Route Climbed: Winfield Trailhead Date Climbed: August 16, 1996
This is one of the best climbs I've had. The trail was great. Even the willows in the high basin were easy to get through. I climbed the large scree to the south false summit thinking I was reaching the true summit. I was really let down when I found out I still had a mile to go.
Route Climbed: Standarad route Date Climbed: June 2001
First attempted in May of 2001. Much snow - used snowshoes and crampons. Decided not to go all the way to summit as energy was dying and it was getting late in day. Turned around only 20 minutes from top. No trail could be seen - we had to break trail all the way in snowshoes - 13 hours of work and quite exhausting. Never sunk in so many holes with my snowhoes. Went back in June and did a fast solo up to summit - much easier.
Route Climbed: 11.2 Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: 6-24-00
Ellingwood Ridge was incredible. Good climb on solid rock. Started a little late and had to run up to the summit to avoid storms. A bad place to be caught in storm, little escape from the ridge, very tiring.
Route Climbed: La Plata Gulch Date Climbed: 08/24/2001
Brent Wessel and I (TJ) climbed La Plata Peak in 2 hrs 37 minutes, which was a pretty steady pace. When we started the climb at 8:18 AM, the air was a crisp 28-degrees, and there was frost on the grass. It was already starting to feel like Fall at this elevation. Along the way we saw marmots, pikas and ptarmigans. All in all, it was a beautiful day of climbing. We relaxed on the summit for over an hour enjoying the view and sunshine. I was very impressed with the good condition of the trail.
My wife and I did the Northwest ridge route, it was a nice hike but cold and windy. There has been allot of work done on the trail which made it even better.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 20, 2000
La Plata was the last of six 14ers that my friend Duane and I summitted during 6 wonderful days in September 2000. We got an early start because we needed to get on the road for home in Washington (not D.C.) immediately after the climb. It was a fantastic day to end our week-long adventure, but it was obvious from the change of weather earlier in the week that fall had arrived.
wayneaflick - Jun 17, 2002 10:44 pm
Route Climbed: Winfield Trailhead Date Climbed: August 16, 1996This is one of the best climbs I've had. The trail was great. Even the willows in the high basin were easy to get through. I climbed the large scree to the south false summit thinking I was reaching the true summit. I was really let down when I found out I still had a mile to go.
ctruscot - Jun 17, 2002 10:46 am
Route Climbed: Standarad route Date Climbed: June 2001First attempted in May of 2001. Much snow - used snowshoes and crampons. Decided not to go all the way to summit as energy was dying and it was getting late in day. Turned around only 20 minutes from top. No trail could be seen - we had to break trail all the way in snowshoes - 13 hours of work and quite exhausting. Never sunk in so many holes with my snowhoes. Went back in June and did a fast solo up to summit - much easier.
coloradoclimber - May 28, 2002 5:08 pm
Route Climbed: 11.2 Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: 6-24-00Ellingwood Ridge was incredible. Good climb on solid rock. Started a little late and had to run up to the summit to avoid storms. A bad place to be caught in storm, little escape from the ridge, very tiring.
PRAISE GEOLOGY!!!!!!!!
Matt Mahoney - May 17, 2002 4:42 pm
Route Climbed: Lake Creek - NW ridge Date Climbed: Aug 16 20013rd summit of Nolan's 14. Reached summit about sunset, descended into Winfield just before midnight for about 3 hours sleep before climbing Huron.
steve simmons - Jan 3, 2002 4:30 pm
Route Climbed: standard route from the north Date Climbed: august 17th, '01Beautiful summit!
Praise GOD!!!!!!!
nader - Dec 26, 2001 4:23 pm
Route Climbed: La Plata Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: August 1996Saw 14ers Initiative building a trail...makes it easier on the climber & the mountain!
Zeke - Nov 28, 2001 11:52 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July 1997Helped CFI on a trail building weekend. Was able to summit w/many of the AAC members. Great time Great summit
tjburr - Sep 1, 2001 7:09 am
Route Climbed: La Plata Gulch Date Climbed: 08/24/2001Brent Wessel and I (TJ) climbed La Plata Peak in 2 hrs 37 minutes, which was a pretty steady pace. When we started the climb at 8:18 AM, the air was a crisp 28-degrees, and there was frost on the grass. It was already starting to feel like Fall at this elevation. Along the way we saw marmots, pikas and ptarmigans. All in all, it was a beautiful day of climbing. We relaxed on the summit for over an hour enjoying the view and sunshine. I was very impressed with the good condition of the trail.
Happy Trails . . . TJ Burr
Author of "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection."
Peter Eliassen - Aug 16, 2001 11:25 am
Route Climbed: From Hwy 82 (Indy Pass) Date Climbed: 9/20/00Beautiful hike...that ridge looks tempting.
miztflip - Aug 13, 2001 3:11 pm
Route Climbed: La Plata Gulch Date Climbed: August 10,2001Easy hike with no route finding. What a cool view of the Ellingwood Ridge. I had the best view of the Elks Range.
climbcolorado - Jul 18, 2001 11:22 am
Route Climbed: Northwest RidgeMy wife and I did the Northwest ridge route, it was a nice hike but cold and windy. There has been allot of work done on the trail which made it even better.
Bob Bolton - Apr 27, 2001 8:24 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 20, 2000La Plata was the last of six 14ers that my friend Duane and I summitted during 6 wonderful days in September 2000. We got an early start because we needed to get on the road for home in Washington (not D.C.) immediately after the climb. It was a fantastic day to end our week-long adventure, but it was obvious from the change of weather earlier in the week that fall had arrived.