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La Plata Peak

Peak Condition Updates  
3/8/2025
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 3/11/2025, By: spen_c_boy
Info: No summit. Didn't make it very far. There was somewhat a semblance of a trench, but it was obvious no one had broken trail since the last spat of snow. We broke trail with the use of flotation for a couple miles with no problem, but then the remnants of any sort of trench vanished and we were quickly up to our bellies in snow. Must've spend an hour fighting the deep snow, only moving perhaps a 1/4 to 1/2 mile, till we turned around at 11,400'. In total, did 4.7 miles in 5 hours. Most of that distance was covered just fine, it was the deep snow on steep terrain in the trees that proved to be slow moving. We reckon that if we had made it to the headwall that we would have been okay to summit, but getting the headwall was ostensibly the tallest task of the day. 
1
2/3/2025
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 2/4/2025, By: mpaskiewicz
Info: Trench set by others before was in great shape until 11,300, where wind drifts made it difficult to find in sections. Somewhat reset it or at least made it easier to follow until the headwall. Crampons and ax were needed up the headwall. Ridge itself was a mix of dry and mostly supportive snow. Spikes were helpful up and down back to the headwall, when I went back to crampons. Took same path down as the way up to follow my steps in the dark, but it appeared to have slightly melted during the warm day. Gusty up top and long day for sixth new 'flake of the season. (View to the south of Belford and Oxford looks fairly windswept up top - tough to get a real read on Missouri or Harvard) 
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6
2/1/2025
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 2/1/2025, By: MattMenchaca
Info: Trail is broken up to the ridge, snowshoes or skis are definitely preferrable for that. Getting on the ridge via the headwall requires crampons and an axe. Once on the ridge crampons will work well, a mix of hard packed crust and soft powder causing post-holing up to about knee to waist. My party made it up to 13.4k before turning around due to the melting snow freezing our feet. Also, left an ice-axe, two pairs of snowshoes and a pair of crampons in the parking lot. If anyone sees them, please PM. 
3
1/27/2025
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 1/28/2025, By: jgregory
Info: Attempted on 1/27 via the winter variation to the Northwest Ridge. We got to about 12.6k, and turned around due to time. The trail was indiscernible after 11.2k and had to be broken by my partner and me to the start of the ridge. We snowshoed to the ridge and had microspikes after that. To climb onto the ridge you will certainly need an axe and spikes. Once on the ridge, it was a mix between deep windblown snow and hard crust. I saw both spike and snowshoe tracks up there. I'd say if you are going to try for Plata in the winter, give it a shot before the next storm while the trail is broken. Enjoy! 
6
1/3/2025
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 1/4/2025, By: tothestars
Info: Climbed La Plata Friday morning with a successful summit with my partner Adam. It snowed all week, and we had a big drop of fresh snow Wednesday/Thursday this week with 8" it looked like the night before so we figured we were in for a challenge. We had to shovel out a parking spot at the trailhead on 82 - it was all deep snow (thanks Adam!). This was our second attempt at La Plata, the first on Sunday was unsuccessful as we didn't anticipate how long it would take to climb and didn't quite have enough daylight (we started after 9am) and I didn't think I could stay warm I the 40mph winds last time. Friday was sunny and chilly with 15-20mph winds on the ridge. We broke trail (first tracks...yay) to the headwall with snowshoes after much effort, post holing was often to waists, no one had been through all the new snow and we veered off the main trail a bit despite trying to follow the GPX carefully... so had to make a new trench for the last mile or so. We then climbed the headwall staying a bit left to keep on the new snow as it was easier than the loose rock/mixed snow. From the top of the headwall to the peak was a lot of wind, especially at the saddle before the final 1500ft of climbing. We tried following the trail, but a bit too much snow obscuring it and ended up climbing rocks/trail mix. It was tougher/took longer than expected from the saddle on the ridge (1.2 miles from summit/1500 feet to summit) as we spent time looking for cairns/trail. Made it to the summit around 3:45pm. Cold (wind chill -5) and windy, had a summit cookie and quickly headed back down by 4pm since it was getting dark quickly. Made it to the headwall before it was completely dark, but after putting on lights and crampons (they're helpful for the upper section but weren't needed for the bottom 2/3) it was dark. We descended headwall and the snowshoe trail in the dark. The descent from peak to headwall was less than an hour, we moved quickly sticking more to the snow on the east side instead of trying to find the trail which was pretty chard to find with the snow and ice. From top of the headwall to the car was 2-ish hours, overall we descended in 3 hours from peak to car. The climb took 5.5 hours. My watch read around 10 miles and 5k feet of climbing total. It's a lot longer/harder climb than those numbers reveal and than the other 14ers we have summited in the winter (Elbert, Belford). 
