Ten people on the trail today and I was the last one there (1055 am) and the last to depart (615 pm). Four hours and eight minutes up, a snack break on top, and two hours and fifty five minutes down. The trail was easy to figure out although some of the more hazardous parts were quite low (still in the treeline). Watch your footing. I met a juvenile bighorn sheep on the way down and Mother Nature took pity on me and did not drench me with rain despite the very late start.
#1 9-5-15 Quite the west wind; a fast-moving squall laid down 1/2" of snow above 13,700'. Therefore the mild scrambling closer to the summit became just a tad trickier. Mit Yz. Really pleasant summit including the wind-break.
Ragu - Sep 1, 2015 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2015
Summit with Kiddo
First 14er for my daughter - she did great coming from sea-level Boston. Not a cloud in the sky for 360... though western forest fire haze really diminished the view.
Tom Fralich - Aug 16, 2015 9:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2015
Made it! Started driving from Idaho Springs around 4am, hit the standard trail to La Plata Peak around 6am, followed the approach trail under overcast skies for the first 2 1/2 hours until we hit treeline at 12,000 ft. Navigated a steep gully and followed a well defined trail to the ridge near 12,500 ft. Weather obscured the summit but we pushed onward into the clouds. Around 13,000 ft. we were hit by sleet and soon after snow, with significant wind. We made a decision to keep going, and it was the right one. We made the summit at noon, snapped a few photos and got back down to the relative safety of the ridge. Backtracked down the trail and on our way down the skies opened up. The hike back out was beautiful. Made it to the car a little past 4pm. A long, wet and windy day, but the views of what we accomplished on our hike out were phenomenal! Round trip a little less than 10 miles, and 4,500 ft. of elevation gain to the summit from the trailhead.
Missed the roadside trailhead and hiked 4 miles beyond to Sawyers gulch, uhgg! La Plata trail was nice and straightforward once on it (-8 miles of warmup exercise), includes trail steps and thoughtful switchbacks that compensate for the rocky talus above 13,000'. Quick timing FYI: 4hrs UP. No weather and half moon for descent.
BradBartick - Aug 9, 2014 6:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
Northwest Ridge
With Michelle. Left summit in nick of time due to T-storms.
Climbing Jack - Jul 21, 2014 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2010
Gmetzel - Mar 18, 2013 4:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
Made it!
WOO!
cdevenney84 - Jan 21, 2013 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
Day before Elbert
Great weekend in the Sawatch range. Saw a storm slam into Elbert around noon, lighting hitting all around it. It left the summit covered in snow. CRAZY!
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 4:37 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2012
yadahzoemtn - Jan 8, 2016 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Cool MountainLoved this mountain
technicolorNH - Sep 14, 2015 11:21 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2015
Standard routeTen people on the trail today and I was the last one there (1055 am) and the last to depart (615 pm). Four hours and eight minutes up, a snack break on top, and two hours and fifty five minutes down. The trail was easy to figure out although some of the more hazardous parts were quite low (still in the treeline). Watch your footing. I met a juvenile bighorn sheep on the way down and Mother Nature took pity on me and did not drench me with rain despite the very late start.
Moogie737 - Sep 9, 2015 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Northwest Ridge#1 9-5-15 Quite the west wind; a fast-moving squall laid down 1/2" of snow above 13,700'. Therefore the mild scrambling closer to the summit became just a tad trickier. Mit Yz. Really pleasant summit including the wind-break.
Ragu - Sep 1, 2015 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2015
Summit with KiddoFirst 14er for my daughter - she did great coming from sea-level Boston. Not a cloud in the sky for 360... though western forest fire haze really diminished the view.
Tom Fralich - Aug 16, 2015 9:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2015
Ellingwood RidgeThis is a long one.
xDoogiex - Jul 27, 2015 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2015
Great hike on no sleepBeautiful hike. I was awake for about 24hs when I started heading down. Lack of sleep and acclimatization made it feel way harder
buzzdainer - Jul 21, 2015 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2015
Great hike!Beautiful day, lots of marmots.
JBRunyan - Dec 21, 2014 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
First 14er!First 14er, Highest climb to date! Beautiful Colorado day, Great Hike, Great Views!
Onager - Sep 21, 2014 11:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2014
Crazy Weather!Made it! Started driving from Idaho Springs around 4am, hit the standard trail to La Plata Peak around 6am, followed the approach trail under overcast skies for the first 2 1/2 hours until we hit treeline at 12,000 ft. Navigated a steep gully and followed a well defined trail to the ridge near 12,500 ft. Weather obscured the summit but we pushed onward into the clouds. Around 13,000 ft. we were hit by sleet and soon after snow, with significant wind. We made a decision to keep going, and it was the right one. We made the summit at noon, snapped a few photos and got back down to the relative safety of the ridge. Backtracked down the trail and on our way down the skies opened up. The hike back out was beautiful. Made it to the car a little past 4pm. A long, wet and windy day, but the views of what we accomplished on our hike out were phenomenal! Round trip a little less than 10 miles, and 4,500 ft. of elevation gain to the summit from the trailhead.
ericd - Sep 4, 2014 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2014
Northwest RidgeMissed the roadside trailhead and hiked 4 miles beyond to Sawyers gulch, uhgg! La Plata trail was nice and straightforward once on it (-8 miles of warmup exercise), includes trail steps and thoughtful switchbacks that compensate for the rocky talus above 13,000'. Quick timing FYI: 4hrs UP. No weather and half moon for descent.
BradBartick - Aug 9, 2014 6:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
Northwest RidgeWith Michelle. Left summit in nick of time due to T-storms.
Climbing Jack - Jul 21, 2014 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2010
Quick day on La PlataVia the northwest slopes.
MadGrad96 - Nov 1, 2013 7:52 am
La PlataBeautiful!
alpineair - Oct 28, 2013 10:55 am
La Plata PeakWinter ascent.
DanielL - Oct 4, 2013 11:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2012
Ellingwood Ridge successClimbed the famous Ellingwood Ridge - huge day, it felt good to get this one done!
smudge - Jun 13, 2013 11:50 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2011
AwesomeAwesome summit! Incredible setting... hope to do this one a few more times in my life... great mountain.
lapotka - Apr 23, 2013 4:44 pm
first 14er with my brogreat hike
Gmetzel - Mar 18, 2013 4:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
Made it!WOO!
cdevenney84 - Jan 21, 2013 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
Day before ElbertGreat weekend in the Sawatch range. Saw a storm slam into Elbert around noon, lighting hitting all around it. It left the summit covered in snow. CRAZY!
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 4:37 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2012
beast of a dayalmost didnt make it back...