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 Peak:  La Plata Peak
 Route:  Northwest Ridge
 Range:  Sawatch
 Posted By:  Andymcp1
 Date of Info:  4/7/2012
 Date Posted:  4/8/2012
Details

The peak is in great shape with areas of rapid melt out, but has some trouble areas. Around photo 2 in Bills trip report the snow was hard slab with a powder base about stomach deep. On our descent we elected to use the hill to the side to avoid the snow as it had softened up and looked to be primed for a slide. As you cross the terrain in photo 3, we had to traverse 1 large ( 200ft), and a few smaller snow fields. With the cold weather last week there almost no purchase with the spike on my ice axe as we crossed, an a fall would have been very bad here. From about 11,000-11,5000 the snow will be a post hole heaven if you don't have cold weather before you go. If anyone has questions PM me for more info.

At this time crampons, ice axe, and snow shoes are needed if the standard route is to be followed. If you bushwack a bit and dont mind some extra vertical then microspikes and snowshoes will do the trick.



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