La Plata is Colorado's fifth tallest fourteener and home to one of the classic ridges in the state. The Ellingwood Ridge. This line provides two miles worth of Class 3- Class 5.4 at near 13,000ft.
Getting There
La Plata Peak is located 14.5 miles West of the junction of CO 24 and CO 82. A few miles before Independence Pass.
The Ellingwood ridge on La Plata is one of Colorado's all time classic ridge traverses. It runs roughly North to South, curving to the West until it joins the summit in one last dramatic 1300ft push to a rocky false summit. From there, another third of a mile deposits you on the summit. The majority of this 2 mile traverse occurs at 13,000 feet and can be done anywhere from sustained 3rd class to 5.4 with some rappels. Depending on how close to t...[more]
Has anyone heard of , or climbed any ice on La Platas north face? A few years ago I climbed some WI2-3/ M-4 ice and rock up the nothface of La Plata. This was an excellent undiscoverd alpine route. I also saw other potentioal ice climbs in the surrounding area.
Wonderful, long, my only grade 3 hike. The view from half way made it worth it. Finding the start was faint, we continued on faith and started up. Going on up the hill, we found many downed trees and no straight trail, even on the barely exposed rock it was 2 am. Once out of the trees, the start Big talus field, huge. Once at the top, you will see the whole ridge and summit. The sun was up on us by then. We made it 3rd class, no gear, on 08-04-07, 13 hours all sun!
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