6/13/2012 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/13/2012, By: esagas Info: The main access road is still closed. I followed the directions from the previous post and got to the TH without any difficulty. Thanks! There are still a few snow patches that got very soft as the day went by (I went down to my thigh in one!). Otherwise, a fine day with barely any wind. I just saw one person on the trail. |
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6/2/2012 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/3/2012, By: SurfNTurf Info: TRAILHEAD ACCESS The easiest way to reach the West Willow Creek TH is currently blocked because of a movie production. To get there, take the SOUTH access to Bachelor Loop Road (follow orange detour signs) and stay on FR 504. You'll pass a left turn for the West Willow Creek 4WD road, but stay straight. Continue until a junction where you must go right or left; there are signs stating the right branch is closed. Go left and continue until you can see the Equity Mine. Shortly before the mine there is a signed turnoff for FR 503, the West Willow Creek 4WD Loop. Take it, cross the creek several times, and reach the TH after about 1.3-1.6 miles. It's not signed, but there are two posts denoting trail 882. If the road takes a sharp left and you start climbing steeply, you've gone too far. 4WD probably isn't needed to get to the TH, but high-clearance is a must. MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS We didn't need traction, ice axes or snowshoes. The Class 1 summer trail is easy to follow from the TH all the way to the summit. Gaiters were helpful for about a half-dozen short, mellow snow crossings, but I made the trek in trail runners just fine. The snow can be circumvented if you really want to, though it's a bit more of a hassle than simply trudging through with gaiters. The ascent took three hours. If you're looking for isolation on an already isolated mountain, try this non-standard route...we didn't see another party until the summit all day, but at least eight people came up from the Stewart Creek side. |
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5/26/2012 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 5/28/2012, By: carson_h Info: There are a few small snow fields lower on the mountain, but I postholed only 5-6 times -- no floatation, or traction required. Winds were extreme on the saddle, but manageable along the summit ridge. The valley was full of smoke on Saturday which made for an amazing sunrise. |
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5/19/2012 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 5/19/2012, By: jfaust Info: Road to the trailhead is in great condition, no issue for 2wd/sedan. Route is almost entirely snow free with the exception of a few snowfields to cross above treeline. No issue in the morning, but some minor postholing in the afternoon. No need for snowshoes or traction devices. |
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5/19/2012 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 5/21/2012, By: BigfootUSAF Info: Road to trailhead was completely dry. Route below treeline was snow-free (any drifts were easily avoidable). A few short snow fields to cross leading up to the saddle, however no snow shoes needed. Snowpack was nice and hard in the early morning, but experienced some postholing in the afternoon. There are a few small snow covered spots on the final summit pitch. Overall the peak is pretty dry and no snowshoes or microspikes are needed (unless you want some extra traction on the short bits). |
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5/6/2012 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 5/6/2012, By: Joe W Info: Spring conditions above the first creek crossing.The drive to the Stewart Creek trailhead is dry. |
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2/17/2012 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 2/19/2012, By: Elliot Info: Snowpack is 2-4 feet of sugar |
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10/5/2011 Route: Stewart Creek TH Posted On: 10/7/2011, By: JimS Info: Snow, ice, and strong winds above 12,500. Snow was not deep due to the strong winds. Using my Kahtoola ice spikes and trekking poles was very helpful. Next day a storm would have closed access to the TH as well as heavy snows on the mountain. |
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8/22/2011 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 8/22/2011, By: mrschaible Info: Trail is in great shape. They had some substantial rain yesterday and that left the trail wet in the morning. By the afternoon, it had pretty much dried out except for a few places between 3-4.5 miles down the trail. Up higher, the trail has some substantial over growth that you have to walk through. You can easily see the trail, you just have to do some brush pushing. Very easy trail finding and an easy climb. Lots of beaver damns! |
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8/11/2011 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 8/15/2011, By: mjohnson1960 Info: SOUTH RIDGE ROUTE TO BE CLOSED While on the South Ridge at about 13,000 ft last Thursday (8/11/11) I ran in to a 3-woman U.S. Forest Service work crew. They told me that the USFS will be closing a portion of this route due to growing erosion resulting from a combination of steep slopes, loose scree and initiation of multiple trails. Didn‘t get too many details but as they described it the new route will basically detour around to the east of the existing steep section at the bottom third(?) or so of the ridge. The new section will switchback down from the 12,600-ft saddle at the base of the South Ridge, contour across the east face of San Luis, and switchback up to rejoin the traditional South Ridge route. They claimed the new route, which has been surveyed and staked, would be "easier" than the original, but seems likely to add a few more tenths of a mile and some vertical to the route. That‘s all the info I got - sorry, don‘t know when the closure will go down, but at this point seems unlikely to happen until next summer. |
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7/2/2011 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 7/3/2011, By: sjhiker Info: San Luis standard route is completely snow free. Moose seen in the Stewart Creek willows. |
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6/27/2011 Route: S. Ridge via. Equity Mine Posted On: 6/28/2011, By: Matt Lemke Info: Did San Luis yesterday with spectacular weather. Started at the Equity Mine TH and walked up to the Colorado trail and took the trail over 3 passes to the base of the S. ridge. Walked the long ridge to the summit. San Luis as with most of the La Garitas are pretty much snow free. Only a few patches here and there. The Rio Grande River drainage only got about 50% average snowfall this last winter which means this area is in full bloom. Great wildflower displays and everything was green and very beautiful. This route is much better than the Stewart Creek route since you‘re above treeline on the Colorado trail for so long. Photos to come in my big TR in mid to late July...gotta continue climbing now! |
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6/19/2011 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/19/2011, By: Monster5 Info: Started at Equity Mine 2wd TH, hiked up to San Luis, went over to 13150 and 13180 and then bailed straight down to the Bondholder sign. -Road: Drove a passenger van to Equity without a problem. A moderate-clearance 2wd can make it to the major stream crossing. The stream is low and beyond is easy, muddy 4wd. -San Luis route: Same as previous. Mostly dry with several snowpatches and avy debris below the first saddle (the crown 1000 ft above is obvious and awesome). A few smaller slabs above may slide, but they probably won‘t affect the trail. Some cornice failures. I chopped steps in a drift in the second basin, but you can easily go around. In other words, no special gear needed. Gaitors and boots would be ideal. I wore trailrunners and did fine, if wet on the return. -13ers: the summit of 13150 is interesting. Best accessed from the San Luis side: 30ft, 3/4-, dry. The ridge to 13180c has one class 3 section with easier climbing on the north side. Also dry. The traverse to 13280 is still technical as a large, steep slab covers the weakness on looker‘s left. |
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6/11/2011 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 6/12/2011, By: Yalegirl09 Info: The trail only had a few snow patches below treeline --- Easily avoidable and I am sure they will be melted this week. Once out of the trees the trail follows snow on top of Stewart Creek. The snow was frozen all day on this section so we did not posthole, however be careful here as once the snow gets softer you could posthole into the creek. On the trail leading to the saddle there were a couple of snowfields to cross with some postholing. The trail to the summit is relatively dry. There was only one snowfield that was impassible... we dropped below it through the scree on the ascent but it‘s better to stay on the ridge proper on the descent. We brought crampons (I was hoping to climb a snowfield) and ice axes, but never used them. Definitely no need for snowshoes! |
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6/10/2011 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 6/11/2011, By: ilium Info: Similar to the previous post. Between tree line and the saddle the trail is very hard to keep, and a pain when you are removed from it. |
