La Plata south to north

[dsbrian]

I will be coming to Colorado in September and checking some more 14ers off my list. One of the peaks I was looking at was La Plata and I was thinking about climbing by going up the southwest ridge route and down the northwest ridge route with a car shuttle. I usually only get to Colorado one or two weeks a year and this way I would get to see two routes instead of one. It looks pretty straightforward but I was wondering if anyone else has ever tried this or if there is something I should know.

Thanks.

[thebeave7]

Myself (and every Nolans participant) has done this, often the opposite direction (North to South). The Northwest side is the standard trail and very straight forward. The Southwest side from West Winfield starts out as a very nice trail that climbs into a beautiful hanging valley. The ascent from this hanging valley to the saddle/ridge is a bit steep and loose/slippery. Once on the ridge just follow it to the summit, not a whole lot to it, the trail is not as well defined, but its still there higher up. Have fun, fun way to do the peak.

Eric

[dsbrian]

Thanks,
Just wanted to be sure I was not missing something and end doing something stupid.

[cascadecoach]

I climbed the southwest ridge this past weekend. I would say that the scree field is a lot easier to climb up then to descend, it is like descending on kitty litter. If you are doing a car shuttle, I would recommend starting in West Winfield and ascending the SW ridge.

[kaiman]

I will be coming to Colorado in September and checking some more 14ers off my list. One of the peaks I was looking at was La Plata and I was thinking about climbing by going up the southwest ridge route and down the northwest ridge route with a car shuttle. I usually only get to Colorado one or two weeks a year and this way I would get to see two routes instead of one. It looks pretty straightforward but I was wondering if anyone else has ever tried this or if there is something I should know.

Thanks.

That sounds like a good way to do it as the southwest ridge is the preferable route to climb La Plata from for most people. The descent down to Twin Lakes via the standard route, while longer, is pretty straight forward. Personally after climbing/descending the southwest ridge route, I wondered why I had ever bothered with the standard route from Highway 82 as it is prettier, more enjoyable, shorter, and and less crowded.

Good luck and have fun!

Kai

[+101RouteHog+]

If you've finished the Belford group, how about hikeing Huron Peak (it's just downt the valley), then exiting Winfield area as you say; south to north route on La Plata Peak? Why? You're a good distance down a long bumpy, dead end, dirt road. Why not finish this area up? That's how I figured it. These THs are high clearance 4x4 only, as you probly know.

I hiked La Plata Peak a few days ago and really enjoyed it's solitude and short route. I did have 10 minutes of weather at treeline but cleared-up after, for a clean summit. I knew there would be three false summits and I did fall for the last few. This is a big boy. Maybe that's why my movement down the talus summits seemed to take longer than normal.

Enjoy!