La Plata Southwest Ridge Ski

[ICantHearYou]

I am thinking about getting ski descent of La Plata this weekend. I read about the southwest ridge ski route in a book, but I can't find any information on it on this site or anywhere online. Is there anything I need to consider before checking it out for myself? Also, if it doesn't work out, is the standard route usually skiable? I don't feel quite ready to ski the north face yet. Thanks!

[Jorts]

I haven't been in the Sawatch lately but south through west aspects seem like they'd be iffy right now. I'm assuming that's just skiing down the ridgeline then popping down the westish aspect into the gulch? It'll probably be thin cover and then schwacky as you get lower. There probably is not much out there about it cause it's not a ski line so much as just a nonstandard way to get off the mountain.

[gb]

We put the SE couloir route in our book (Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Colorado, published by the Mountaineers), but that's different than what you're talking about. For that ski route you have to reascend most of La Plata by the SW ridge, but I wouldn't really call it a ski route- although there probably would be skiing (perhaps not now in late May). We do have a bit of a TR (go to the second half) https://14erskiers.com/blog/2015/05/tr- ... -may-2015/

[Chicago Transplant]

I think I understand what you are trying to do. It sounds like you want to come off the south/SW side of the peak towards Sayres BM then drop west into the basin below Sayres and hook up with the standard trail lower down. I would recommend checking out Sayres condition reports or trip reports as those may have pictures of your route in the background. The recent Sayres CR has the upper part of your route in Pic #4 and it looks like there is coverage high, but not sure about what it's like lower.

I have skied Sayres before and the valley can have a lot of willow bushwhacking, that was a lighter snow year than this one and it was actually a dry trail until the LaPlata standard route started ascending out of that valley. We had a little bushwhacking before being able to skin, but this year may be better? You could even consider ascending your descent route, especially seeing as you won't be able to see it from the standard route.

[ICantHearYou]

Frank, I have your book! I thought about doing the couloir but I prefer something more mellow since I probably will be skiing solo.

Chicago, yes that is what I’m thinking of doing. I agree that the SW aspect doesn’t seem too promising. I guess I have the option of skiing the NW ridge. It looks good from the last CR.

[jakethesnake_630]

OP - I skinned this on Saturday to connect Sayres to LP - there's full snow coverage from top to bottom, though it's thin in spots.

[d_baker]

There's a picture of LaPlata in this conditions report, taken from above Winfield (S side of LaPlata).
Maybe it will give you an idea of coverage.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... cnum=29025

[ICantHearYou]

Appreciate the beta. Thank you!

[dcruz654]

Not a great picture, but this was taken near 11k on the approach to Sayres as of Saturday

[ICantHearYou]

Not a great picture, but this was taken near 11k on the approach to Sayres as of Saturday

Thanks! That’s the SW ridge? Looks thin but pretty skiable

[dcruz654]

Not a great picture, but this was taken near 11k on the approach to Sayres as of Saturday

Thanks! That’s the SW ridge? Looks thin but pretty skiable

If you look at my conditions report for Sayres you get a really good view of LP in picture four.
I took the following picture near the yellow star. It should be the area I highlighted. Looked thin but doable for sure without too much hassle.