Gash Ridge

Blanca Peak 14,350'

Ellingwood Point 14,049'

Point 13,656', Point 13,577' and Unranked Point 13,654'

June 5, 2026

Laura and I wanted to get out for a scrambling day in the mountains before we headed to Canada and I had never climbed Gash ridge on Blanca before, so we decided to head down to the Sangres for a day out in the mountains. We started early in the morning and reached the ridge in no time. 

We saw several ptarmigan on the hike in

We also saw a heard of big horns

After a fun and sustained fourth class scramble, with one short fifth class section, we reached the summit of Blanca Peak. 

Justin scrambling on Gash Ridge

Gash Ridge on Blanca

There were a few more exposed sections

Justin climbing on Gash Ridge

Summit of Blanca Peak with Little Bear in the background

We talked about traversing over to Little Bear, however the skies didn’t look promising, so we chose to just scramble down and across to Ellingwood Point and some other 13ers in the area. 

Summit of Ellingwood Point

This curious pika was checking us out.

After reaching Ellingwood Point, we descended down the north ridge.  Despite reading on-line that it wasn't passable, Laura and Roland had done this route years ago, so we knew it was possible.

Justin working his way down the north ridge of Ellingwood Point

Justin on the traverse from Ellingwood Point to Point 13,656'

The descent was interesting, loose and challenging with some 5th class down climbing before connecting to a ridge that led us to ranked 13ers points 13,656 and 13,577 along with unranked 13,654.  

Justin stopping to sign the summit register on point 13,656'

After the extended ridge traverse, we descended a loose gully to the tarn above Lilly Lake and continued down the same drainage to Lilly Lake where we caught the standard trail back to our car.

Justin and Laura on one of the high points with Lilly Lake in the background

Justin and Laura on the summit of Blanca Peak with Mount Lindsey in the distance.