La Plata Peak Trip Report 03/26/2012

Peak(s):	La Plata Peak - 14,344 feet
Date Posted:	03/26/2012
Date Climbed:	03/24/2012
Author:	GerryRigged

La Plata standard route
I saw a few photos of La Plata posted by Oldschool the other day and it looked like a summit ski might be there. Summit from the saddle at about 12700 I hit the summit about 1:30, pretty late in the day. On the summit looking south I originally wanted to ski the north col but I was concerned about the snow pack, moderate avalanch danger on N facing slopes. It didn't go from the top either. A second option was a west facing col but I would have had to down climb several hundred feet. I'm glad I didn't do this. The third option was the NE ridge. This seemed to be the safest option. Not too steep, good solid snow and I could ski from the summit, making a few turns in before I had to downclimb through fifteen or twenty feet of rocks. From there it was skiable to the saddle at about 12700 although I chose to skirt around one small section that would have put me on a short steep section of the north face with a climb out over a cornice. Why are ravens flying around at 14000 ft? Because they can. Looking down my line I left the summit about 1:45. The snow was dry and windblown with a few spots of smooth thin powder. I think the north face stuff would have been good skiing. By the time I reached the saddle the snow was already softening up but still felt safe to ski. I had to down climb another hundred feet or so to the top of the first of three large slide paths I would have to cross to get out. The snow here felt good so off I went. I don't have any photos from here to the bottom near the creek because the farther down I went the worse the snow got and the more tense the situation got. I had planned to ski straight down the first slide path to the creek. After just a few hundred vertical feet I stopped to check the snow again. Here I was seeing an inch or two of softening crust on about six inches of sugar. This did not look safe to go any farther straight down. I decided the safest bet was to traverse across the slope following the boot pack. I figured this would be least likely to put any new stress on the slope. I tested the snow once more several hundred feet down and found the same condition as before. More traverseing. At the last short down pitch before you hit the creek bed I took the skis off and down climbed the boot pack. Here the snow was isothermic and I postholed to my crotch most of the way down. My reasoning here again was don't put new stress on the slope. Once at the creek bottom I knew I was OK. Thinking back:I should have started out a couple hours earlier. Would it have made a difference? The west facing slopes might have felt safer but would they have been? I see three outcomes to this 1) I skied all the way down a slide path without incident 2) I skied down a slide path and started an avalanch 3) I did what I did and came out OK. At the top the gully goes left to near the summit A last shot looking back Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

La Plata standard route

I saw a few photos of La Plata posted by Oldschool the other day and it looked like a summit ski might be there.

I hit the summit about 1:30, pretty late in the day.

I originally wanted to ski the north col but I was concerned about the snow pack, moderate avalanch danger on N facing slopes. It didn't go from the top either. A second option was a west facing col but I would have had to down climb several hundred feet. I'm glad I didn't do this. The third option was the NE ridge. This seemed to be the safest option. Not too steep, good solid snow and I could ski from the summit, making a few turns in before I had to downclimb through fifteen or twenty feet of rocks. From there it was skiable to the saddle at about 12700 although I chose to skirt around one small section that would have put me on a short steep section of the north face with a climb out over a cornice.

Why are ravens flying around at 14000 ft? Because they can.

I left the summit about 1:45. The snow was dry and windblown with a few spots of smooth thin powder. I think the north face stuff would have been good skiing. By the time I reached the saddle the snow was already softening up but still felt safe to ski. I had to down climb another hundred feet or so to the top of the first of three large slide paths I would have to cross to get out. The snow here felt good so off I went. I don't have any photos from here to the bottom near the creek because the farther down I went the worse the snow got and the more tense the situation got. I had planned to ski straight down the first slide path to the creek. After just a few hundred vertical feet I stopped to check the snow again. Here I was seeing an inch or two of softening crust on about six inches of sugar. This did not look safe to go any farther straight down. I decided the safest bet was to traverse across the slope following the boot pack. I figured this would be least likely to put any new stress on the slope. I tested the snow once more several hundred feet down and found the same condition as before. More traverseing. At the last short down pitch before you hit the creek bed I took the skis off and down climbed the boot pack. Here the snow was isothermic and I postholed to my crotch most of the way down. My reasoning here again was don't put new stress on the slope. Once at the creek bottom I knew I was OK.

Thinking back:I should have started out a couple hours earlier. Would it have made a difference? The west facing slopes might have felt safer but would they have been? I see three outcomes to this 1) I skied all the way down a slide path without incident 2) I skied down a slide path and started an avalanch 3) I did what I did and came out OK.

At the top the gully goes left to near the summit

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions
Not registered?

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App