10/15/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 10/17/2011, By: ilium Info: Just below tree line, there is some ice on the trail. Microspikes or trekking poles would probably be helpful. I had an ice axe, and used it in lieu of trekking poles. Above treeline, there is some snow, but I did not use any aides. I carried crampons, but they were not necessary. Overall, the trip is in great condition. At least 35 other people were making an attempt on this route on Saturday. |
|
10/14/2011 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 10/16/2011, By: slapshot Info: Route gets kind of hard to find in the marsh area, just make your way to the back of the valley. You will eventually pick up the trail again. Gators, waterproof boots, and microspikes, or similar, suggested. Snow is unavoidable and can get thigh deep at higher elevations. |
|
9/24/2011 Route: Ellingwood Ridge Posted On: 9/25/2011, By: Wentzl Info: Climbed Ellingwood Ridge and descended NW Ridge. No snow issues at all anywhere on either route. Fall colors in this area seem at their PEAK! |
|
9/24/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 9/26/2011, By: BigfootUSAF Info: NW Ridge Route almost completely snow free. Patches of snow are pretty avoidable. Aspens are beautiful! |
|
9/18/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 9/18/2011, By: ColoradoLawDobe Info: Trail is free from snow until the upper ridge. The rocks are a bit slippery, but are not dangerous. Some of the trail is snowpacked rather well and it is best to follow the cairns until the trail reappears for the final half mile or so until the summit. Going down is a bit trickier, but just take your time. In some places there is an inch in others there were maybe five at most. I brought an axe and crampons and they were not needed. |
|
9/11/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 9/11/2011, By: RockyMountainMustang Info: NW Ridge has seen a small dusting of snow in the summit area that will pose no problems. Trail in great shape. |
|
8/20/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 8/25/2011, By: hvolmer Info: Trail was clear, dry, beautiful and a bit of work. Some of the upper areas are a bit gravelly and washed-out (as might be expected this year) but not unsafe. The trail down from the summit to the false summit is not well established, so make sure you don‘t wind up on the wrong descent like I did. |
|
7/16/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/16/2011, By: a94buff Info: Snow is of zero concern on this route. There is some mud but it‘s also of no consequence. The creeks and rivers are really roaring right now, the valley is incredibly lush and the wildflowers are exploding from everywhere. |
|
7/16/2011 Route: Ellingwood Ridge Posted On: 7/17/2011, By: tmathews Info: There is very little snow to be concerned with on Ellingwood Ridge. There was a couple of sections right next next to some rock faces that can be traversed right next to the rock. There is a gully as you near the summit of East La Plata that is still full of snow and ice. I believe that you can climb some rock to reach the top of this gully, but you would exceed Class 3 by downclimbing into this section. I stayed close to the left side of this gully, but slipped a couple of times. Once atop the gully, I traversed over some snow onto smooth rock so it was a bit slick at times. There is a little bit of lingering snow en route to La Plata‘s summit, but steps can easily be kicked-in or it can be skirted to the left. I carried my axe and some microspikes, but didn‘t use any tools. |
|
7/9/2011 Route: Ellingwood Ridge Posted On: 7/10/2011, By: dannyg23 Info: There were a few snow fields to cross. An ice axe was helpful but probably not required. Largely the ridge is snow free, I hiked it in shorts and trail runners. |
|
7/8/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/8/2011, By: iquack08 Info: Completely snow-free, except for some small patches of snow. |
|
7/3/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/4/2011, By: pklotzbach Info: Climbed La Plata Peak‘s NW Ridge Route. Only a couple of minor patches of snow on the ascent to the ridgeline. You can either walk through the well-bootpacked snow, or you can simply hike around the snow patches. Once on the ridgeline, some parts of the trail are covered in snow. The best option here is to stay on the rocks to the right of the snow (as the climber is ascending). A beautiful day on a great route! If you‘re into wildflowers, I suggest waiting about 7-10 days before climbing, as the flowers are just starting to come out, and in a few more days, they should be spectacular! Also, I talked to some hikers on the summit who had taken the SW Ridge Route, and they said that there were only a couple of patches of snow on that route now too. |
|
7/3/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/5/2011, By: usfgal Info: Good trail conditions--a few short snow fields below the saddle. They were easy to cross in trail shoes, with poles (and poles weren‘t necessary). We didn‘t posthole at all, and if you want, you can walk around the snow in the rocks. |
|
7/2/2011 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 7/2/2011, By: Unknown Info: no need for ax or snowshoes, but bring your route finding skills. patches of snow and the growing willows make the route easy to lose. the basin is very wet and muddy in some parts. waterproof hiking boots preferred. |
|
6/26/2011 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/26/2011, By: COBuckeye Info: Climbed NW ridge, skied N face. The ridge is nearly dry to summit, on two small snow crossings. Climbed in trail runners with no problem. N face is in from about 15ft of true summit. Dropped in at 10:30 with snow already pretty soft, but still good. Hike out back to standard trail is very wet and there is plenty of rock snow and willows to deal with. Plan on wet feet unless you wear your ski boots. |
