Blanca Peak — Local services in Alamosa

At 14+ the easiest peak to summit in Alaska. Mt Hunter in AK where I live now just over 14 kills people. I hiked Blanca peak in the late 70s with my youth group from Bethel Free church in Chicago. There was no snow on the summit. There were girls on this trip in essentially in gym shoes. Blister city but we all made the summit. One of our leaders was an amputee with one leg on crutches. He was an animal. His nickname was dart. I understand the cancer returned and he died not many years later. Super inspirational. If you found yourself getting winded all you had to do was look up at him leading the group packing a massive amount of gear in his Lowe experidition pack and all your pain went away. Rob Rigg put this trip together and it changed the lives of many city kids forever. Thanks Rob. There is a 4 wheeler trail going most the way up. It was used 50 years ago and today I am sure well overused. Hot and dry at the base and reasonable temps at the top. Never get away with...

More accurately known as Sisnaajiní, or White Shell Mountain, this is the highest of the four sacred peaks of the Diné (Navajo) people.

“It is believed that centuries ago the Holy People taught the Diné how to live the right way and to conduct their many acts of everyday life. They were taught to live in harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sky and the many other elements such as man, animals, plants, and insects. The Holy People put four sacred mountains in four different directions, Mt. Blanca to the east, Mt. Taylor to the south, San Francisco Peak to the west and Mt Hesperus to the north near Durango, Colorado, thus creating Navajoland. The four directions are represented by four colors: White Shell represents the east, Turquoise the south, Yellow Abalone the west, and Jet Black the north.” —Ray...

My first ever attempt at a 14er. I tried and failed but now I know what to do next. Make it a 2 day trip ! Not an out and back in one day. Unless you start at 5am or earlier and are very fit, the last kilometer will wear you down. It did me. I stopped mainly becase of fatigue, yet I was only a few hundred meters from the top. I was on the ridge between Blanca and the other one nearby. And there was a looming storm coming in. Started back down, and then hail and lightning struck fast. I kep going and made it down safely. But you want to enjoy the experience, so make it at least 2 days. More days if you want to try the others nearby. Ill be back this year to...