There is no route description for the La Plata sub-range of the San Jauns, Hesperus to Lavender Peak traverse. I wouldn't try to get my car up to the eastern Tomahawk Basin TH for Lavender, but would still like to do Lavender if I can. I've looked over the trip report for the traverse, but it lacks solid beta. Does anyone have any information they might be willing to share for this traverse? Thanks.

I did Hesperus, Lavender, Moss, and Sharkstooth; my partner did those plus Centennial. It was a 10 hour day in summer; I was ill that day. Here are my notes from then:

"From the North Fork Mancos TH as per the Covill and Mitchler county highpoint book to climb Hesperus, then ran ridge to Lavender, which involved a long descent off the ridge to the right to be able to cross one cliffy gully, then a few traverses below and passages through the ridge crest. The climbing was not too hard but was complicated and time-consuming. Ridge to Moss, return to saddle between, drop down to contour on Centennial's slopes below its cliffs to reach a point above Sharkstooth Pass on Centennial's slopes; too sick to do Centennial, rested at Pass for 30 min, then did Sharkstooth, back down trail."

It is much easier (and better scenery) to do it from Tomahawk basin. Just head up to the saddle at the top of the basin and start following the ridge. Its pretty obvious and involves a fair amount of 4th class scrambling.

iceisnice wrote:It is much easier (and better scenery) to do it from Tomahawk basin. Just head up to the saddle at the top of the basin and start following the ridge. Its pretty obvious and involves a fair amount of 4th class scrambling.

Are you referring to the basin that I would need to drive to using my civic? I am not taking my car up there since the reports are that the roads are not usable by low clearance vehicles. That is part of the reason for the traverse.

Thanks for the input Teresa.

You can make it most of the way up La Plata Canyon in your car (whith 1/2 of the Tomahawk basin road). No one actually drives up the basin road. Its an easy hike and much more scenic than any other approach.