Colorado 14ers: La Plata Peak Winter Hike Trail Guide
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2020
- La Plata Peak is a "14er" located outside of Twin Lakes, Colorado. During the winter, the hike requires a slightly different route than the summer. The 9.5-10.5 mile hike involves a lot of route finding and about 4,500 feet of elevation gain.
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Gear Used For This Hike:
Kahtoola Microspikes: amzn.to/31KwwM5 or
Hillsound Microspikes: amzn.to/3bv0b0b
La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men's): amzn.to/2wcdTFj
La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women's): amzn.to/2UJG9cA
Snowshoes (similar pair to what I have): amzn.to/2Hgx4jq
Hiking Poles: amzn.to/2txU7mB
Mountain Ax: amzn.to/3bxohr2
Gaiters: amzn.to/37jlnmC
Dakine Poacher Winter Backpack: amzn.to/383M7ZB
Nalgene Waterbottle: amzn.to/2S3iy4w
Garmin Fenix 6 (they don't make the 3 anymore): amzn.to/382zVbt
Optional: Crampons: amzn.to/37kpzT7
Optional: Crampon Bag: amzn.to/37i7apV
Optional: La Sportiva Mountaineering Boots: amzn.to/3bu1lJp
Optional: Climbing Helmet: amzn.to/2OLReWO
Filming Equipment
Drone: amzn.to/2wrSS9Y - not allowed on this hike
Camera: amzn.to/388OXg0
Lens: amzn.to/2Skyv5w
GoPro: amzn.to/2v5uFFm
Joby Tripod: amzn.to/36UVxFm
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If you've hiked La Plata Peak recently, please leave the trail conditions in the comments below!
Man I don't know where Id be without these videos. Just completed Quandrys this morning, my first ever winter 14er. It was absolutely stunning. Most of my knowledge has come from this channel! Thank you for providing such entertaining and educational content.
Snow climbs are so tough, but the rewards of the views are worth it! Nice work!
Ryan Paul for sure, love the seclusion and beautiful snow covered Mountain View’s that winter and spring offer.
Amazing video, I appreciate your confidence to do this solo -I would have been sketched out and bailed at multiple points😆
Hey, just want to say that I love your videos! I really appreciate them especially through times like this. I wish I could do winter and snowy assents like that, but I have been forbidden by my family lol.
Thanks man, really appreciate it. Trying to keep the content train going through all of this as best as I can.
The Virtual Sherpa yeah I appreciate it! I just can’t wait until I can go out there myself! I actually prefer doing 12 and 13ers over 14ers. So I just can’t wait!
I did some research, looks like there wasn’t enough snow on that north wall that you went up on. Other videos and on forums I’ve noticed more snow on the ridge accent. Stay safe!
Looks like you found a good place to do some social distancing, have done La Plata twice both times from the Winfield area but never in the winter.
Just did this 2022 January 29th similar snow conditions but I luckily had great weather. Followed a couples tracks it was still hard, respect for cutting the trail in this video had to be exausting.
Dude I want too do this one this winter but I’m scared of route finding. Also avalanches are a concern. Your videos give me motivation. This looks epic and Beautiful in the winter.
Hit it earlier in the winter and avis are more predictable on that slope. But like I had in my trip - the loose snow also makes it very tricky.
I have done this route in the Winter twice (once in March 2019, again in late February 2020) and both times I went the same way up the headwall that you did. In March 2019, it was pretty easy since it was such a huge snow year (almost just like walking up a nice ramp) but this year in February it was super sketchy like you described (even less now in February than there is now). Unfortunately I didn't make it to the top either time (made it to just past the buttress at ~13K+ both times) due to weather and needing to get back to Denver to catch a flight....so hopefully I'll be back eventually to try it again!
Yeah that section is super sketchy with terrible conditions this year. You must be right that a big snow year is required for it to be a safer ascent. Best of luck next time!
Awesome trek dude. Looked pretty sketch in spots
Yeah, it was really just that headwall that was sketchy, the rest was pretty standard ridgeline winter/spring hiking.
@@TheVirtualSherpa La Plata is next in my list for peaks in that area. We did Elbert, Massive and Huron last summer
Awesome hike. Do you ever plan to tackle the Ellingwood ridge? Seems like it would be in your wheelhouse with your experience
Jason Thomas it’s def on the list - hoping I will have some time this summer/fall.
Awesome video! When did you hike it? A buddy and snuck in a winter ascent on March 16th!
Thanks, I hiked it towards the end of March - can't remember the exact date but my Garmin in the hike post should have it. Def was the only person there for a while, broke trail the entire way but luckily had some old skin tracks to follow for about 75% of the approach before the ridge ascent.
Had a strange feeling you were going to become white out at the summit. As you broke out of the tree line, a sense of apprehension grew, thinking about rock solid trail bars, frozen water, etc.
Man, frozen snacks are THE WORST.
You need skis for the run in on this type of forested terrain. Snow shoes can be awful sometimes.
Man, mid-April La Plata sounds miserable, especially with all the recent snow downfall. I did La Plata a few winters ago and ascended on the ridge on the left (versus the right what you did toward standard route).
Do you mean Ellingwood Ridge?
@@TheVirtualSherpa No, the winter route up the same ridge you took. You just turned forward right coming out of tree line versus forward left.
@@WannabeAlpinistyou mean where he pointed at 20:14?
Do you think this would be a good hike for in early April for me and my friends who are all athletic but have no winter hiking experience or gear?
Unless you all are ready for a sufferfest + have a lot of avi knowledge, I would not recommend this. Better off waiting a few months until snow is more melted out / consolidated.
@TheVirtualSherpa Haha well I live here but they are just visiting for a few days so waiting unfortunately isnt an option. After watching more of your videos I think actually Mt Yale seems like a good one we might try instead since this one has such a difficult descent
Gee ,, looks like fun !! ..(NOT)...What no coffee shop at the top?? ..No Fish.. Certainly Great views !! ...Stay Safe and God Bless....
Haha thanks - Type 2 and Type 3 fun are a hiker/mountaineers' best friend.