[TR] Blanca Lake - Columbia Glacier and peak above Blanca 5/8/2010

[AlpineK]

Trip: Blanca Lake - Columbia Glacier and peak above Blanca

 

Date: 5/8/2010

 

Trip Report:

After talking to people about Blanca Lake, skiing, and access I decided to go there. In mid February tanstaafl and I skied towards the lake. If nothing else we figured we would get first hand knowledge about the area and the approach to the lake. We hiked then skied as far as Virgin Lake. White out conditions got the best of us then. The descent to Blanca from Virgin lake didn't look straight forward, but I did get enough views to be psyched for a return trip.

 

A few friends brought up the subject of Blanca, and I jumped at the chance. I figured I'd at least get to the lake. Recent snow conditions make me a little nervous.

 

The road in was snow free. Our group of 8 started hiking with skis and boots on packs. After gaining elevation we found enough snow to switch to skiing a ways before Virgin Lake. An icy sidehill route took us the rest of the way to Blanca Lake.

 

 

Approach Skiing

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ecaz4QF2I/AAAAAAAAAas/8zsMRWicME4/s512/1-Hike--Up.gif[/img]

 

First views of peaks above Blanca Lake

[img:center]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ecbh8nfAI/AAAAAAAAAa0/AAPLwKSt9mY/s512/4-Columbia-first_view_Panor.gif[/img]

 

At the lake we saw lots of evidence of recent slides off cliffs. After some talk we decided we could cross the lake then head up the center of the valley keeping close to the bottom of the U shape. Eventually we figured we should stop and talk more about route selection and avalanche risks.

 

Skiing across the lake

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-eccLrLwfI/AAAAAAAAAa8/9mJr8xmKcuI/s720/7-Blanca-Lake-Traverse_Pano.gif[/img]

 

Looking up valley.

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ec6SahGzI/AAAAAAAAAbA/z26AQ6oEsHc/s720/9-Above-Blanca-Valley_Panor.gif[/img]

 

We skied to a bench just above trees in the center of the valley. At that point we could see the top of Columbia Peak. There was an obvious crown of a slab fracture near the top of Columbia, and a ton of debris a couple hundred yards ahead of us.

 

Temperatures that day were warming, and we got to see some cool point release slides coming off cliffs at the edges of the valley.

 

I didn't get my camera out fast enough for the best part

[video:youtube]

 

At that point we all decided skiing back to the lake was the smart move. We also saw a slope with glades of trees near the outlet for the lake. That looked like a safer ski slope. Views are great at Blanca, but after hiking all that way getting some turns in was a priority.

 

High Point

[img:center]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ec67Uy4EI/AAAAAAAAAbE/tslZBSuo1Lk/10-Group-Shot.gif[/img]

 

Sure enough we found a nice slope for skiing. As we skied up for our second run a new batch of weather moved in. Warm weather was replaced by flurries of snow

 

Looking back at run #1 while hiking towards #2

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ec7RjT66I/AAAAAAAAAbI/FgA14-tHEL4/s512/11-Columbia-Glacier_Panoram.gif[/img]

 

View of Hubbart Peak from our high point

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ec7xWk_SI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/vTg1Q6ZcLew/14-Vesper.gif[/img]

 

This slope provided the best skiing of the day. Not bad ass, but you can't have everything.

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/S-ed0NHzIKI/AAAAAAAAAbY/CfJUXRBhkHc/16-Descent.gif[/img]

 

 

From there we skied back up the sidehill to Virgin Lake then headed down the trail to our cars.

 

The area is cool, and well worth a trip. In better conditions there are some great lines to ski.

 

 

 

Approach Notes:

The route between virgin and Blanca Lakes is the tricky part. Stay too high and you run into cliffs. Too low and you end up in trouble (Troublesome Creek).