Nice well defined trail. Good rock jumping up near the top.
orangehat - Sep 1, 2006 4:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2006
Standard route
Late start and clouds were building throughout the day but it never rained or thundered--great day climbing with my brother, his first 14er. A little snow near the summit but no need for gaiters. Came from sea level, climbed to 12,800 the day before, and had no real altitude problems on La Plata. A great nontechnical climb. Can't wait for the next CO trip!
apierce - Aug 14, 2006 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Excellent Trail
Praise to the Fourteener Initiative for all their work on the trail. It is among the most solid and well-defined I have encountered on a Class 2. Scenic trail: we saw 2 rainbows early in the a.m. and there were thousands (literally) of colorful mushrooms spotting the forest floor. The views were awesome too, of course.
smason505 - Aug 10, 2006 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
La Plata Northwest Ridge
Climbed northwest ridge with Ian. Drizzled and rained all day and we never had a clear view of the summit. Lots of marmots though, gotta love those little guys.
Bill562 - Aug 7, 2006 4:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
NW Ridge
Camped in La Plata Basin to acclimate, enjoyed the climb. First on the summit that day.
sdhager - Aug 5, 2006 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
Route Climbed: NW Ridge
Busy Sawatch Saturday. We beat the weather, many others didn't.
lindasyh - Jul 24, 2006 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1997
West Winfield TH, Ascend SW Ridge
Good scrambling near the summit.
Antero - Jun 28, 2006 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
NW Ridge
Great hike.. this is a long day for sure, but very beautiful. Very few spots of snow on the NW ridge route, but did have a short fun glissade on the upper mountain. It even flurried a bit on the way down
Gahugafuga - Jun 20, 2006 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2004
SW Ridge
Drove out from CA to visit friends in CO. Climbed La Plata with almost no acclimation and had no problems. Great hike except for the loose slope leading up to the ridge.
Michael Hoyt - Jun 18, 2006 12:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 1998
West Winfield TH, Ascend SW Ridge
I carried too much camera equipment. It just about killed me!
pacojgarza - Jun 13, 2006 5:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2006
Northwest Ridge
Summitting La Plata in 4 hours the day after running the Steamboat marathon was a bit tiring but the incredible 360 degree views from the top made me forget the pain.
cftbq - Jun 4, 2006 5:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2006
tougher than expected
A birthday present from my daughter was a climb up the SW ridge route. The scree climb out of the basin and the bouldering to 13,900 took us longer than expected, but it was a dynamite climb. Only two other climbers on the mountain that day. Decent weather, but windy up top. 14er #25 for me, #17 for her.
bds670 - May 30, 2006 6:18 pm Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2006
Northwest Ridge
Still lots of snow... good conditions
Tbacon251 - May 24, 2006 6:22 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2005
Saw some goats
After nearly dieing on Elbert the day before, we made the trek to the summit of La Plata Peak. Conditions were deplorable and snow as very loose. Many times we would posthole and get stuck. Never the less…we saw some goats. That made us feel better?!?!
Great views from the top. Like Elbert, conditions did not allow for a good summit picture.
CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Route: NW RidgeGreat route!! Great trail!! I loved the waterfall over from the first bridge you cross.
Brandon Fuller - Sep 3, 2006 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
NW RidgeNice well defined trail. Good rock jumping up near the top.
orangehat - Sep 1, 2006 4:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2006
Standard routeLate start and clouds were building throughout the day but it never rained or thundered--great day climbing with my brother, his first 14er. A little snow near the summit but no need for gaiters. Came from sea level, climbed to 12,800 the day before, and had no real altitude problems on La Plata. A great nontechnical climb. Can't wait for the next CO trip!
apierce - Aug 14, 2006 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Excellent TrailPraise to the Fourteener Initiative for all their work on the trail. It is among the most solid and well-defined I have encountered on a Class 2. Scenic trail: we saw 2 rainbows early in the a.m. and there were thousands (literally) of colorful mushrooms spotting the forest floor. The views were awesome too, of course.
smason505 - Aug 10, 2006 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
La Plata Northwest RidgeClimbed northwest ridge with Ian. Drizzled and rained all day and we never had a clear view of the summit. Lots of marmots though, gotta love those little guys.
Bill562 - Aug 7, 2006 4:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
NW RidgeCamped in La Plata Basin to acclimate, enjoyed the climb. First on the summit that day.
sdhager - Aug 5, 2006 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
Route Climbed: NW RidgeBusy Sawatch Saturday. We beat the weather, many others didn't.
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 7:43 pm
left the skisskis were too heavy
lindasyh - Jul 24, 2006 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1997
West Winfield TH, Ascend SW RidgeGood scrambling near the summit.
Antero - Jun 28, 2006 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
NW RidgeGreat hike.. this is a long day for sure, but very beautiful. Very few spots of snow on the NW ridge route, but did have a short fun glissade on the upper mountain. It even flurried a bit on the way down
Gahugafuga - Jun 20, 2006 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2004
SW RidgeDrove out from CA to visit friends in CO. Climbed La Plata with almost no acclimation and had no problems. Great hike except for the loose slope leading up to the ridge.
rockrat2 - Jun 20, 2006 3:13 am
NW ridgeFun route, nice scenery.
Michael Hoyt - Jun 18, 2006 12:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 1998
West Winfield TH, Ascend SW RidgeI carried too much camera equipment. It just about killed me!
pacojgarza - Jun 13, 2006 5:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2006
Northwest RidgeSummitting La Plata in 4 hours the day after running the Steamboat marathon was a bit tiring but the incredible 360 degree views from the top made me forget the pain.
cftbq - Jun 4, 2006 5:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2006
tougher than expectedA birthday present from my daughter was a climb up the SW ridge route. The scree climb out of the basin and the bouldering to 13,900 took us longer than expected, but it was a dynamite climb. Only two other climbers on the mountain that day. Decent weather, but windy up top. 14er #25 for me, #17 for her.
bds670 - May 30, 2006 6:18 pm Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2006
Northwest RidgeStill lots of snow... good conditions
Tbacon251 - May 24, 2006 6:22 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2005
Saw some goatsAfter nearly dieing on Elbert the day before, we made the trek to the summit of La Plata Peak. Conditions were deplorable and snow as very loose. Many times we would posthole and get stuck. Never the less…we saw some goats. That made us feel better?!?!
Great views from the top. Like Elbert, conditions did not allow for a good summit picture.
ClearSkiesAhead - Apr 26, 2006 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2005
Up the Northwest RidgeGreat climb, had the mountain to ourselves.
Mountain Jim - Mar 23, 2006 3:28 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 1967
Ellingwood RidgeNice long climb, interesting route finding, in places.
markhyams - Mar 4, 2006 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 1994
Standard RouteMy buddy got a gash in his thigh when he slid down some snow (on purpose). He limped around for a couple of weeks, but was okay.