Noah's Adventures

Wednesday, July 3rd–I woke up just past 5:30 am to the sunrise as well as the commotion of other hikers arriving to the trailhead of La Plata Peak. Located just over the east side of Independence Pass, the mountain stands at an impressive 14,360 ft and can be climbed via a 10-mile out-and-back hiking route. The mountain would also be my first ever 14er.

The night prior, I had slept in the back of my Subaru Outback, a cozy dwelling complete with a sleeping pad and a thick moving blanket. The goal for the day ahead was to complete the route quickly, and therefore, to pack light.

I brought with me a hip-pack that held two water bottles, and a few snacks tucked inside. This way, I’d be able to run the flat sections on the way up, and hopefully most moderate terrain on the way down.

The route begins on relatively flat, rolling terrain. I crossed over a small wooden bridge, gazing down at a deep, 20-foot gorge raging below me. The next two miles ascend up through magical aspen trees which eventually give way to sparser groves of pine and fir. The trail rises alongside a rushing creek, where I filled up my handheld bottle with incredibly fresh, tasty water.

I was covering good ground, and passed at least two or three parties that had left ahead of me. The next gradient was quite steep, with stairs etched into the hillside. Luckily, at about 2 miles in, I reached a beautiful meadow that gave me a glimpse of the grind ahead. I enjoyed my last half-mile of jogging, preparing for the steep miles to come.

The wonderful terrain of the meadow quickly transitioned to steep hillside. Wildflowers appeared on the side of the trail, and rewarding views of the mountain’s Southeast flank shone bright in the morning sun. I was finally above the tree line, and the panoramic views began.

A perfectly cut section of switchbacks guided me higher, and soon I crossed a rubble field. After some more switchbacks, I came upon a stunning alpine meadow, laden with large rocks and a football-field sized snowfield. I cut directly through the snowfield, and climbed a steep gradient up towards the next ridge.

The views from the ridge were incredible–I left behind the previous valley and looked on into the next. Alpine grasses and jagged rock formations stood ahead.

The next section of trail presented a new challenge. The route finding started, and I picked my way through scree fields and loose rock. At the next ridge I was surprised to find a skier climbing up the same path I was on. He told me he was gearing up to ski the north couloir, and we wished each other a safe journey.

With one final push, I grew anxious to reach the summit. A cold wind whipped across the mountainside from the south, piercing my thin layers. The terrain was a mixture of talus and small pebbles. With a snowfield covering the trail, I rock-hopped my way up the slope.

At last, I crested the saddle of La Plata Peak. Looking out to the South, I caught my first glimpse of the Collegiate Peaks. Clambering up one last scree field, I stood atop the summit ridge. To the North, Mount Elbert and the Sawatch Range dominated the view. Back to the West, the Elks stood prominently. After a quick jaunt across the ridge to the true summit, I soaked it all in.

I ate a quick snack while enjoying the view–it was my first time being at this elevation. It was a rewarding feeling. Before long, I began to jog back down the mountainside, with nearly 5 steep miles spread out in front of me.

I shuffled across loose gravel, bounded over talus, and soon found myself at the first high alpine ridge. The next section was brilliant–a brisk run through classic Colorado alpine meadows. Along the descent, I spotted 3 marmots.

Finally I was back in the subalpine zone, where trees reappeared and I stopped to fill my bottle with fresh river water. The next two miles to the car were tiring but soon I was back where it had all began. The mountain was a challenging introduction to high alpine adventure in the Rockys, and one that will stick with me as I search for more peaks to climb.