Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published January 2023

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Blanchard Ridge is located on a high ridge on the southwest side of Pole Canyon, south of Victor. This is the second leg of a 3-peak journey that includes Peak 8308, Blanchard Ridge (7,982 feet), and Peak 7704. This adventure covers 7.5 miles with 2,800 feet of elevation gain round trip. USGS Fourth of July Peak

Access

Same as for Peak 8308. This is the second leg of a 3-peak adventure that begins at the Pole Canyon Trailhead.

Southeast Ridge, Class 1

The Climb

From the unsigned trail junction at the head of Pole Canyon, continue west on the Pole Canyon Trail/FST-014 through a forested section and up onto the ridge crest and a trail junction. Go right/west to stay on FST-014 and the ridge crest. FST-014 drops to a saddle and bends northwest. After numerous ups and downs, you finally reach the [obvious] summit hump of Blanchard Ridge. Leave the trail and scramble right/east for a short distance on short scrub to stand on the high point. There is no summit cairn.

Northeast Ridge, Class 2

The Descent

From the summit, follow the semi-forested ridge crest east over the [lower] east summit hump then head left-ish/northeast down through a thicker pine forest (not too awful) to reach a minor saddle and a ridge hump with open scrub on its right/southeast side. Scramble up over this hump and descend northeast down a thickly forested face (not fun) to reach a forested, semi-open saddle at the base of [obvious] Peak 7704. This 7,320-foot connecting saddle is the conclusion of the second leg of today’s 3-peak journey. Peak 7704 is up next.