Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 15, 2004
Camped at the base last night, it was cold... so I was running on little sleep, but it still faired out to be a great day! Again, we were the first to summit that day!:-)
Route Climbed: NW Ridge Date Climbed: Oct. 25 2002
A lot of snow covered the trail so it was kind of hard to find the way. Several times I was postholing and moshing through waist deep snow. Didn't reach the summit until 2:30pm. The hike down sucked because the trail was frozen over. I kept falling on my ice axe. I needed crampons for traction. All in all it was a great hike.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 2003
Solo Trip - I was looking for Huron Peak in the dark and by the time I got to Winfield I could hardly stand any more of Chaffee 390. That road haunted my 2003 climbing season. Nevertheless, I found a sweet camping spot just past the trailhead and enjoyed the night. Good weather for the whole hike. The valley was gorgeous. At the top of the steep slope I was confused for a moment and didn't know which direction to go. The peak to the West looked like La Plata, and I didn't recognize anything to the East. A quick check of the compass got me back on track and I frequently looked back to familiarize myself with the return trip. A fun hike til I met two other hikers making out on the summit. Oh well, a quick pic and I headed back down.
Route Climbed: from La Plata Gulch trailhead via Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: July, 2002
(hmmm, Northwest Ridge? That doesn't seem right.... maybe I should take better notes.)
I went with M**** and H****, my two then-roomies. A good, easy trail up another Sawatch hump distinguished by its backwoods feel. Poor M**** was lost in emotional pain of a long-term relationship break-up on the way up, and poor H***** was lost in the physical pain of an old knee injury on the way down. Me, I was fine, although I had to ask the obnoxious ass-wipe ahead of us who was trying has damnedest to impress the woman he was climbing with to keep his voice down. He didn't take kindly to it. Twit.
Next time I'll go by myself and do the Ellingwood Ridge.
Skinned from La Plata Gulch Trailhead to just above tree-line (much snow) climbed and followed ridge to summit (little snow). Strong wind, no clouds, beautifull view. Ski descent from 200ft below summit through 2 coulouirs on west-side. Too little snow above tree-line to create avalance danger.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 30, 2000
Started from the North Winfield 4WD trailhead, and made quick time to the plateau. The weather held out, and we had very nice views of the Sawatch Range. This route seemed quicker than the standard route from the north - only 6.5 hours round trip.
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: August 7, 2004
My 10th Fourteener. Had a great time on Ellingwood, but if I ever do that climb again I'll definitely start earlier in the morning (My friend and I started at 5:30 AM, but it took us ten hours to summit). Absolutely loved it!
Route Climbed: Winfield Trailhead Date Climbed: August 15, 2004
Well La Plata surprised me. After climbing Missouri, Emerald and Iowa the day before, I didn't think La Plata would be much fun but it was.
Weather was great, the hike through the basin was beautiful. The rocks on the mountain were fun - avoid the trail - it's scree and loose footing. Climb on the rocks and have fun! Very solid.
La Plata is everything a Sawatch Mountain should be.
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge, South Approach Date Climbed: Summer, 198? & 199?
Have done this mountain twice, which is surprising since for some reason I don't particularly care for the thing. First climb was memorable because the weather was so unbelievably warm, climbing partners Aaron Johnson and Mike Kloepfer took a two hour nap on the summit!
Route Climbed: from the south Date Climbed: june 99
I was sure I told Shon 2 nights of camping, so I had to talk him into it once we were there. Great view of Huron and the Apostles and Ice mtn from our camp on the less popular southern basin. steep bushwhack to get out of it, but oh well.
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: September 27, 2003
Got a bit turned around in the early-morning dark but once on route had a blast. First half is pretty good rock, but quality deteriates as you go. This climb just sucks your energy out. Lots of up and down. But in the end, the sense of accomplishment and the incredible scrambling and scenery made it well worth it.
ktiffany22 - May 15, 2005 11:25 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 15, 2004Camped at the base last night, it was cold... so I was running on little sleep, but it still faired out to be a great day! Again, we were the first to summit that day!:-)
Brian Kalet - Apr 6, 2005 5:50 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 22, 2004Great day!
alpine master - Apr 3, 2005 11:15 pm
Route Climbed: NW Ridge Date Climbed: Oct. 25 2002A lot of snow covered the trail so it was kind of hard to find the way. Several times I was postholing and moshing through waist deep snow. Didn't reach the summit until 2:30pm. The hike down sucked because the trail was frozen over. I kept falling on my ice axe. I needed crampons for traction. All in all it was a great hike.
Old Ickabod - Mar 28, 2005 9:31 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 2003Solo Trip - I was looking for Huron Peak in the dark and by the time I got to Winfield I could hardly stand any more of Chaffee 390. That road haunted my 2003 climbing season. Nevertheless, I found a sweet camping spot just past the trailhead and enjoyed the night. Good weather for the whole hike. The valley was gorgeous. At the top of the steep slope I was confused for a moment and didn't know which direction to go. The peak to the West looked like La Plata, and I didn't recognize anything to the East. A quick check of the compass got me back on track and I frequently looked back to familiarize myself with the return trip. A fun hike til I met two other hikers making out on the summit. Oh well, a quick pic and I headed back down.