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10 3
12/29/2024
Route: Winter route
Posted On: 12/30/2024, By: headsizeburrito
Info: Successful summit despite significant wind above treeline. Used snowshoes and repacked the trench to the headwall. There were others (who didn't summit) behind me that helped pack it further, though it's soft enough you might still want snowshoes, especially with more snow on the way and wind blowing snow back in fairly quickly. Headwall was a bit of a pain as everyone says. On the ridge I wore snowshoes about halfway to the summit, though there were only a few short spots they were useful. On the way down the ridge I wore spikes the whole way and only sank a couple times, you can generally stay on rocks and shallow snow where bits of grass are still poking through. Video from summit here: https://old.reddit.com/r/14ers/comments/1hptogf/a_windy_la_plata_summit/ 
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3 7
12/26/2024
Route: Winter Route
Posted On: 12/26/2024, By: joshuahutton
Info: Conditions were excellent today. Used spikes and snowshoes at different points. Also, I lost my toyota keys somewhere on the mountain. If you find them please text 707-337-4654. Thanks 
12/21/2024
Route: Winter route
Posted On: 12/21/2024, By: kyrawhitworth
Info: Took the snowshoes for a walk, dont need em thanks to the great packed down track/trench! Didnt use traction up high tho I did eat it a couple times heading down. Saw a few other groups up there which was great! I found the headwall frustrating and slick but there were more scrambly lines. 
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3 5
12/16/2024
Route: Headwall winter route
Posted On: 12/16/2024, By: Will_E
Info: Good conditions on LaPlata today with Jonathan and Logan. The standard route is well trenched, we didn't use snowshoes until branching off for the headwall. After breaking trail up towards the headwall in deep powdery snow, we ran into a trench that someone else put in that starts beyond where we split off the standard route. So basically there are 2 trenches to choose from that merge about halfway up through treeline. Headwall was easy to get up, as was the remaining route to summit, we didn't use traction today. Nice day, wind was moderate and views were great. 
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9 3
10/27/2024
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/29/2024, By: econner
Info: Light snow throughout NW ridge route. Some route finding through the snow but not bad given the cairns. Didnt need more than poles and micro spikes. I am guessing it wont be the same after this next storm though. Beautiful day out with only 1 other person on the trail. 
10/12/2024
Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/12/2024, By: wanderlust073
Info: Significant stretches of mud in the basin despite the never-ending dry spell recently. Cold enough in the mornings now for it to freeze/firm up, but youll be squishing through on your way back. 
2
10/11/2024
Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/11/2024, By: drewskiclimbs
Info: Still summer conditions up top. For the crux of the Southwest Ridge (the steep boulder field) I'd recommend staying more to the right than the route description says -- I found some fairly well defined dirt paths on the way down, sure wish I had known about them on the way up. 
1
10/5/2024
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/8/2024, By: jamarque
Info: One small patch of snow - easily avoidable - along route. Otherwise totally dry. 
10/1/2024
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/2/2024, By: earl555
Info: Only a few small patches of snow 
9/14/2024
Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/14/2024, By: jayceobrien
Info: Trailhead filled up by 6am. Hike was summer conditions, with small patches of snow mixed in past 13,000 feet. No need for spikes just yet. Winter is Coming.