Ladron Mountains Climber's Log

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birdhead

birdhead - Nov 2, 2020 10:34 am Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2020

West Face  Sucess!

We found a nice class 3/4 route up the West Face, just North of the West Ridge route. Lots of nice low angle slab scrambling on good rock near the top just before hitting the ridge. Once on the ridge, we turned left and walked to the summit. Descended the North West Ridge for a while, encountering several sections that required class 3 or 4 scrambling with lots of exposure. We ended up bailing off the ridge at some point and headed down into a talus-filled chute that we followed to the forest floor below. The ascent route was great but I would not repeat the descent route. Better to descend the standard West Ridge route described on SP. 4.5 miles round trip in 5 hours! The going is seriously slow on this mountain and route finding is key. High-clearance SUV required for the last ~0.75 miles of the road.

technicolorNH

technicolorNH - Oct 13, 2020 8:57 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2020

northwest ridge direct  Sucess!

My low clearance Honda Civic Hybrid made it within .6 miles of the TH. Looped further northwest than the typical approach and aimed for the rock chute north of the benchmark. Once on the ridge I had to go on the east side to avoid class 5 action but it was only class 3 in a few spots with some non trivial exposure in a couple places. Took 3.5 hours to ascend and I descended the standard west ridge, which took almost 4 hours! I took the county road to Magdalena to the south afterwards and that was a lengthy drive. You get your money’s worth on this peak.

Brian Kalet

Brian Kalet - Feb 1, 2016 12:20 am Date Climbed: Jan 31, 2016

West Ridge  Sucess!

Bushwhack

cajuntj

cajuntj - Dec 25, 2012 12:46 pm Date Climbed: Dec 24, 2012

Ladron for Chrsitmas  Sucess!

Climbed Ladron on Christmas Eve. Started at 5 am, headlamping it most of the way to the base of the West Ridge (I think). Snow cover was sparse, maybe only an inch to 6 inches on the north facing slopes. Once on the ridge with enough sunlight we realized we might be on the wrong ridge but we kept ascending. Reached the Crest Ridge which was good times and scrambled north to the summit for a 10:30 lunch. Decided to descend the ridge running to the north. Some great knife edge climbing here! Descended about 400 feet then continued descent into a narrow chute with lots of rock fall. It was a long descent but great fun. Staying to either side of the chute helped with lessening the amount of loose rock to deal with. After an hour and a half of rock fall chutes we dropped into the more forested valley below the summit and quickly hiked back to the approach trail. Great mountain! Would like to climb it again with more snow.

TimmyTee

TimmyTee - Oct 14, 2012 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2012

Tough UP, Darn Hard DOWN!  Sucess!

This was my second time on this arduous climb. The bushwhacking becomes tedious and irritating, but the west ridge makes it worth it - just enough exposure and challenge for a hiker. This ridge makes this a mountaineer's mountain. However, both times up have convinced me that there is no decent way down! Both times we've looked around for an alternate other than going back the way we came - I'm not fond of down-climbing what I call Class 3 (some of you hotheads probably call the west ridge "easy Class2"!) Both times we've been forced by terrain into the drainages just to the west of the summit - risky ordeals of bushwhacking and sliding talus that is simply no fun at all.

So, anyone have any ideas on a better way down?

TimmyTee

TimmyTee - Aug 3, 2012 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2006

Ladron  Sucess!

Great climb. One of my most memorable. The final chute had snow and the melt produced some rock fall. A helmet wouldn't have been a bad idea!

davebobk47

davebobk47 - May 9, 2010 11:19 pm Date Climbed: May 9, 2010

Rough  Sucess!

Took the west ridge direct but cut off the west ridge to the summit ridge a bit early. Some easy class 3 but just a very rough bushwhack the whole way. Some burnt areas in the area.

wolfskinrosie - Apr 23, 2010 7:18 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2010

Skunked

A late start and unfortunate incident with a skunk (3 dogs along) led to turning around short of the ridge. Long ride home with all windows down. Pretty remote, off trail hiking.

redaragorn

redaragorn - Oct 5, 2009 10:51 am Date Climbed: Oct 3, 2009

Rough mountain  Sucess!

Everything about this mountain is rough. The approach road, the jagged rocks, the prickly vegetation. It was an awesome hike to the top with a few interesting scrambles but nothing insurmountable (and I'm definitely a hiker, not a climber). Great views from the high point on the benchmark. Tried scrambling over to the peak to the east, but gave up halfway up and scrambled back down to the saddle and up to the benchmark again. It wasn't really worth it--it isn't easy to get anywhere on this mountain. GPS track here. Many, many thanks to Robert from Albuquerque who drove my low-clearance butt up the approach road and cut 4 miles off my hike.

Dan the Jones

Dan the Jones - Apr 12, 2006 2:00 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2006

Almost Made it

We made it to the knob after two class 2 scrambles. A few spots of light exposure on the ride, but easily avoidable. Had to call it a day about a qaurter mile from the summit as a storm was approaching from the west and had caused an early sunset. Really isn't a trail, but in several sections there are cairns marking different paths, but couldn't really find a consistant path.

markhyams

markhyams - Feb 21, 2006 7:48 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2006

go ladron  Sucess!

What a summit! The "west ridge route" directions were spot on. I found the route to be class 2. Maybe one tiny spot of class 3 on the south ridge about a quarter-mile before the summit. Hard to say. Worth every ounce of effort!

flemingj - Jun 5, 2005 10:34 pm

Route Climbed: Crest Ridge from the west/northwest Date Climbed: May 25, 2005  Sucess!

This was a pleasant scramble hike through difficult terrain. The ridge proper required several class 5 scrambles and is somewhat exposed in a couple of places. Be wary of the sensitive vegetation along the ridge - very easily damaged as there is no 'trail' per se. You will summit the Ladron 'Benchmark' first as you ascend the ridge. If you want to summit Ladron Peak proper, you must descent about 400' to the col separating the two summits and then ascent Ladron thereafter.

streeyyr

streeyyr - May 13, 2005 9:36 am Date Climbed: May 15, 2005

Ladron Mountains  Sucess!

An impressive but less-traveled mountain.

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