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Peak(s)  La Plata Peak  -  14,344 feet
Date Posted  07/07/2017
Modified  08/04/2017
Date Climbed   06/30/2017
Author  James Scott
 relearning lessons on la plata   
I have learned a lot of lessons climbing 14ers, and there are some lessons that I think I am going to have to learn and relearn and relearn until I'm an old geezer in a home. I think climbing a 14er can be like buying a ticket to a sports event or a concert. There's always a bit of a gamble. Sometimes, your team gives up 10 runs in the 4th inning and the game is a complete waste. (Thanks a lot, Rockies!) Sometimes, Bob Dylan isn't in the mood, and just mumbles the lyrics. (You're still the best, Bob!) Sometimes, the weather sucks, the mosquitoes are thick, your legs are heavy, and you just aren't feeling it. These are the days that you have to work just as hard on the enjoyment part as you do on the climbing part.

Last Friday, I climbed La Plata. The weather was great, there were no mosquitoes, and I met some really nice people. But, I didn't have a majestic day. The day before, my stomach didn't feel right, but I ignored it. I only get to climb 10-15 times a year, so I try not to listen to the little voices talking me out of it the day before. I drove to the trailhead on Thursday night, got to the trailhead about 10:45, curled up in the back, and slept well till 5AM.

Up at 5AM, I felt pretty good, and got a good start after a banana at 5:22. After about 30 minutes, a conflict started between my stomach and my head that ended up defining my day. I try to monitor myself pretty closely while climbing, especially when I'm solo. So when my stomach began feeling queasy in the first hour, I was listening pretty closely, and I got worried. Normally I don't feel the altitude, but I'm not immune. A few years back I had a day on Torreys from Loveland Pass that left me shaken- I was unable to eat or drink because I felt so sick, which made matters worse, and I eventually vomited everything I had in me. I felt fortunate to make it back to the car- my friend Matt practically carried me. Today, on La Plata, that day became close in my memory, like a bad omen.

This is when I began to focus on the task at hand- 4300 feet of elevation gain. It's never a good idea to be thinking like this, but I was weak and allowed myself to start estimating how much I had gained and figuring how far I still had to go. Not good. There is a big, square shaped rock on La Plata at 12,300, so until I saw that rock, I knew I had over 2000 feet to go. My confidence went in waves with the mood of my stomach, and I wasn't really enjoying myself at all. I told myself that today might be more about accomplishment than enjoyment, but it was pretty early to hang that label on the day.


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into the basin

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a beautiful place to find yourself

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first look at the ridge

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on top of the 28 switchbacks

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Sayres Benchmark (?) the mountain across the basin from La Plata

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the path along the ridge

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finally, the big square block: 12,300 feet



I eventually gained the ridge, and the summit looked much closer than it was. Normally I get to this point, and a wild enthusiasm takes over as I rush toward the summit. Today it was more of a grunt than a labor of love. Maybe it was my stomach, maybe my head, but I got stuck in the idea that I wanted it to be over. This, to me, is one of the most important parts of climbing 14ers- teaching yourself that it's all to be enjoyed. I am used to being swept with a âwhere in the world would you rather be?' feeling at the beginning of a climb. My wife has climbed several mountains, but she doesn't love it. Her take on climbing is quite different:
You get up early and walk in the dark half asleep, and look forward to the sun to rise.
You walk in the sun up several thousand feet, and look forward to reaching the summit.
You reach the summit, and realize it's windy and cold and a storm is coming, and look forward to being warm again.
You start back down, and look forward to reaching your car.
You reach your car, and look forward to being at home again.
Soâ¦. when exactly are you having fun?
I get her point, but I have taught myself to love all those parts- especially the summit push. But not today.


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looking up toward the ridge

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back toward the basin

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summit ridge (!)

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i like a good path

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cairn below the summit



I reached the summit at 9:40, and it was warm and peaceful. However, my stomach was queasy, and I had only eaten two bananas, so I told myself I had to force down an entire PB&J before I left. I got about half of it down in 20 minutes, and was feeling some nausea, so I decided that I had better start getting to a lower elevation. That day on Torreys was haunting me a bit, so I got on my horse.


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9:40 AM... summit- alone and peaceful

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dig the late june snow



Heading down, I had to stop several times so that I could just gather myself, feeling sicker and weaker.. That I have done before, and I am not disappointed- in fact, I made great time up La Plata on a day when I wasn't feeling strong at all, so I'm actually pretty happy with it. What disappointed me is that I turned negative on the way down and didn't enjoy it much at all. I don't get enough of these days in a year, so I can't afford not to love them all. Heck, years ago, I dislocated my finger on Belford so badly that it bent back and forth at each knuckle, resembling a lightning bolt. I felt like Harry Potter somehow. Still, with the throbbing pain all the way down, I remember singing outloud and having a big silly grin on my face when I met up with my wife at the trailhead. Today an upset stomach got the better of me.

Images of the walk out:
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back up toward the ridge

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long walk down to the car

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last look back into the basin


So, I am going back to La Plata later this summer, to retrace my steps and get it right. I will sleep in the car, get up at 5AM, and start back up. This time, I will grin the whole way, enjoy the summit ridge, eat better the day before, and get back to the car with no regrets. I already can't wait.


Edit: Today, Friday Aug 3, I retraced my steps to the top of La Plata. I slept in my own bed, up at 3AM, on the trail at 5:40, summit at 8:40-9:15, and back to the car at noon. One thing about life is that there are many second chances to fix what didn't go right the first time. Today was a wonderful day. I felt strong, enthusiastic, and happy, and even though this was a repeat of a climb I did weeks ago, I got to the bottom feeling like I had righted a wrong. Today was a terrific day, and speaks to one of the many reasons I love climbing.



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
rpdawes
User
Congrats
7/8/2017 12:04pm
Congratulations! You made it to the top in spite of your stomach ailment. Many thanks for all nice pictures!

Was La Plata Peak your 58th bag or just a repeat?

Two years ago I was near the summit, but I had to turn around at 13,700 feet since time ran out on me. Hope to make it this summer.


strayster2
User
Re: La Plata
6/7/2018 10:52am
The hardest day I had all last summer was on La Plata, and it was all because of poor mental prep.

Reading this, now I feel like i have to go back and get redemption.


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