My first 14er, and my first peak in CO! It was only my 2nd week living in Colorado, so I think I dragged a bit due to the altitude, but other than that, it was a great time!
A pleasant hike. The route is very well marked with cairns and it is difficult to get off track. This is one of Colorado 14er's more conveniently located trailheads as it is located on a paved road. Enjoy your hike and then treat yourself to a 4 star dinner in Aspen. Your body has earned it, no doubt.
CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Route: NW Ridge
Great route!! Great trail!! I loved the waterfall over from the first bridge you cross.
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.
boisedoc - Dec 17, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 1992
One of the better Sawatch peaksI thought the route from the south was enjoyable. We started hiking immediately after driving from Dallas which made for a bit of altitude sickness
TiogaBradford - Sep 22, 2006 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2005
NW ridgeMy first 14er, and my first peak in CO! It was only my 2nd week living in Colorado, so I think I dragged a bit due to the altitude, but other than that, it was a great time!
royswkr - Sep 22, 2006 2:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 1993
From Winfield sideTook route from S described by Edrinn as little-used, to find that no longer true once book was out :-)
lwillson83 - Sep 21, 2006 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2005
My 2nd 14er!#2 the day after #1! Nice steep hike.
awillson - Sep 15, 2006 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2005
Great hike!A great hike!
dunking_deutschman - Sep 14, 2006 5:23 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
Northwest RidgeA pleasant hike. The route is very well marked with cairns and it is difficult to get off track. This is one of Colorado 14er's more conveniently located trailheads as it is located on a paved road. Enjoy your hike and then treat yourself to a 4 star dinner in Aspen. Your body has earned it, no doubt.
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.