The trailhead for La Plata Peak's Northwest Ridge Route
The South Fork Lake Creek was raging!
The steel and wood bridge over the first creek crossing
The powerful water was busy carving this mini canyon (as seen from the bridge)
Adam below the bridge helping to refill Karen's Camelback
Kris, Adam, and Karen working their way up the trail along the creek
The northwest ridge of La Plata comes into view!
This steep gulley was well switchbacked, keeping the grade comfortable
Sayres Benchmark was visible at the southern end of La Plata Gulch during our ascent to the ridge
After gaining the ridge, we stopped for a food break and to admire the views of Ellingwood Ridge and La Plata basin
La Plata basin and the spectacular Ellingwood Ridge
This curious chipmunk was scavanging for a meal
Kris and Adam on one of the routes many switchbacks through the talus
Jim and Karen - contemplating a traverse over to Sayres Benchmark?
The final 900 vertical to the summit of La Plata - ascend the snow or the rocks?
Karen ascending the rocks on the northwest ridge
Kris chose to don snowshoes and follow the snow
Kris ascending the snowfield with Ellingwood Ridge and state highpoint Mt. Elbert in the background
Kris and Adam made good progress with occasional post-holing on the snowfield
Clouds were moving in, so Adam and Jim made a quick push to the summit
Adam tops out on La Plata's summit!
Karen and Kris followed soon after - way to go ladies!
(L to R) Oxford, Belford, Harvard, Missouri, and Yale were visible today to our southeast
Mt Massive and Mt Elbert were visible to our North
Our objective from two weeks ago - Brown's Peak and Huron Peak to our south, with weather moving in behind them
The obligatory summit photo - we made it!
The Ohl's and the Runyan's
One last summit shot before we head down
Kris trying out a glissade on the descent
That's my knees shouting “Thank you!!”
Almost back down to the car and still smiling!
Our elevation profile for the day
Our tracks for the day shown in red
