4/5/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/9/2011, By: ColoradoSherpa Info: Hiked La Plata Peak on 4/5/2011. We ended up missing the winter route turnoff and inadvertently followed the summer route up the west side of Wilderness Boundary Gulch. We realized our mistake, but decided to continue on until we reached the area where the summer route crosses the gulch. Knowing that the summer route held avy danger, we wanted to exit the gulch before we reached the avy shoots, so once the gulch opened up, we followed a north easterly direction until we reached the same opening where the winter route (proper) breaks out of tree line. Snow below tree line was fairly deep, but manageable with snowshoes. Above tree line it was extremely windy which made the windward side of the ridge hikeable without snowshoes. |
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1/15/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 1/16/2011, By: mrschaible Info: Attempted La Plata yesterday. The weather was beautiful, but the snow was really deep. The trail starts off nice and packed but after about 1.5 miles, the trail stopped. Obviously, people turned around at this point. Tried following several peoples trails and none of them went any farther. We pressed on and made our own trail. Two of us (both in excellent condition) pushed waste deep snow with snow shoes for 5 hours and only made it to 11,500‘ (about 2.8 miles). If you are going to try it. Stay down next to the creek and out of the woods or side hill slopes (we tried both). That snow seemed to be partially packed and not as much PH. The woods and valley sides were horrendous. Do not recommend until the snow gets more packed. Right now it is really fine (like face powder) and it makes it slippery and very difficult to travel on. |
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12/10/2010 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 12/11/2010, By: ColoradoSherpa Info: Attempted to ascend La Plata peak on 12/10/2010 via the northwest ridge (winter) route, but was turned around at 13600 due to a storm. Below treeline there was fairly deep snow requiring snow shoes. Between 12000 and 13000 feet the ridge was windblown and snowshoes were not required. Above 13k large sections of the mountain had several deep snowfields, so snowshoes would be recommended, though sections could be navigated without them. |
