La Plata conditions

by **JA_son27** » 22 May 2009, 20:11

I'm planning on heading up there tomorrow please any info would be appreciated.

by **mandm15** » 23 May 2009, 08:16

Hello, does anyone know if the Northwest route for La Plata is relatively clear (meaning, can one hike it without snowshoes or crampons)? I am planning on hiking it Monday with my dog and am hoping I can leave the "winter foot-gear" at home!!

Would greatly appreciate comments on the trail conditions and the need for snowshoes/crampons/etc from anyone who has summitted the past week or so...

Thanks so much..Mike

by **stonebaez** » 23 May 2009, 09:08

Looks like we have several people waiting on conditions. I know there was a group of people heading up to do it today, hopefully they dont get rained out and come back and let us know how it was.

by **utepasspro** » 23 May 2009, 09:57

I'm a little confused- noaa says that right now "heavy snow" is falling at Monarch Pass, but the radar shows hardly anything in that area...looking forward to any info that can be provided- bump!

by **flashover00** » 23 May 2009, 10:46

+ 1......we were gonna camp just below treeline tomorrow night and try for the summit on Monday. Reading the noaa page has me looking for a dry mountain somewhere else.

by **Jim Davies** » 23 May 2009, 14:15

mandm15 wrote:Hello, does anyone know if the Northwest route for La Plata is relatively clear

There's a section of that route that can be wet and muddy even in mid-summer. I bet it's really sloppy right now...

by **JA_son27** » 23 May 2009, 20:14

I just hiked it today, and the snow fields really became prevalent at 11,700ft, but it was easily bypassed until 12,800ft, that's when I started postholing up to my waist and armpits. I stuck to the rocky outcropings and slowly made my way to the summit without snowshoes.

by **Johnson** » 24 May 2009, 07:38

JA_son27 wrote:I just hiked it today, and the snow fields really became prevalent at 11,700ft, but it was easily bypassed until 12,800ft, that's when I started postholing up to my waist and armpits. I stuck to the rocky outcropings and slowly made my way to the summit without snowshoes.

How long were the postholling portions? If you did it again, would you do snow shoes? Heading up there Tuesday so any other information would be appreciated.

by **JA_son27** » 24 May 2009, 07:54

The postholing that I experienced was pure hell, but knowing what I know now I still don't think I would bring snow shoes. If you take the right line which after trying for about 20 minutes I finally found you can make quick work of those sections. Since those rock outcroppings are so numerous I used them to my advantage, but if you want to avoid using those outcroppings (which were a little closer to the edge of the ridge) it may save you a little time to bring the snowshoes.

by **stonebaez** » 24 May 2009, 11:14

im thinking of camping tonight and doing the NW ridge tomorrow and chancing the rain... anyone else thinking the same?

La Plata conditions

La Plata conditions

Is La Plata clear of major snow now??

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