it up to the top, as it was a job with my CJ on 35's. I do hear that Jaws 2 has been redone, and is easier and a safer than back in the day when I drove it last.

[ctracy5]

Here's a good video of the trail, looks like you need some good clearance and no fear of body damage for this trail.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnKRS9N80bw

[dscowell]

Nothing to add of value to the trail but the lady in the orange FSJ in the video is one of my English teachers

[Chris]

Nothing to add of value to the trail but the lady in the orange FSJ in the video is one of my English teachers

If you didn't like her before you gotta now!

[ExplorerTom]

Wow! I knew Blanca was a tough one, but WOW! Serious stuff right there.

Remember someone recently posted a video of a bunch of Jeeps on a multi-day trip? A couple were towing trailers. This was the first trail they did. Couldn't imagine also managing a trailer through all that. They said they winched a bunch- and I can see why now.

[dscowell]

If you didn't like her before you gotta now!

Now I love English class.:D

[Tnsejed]

Now I love English class.:D

That's funny.

I'm going with my buddy so it wouldn't be solo. But either way If we can't make it all the way its not worth it. Right now I'm looking at heading into Farmington and doing the Glade runs.

But, I'm thinking Blanca might have to be a planned trail run when it gets later in the season!

[otisdog]

People have been killed on Jaws 2.
I was told by People on Traildamage that have done the trail that you need a minimum of 35's and two lockers. You also need lot's of balls.
Jim

They say this guy had been drinking. Jaws 2 got him.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/jaws_2_part_7.jpg

[Serious Offroad]

http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm

[Serious Offroad]

Hmmmmmmm..
Blanca isn't listed....bummer

[Tnsejed]

Hmmmmmmm..
Blanca isn't listed....bummer

Yeah. The info I got about the snow was from the 14'ers mountaineering site. I tried to cross reference altitude reports with garmin basecamp files.
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/trailheads2.php?thparm=sc01