Colorado Susan - Mar 16, 2005 12:16 am
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 26, 2004A beautiful climb.
Ratballs - Feb 22, 2005 4:13 pm
Route Climbed: from La Plata Gulch trailhead via Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: July, 2002(hmmm, Northwest Ridge? That doesn't seem right.... maybe I should take better notes.)
I went with M**** and H****, my two then-roomies. A good, easy trail up another Sawatch hump distinguished by its backwoods feel. Poor M**** was lost in emotional pain of a long-term relationship break-up on the way up, and poor H***** was lost in the physical pain of an old knee injury on the way down. Me, I was fine, although I had to ask the obnoxious ass-wipe ahead of us who was trying has damnedest to impress the woman he was climbing with to keep his voice down. He didn't take kindly to it. Twit.
Next time I'll go by myself and do the Ellingwood Ridge.
ColoradoScott - Feb 1, 2005 11:41 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 11, 1991I had tried this route a few years earlier but got "monsooned" off well below the summit at about 10:30 a.m.
hmronnow - Jan 24, 2005 5:24 am
Route Climbed: Northwest ridge Date Climbed: Jan 21 2005Start 7am, summit 11:30, return 13:00. 6 hours, 1 candybar, no water.
Skinned from La Plata Gulch Trailhead to just above tree-line (much snow) climbed and followed ridge to summit (little snow). Strong wind, no clouds, beautifull view. Ski descent from 200ft below summit through 2 coulouirs on west-side. Too little snow above tree-line to create avalance danger.
bakcast - Nov 17, 2004 10:10 pm
Route Climbed: SW Ridge Date Climbed: Nov 99, Sept 2000La Plata has turned me away twice, both times due to bad weather.
Natasha - Oct 12, 2004 3:00 pm
Route Climbed: La Plata Peak Trail Date Climbed: October 10, 2004Incredible day! Great weather (sunny, 30F at the summit, and no wind :), awesome views!
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 8:59 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 30, 2000Started from the North Winfield 4WD trailhead, and made quick time to the plateau. The weather held out, and we had very nice views of the Sawatch Range. This route seemed quicker than the standard route from the north - only 6.5 hours round trip.
Brad Snider - Sep 21, 2004 9:47 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: August 7, 2004My 10th Fourteener. Had a great time on Ellingwood, but if I ever do that climb again I'll definitely start earlier in the morning (My friend and I started at 5:30 AM, but it took us ten hours to summit). Absolutely loved it!
Larry V - Sep 12, 2004 6:32 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: July 1972The weather was electrifying.
Matt Mahoney - Aug 26, 2004 7:58 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood ridge Date Climbed: July 1, 2004A long, challenging, seldom traveled route. I saw no trail, no cairns, and no footprints during my 5-6 hours on the ridge. photos.
RyanS - Aug 16, 2004 5:26 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: August 16, 2004Ellingwood Ridge is sweet ! If you're looking for six hours of scrambling on a great ridge, this is it!
mtnhiker13 - Aug 16, 2004 9:40 am
Route Climbed: Winfield Trailhead Date Climbed: August 15, 2004Well La Plata surprised me. After climbing Missouri, Emerald and Iowa the day before, I didn't think La Plata would be much fun but it was.
Weather was great, the hike through the basin was beautiful. The rocks on the mountain were fun - avoid the trail - it's scree and loose footing. Climb on the rocks and have fun! Very solid.
La Plata is everything a Sawatch Mountain should be.
Saintgrizzly - Aug 10, 2004 1:37 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge, South Approach Date Climbed: Summer, 198? & 199?Have done this mountain twice, which is surprising since for some reason I don't particularly care for the thing. First climb was memorable because the weather was so unbelievably warm, climbing partners Aaron Johnson and Mike Kloepfer took a two hour nap on the summit!
And got away with it...
Chris - Jul 26, 2004 5:06 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 26, 2004Very nice day after a long spell of bad weather, the mountain gods were smiling. This is a beautiful hike up a scenic valley, and a great mountain.
DaveC - May 20, 2004 9:58 pm
Route Climbed: from the south Date Climbed: june 99I was sure I told Shon 2 nights of camping, so I had to talk him into it once we were there. Great view of Huron and the Apostles and Ice mtn from our camp on the less popular southern basin. steep bushwhack to get out of it, but oh well.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 5:22 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Ridge Date Climbed: September 27, 2003Got a bit turned around in the early-morning dark but once on route had a blast. First half is pretty good rock, but quality deteriates as you go. This climb just sucks your energy out. Lots of up and down. But in the end, the sense of accomplishment and the incredible scrambling and scenery made it well worth it.