Ellingwood Ridge of La Plata (14,336 ft)

An Alpine Start
An Alpine Start (4am)

CMC Climbers on La Plata Summit - Ellingwood Ridge Success!
Summit at 1:30pm
Pictured: Rick, Clare, Doug, Wesley, Tilden, and Slava

Clare on Summit of La Plata
Trip Leader Clare on the summit of La Plata. You can see Ellingwood Ridge stretching out behind me!

For the Colorado Mountain Club’s Centennial Celebration, I led this mountaineering trip up the Ellingwood Ridge of La Plata. It’s a long and arduous 4th class ascent. After doing it, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Ellingwood deserves respect and admiration. With a group of solid climbers, we negotiated the rubble and solved the puzzle. The summit was achieved, but it didn’t come easy!

Co-leader Rick Crossing the Creek
Tilden and Rick Crossing the Creek at 4:30am

Doug Says "It's Scree-licious!"
Taken at 5:37am, around 11,400ft. Doug pointing to Ellingwood Ridge.

La Plata From La Plata Basin
La Plata is So Very Far Away!

We team up in order to safely navigate the steep scree. Doug and Slava work together, Wesley and I pair up, and Rick and Tilden join forces. This way we were able to all work together with our partners as well as with each other to avoid any rockfall hazard.

Doug and Slava Climbing Scree
Doug and Slava Climbing the Scree

Rick Beginning Ellingwood Ridge
Rick Achieves the Ridge

We arrived on the bottom slope of the ridge at 7:10am. It took 3 hours of steep hiking and navigating some very large/steep scree to get here.

The Rest of the Group Ascending
Around 7:30am, the grassy slopes turned into rock. This was the ridge proper. Before launching off, we took a short break for breakfast.

Rick is Dwarfed by Gendarmes
Here is Rick, in a blue shirt, surrounded by menacing rock towers. Taken at 9am.

CMC Climbers on Ellingwood Ridge
My Posse of Climbers (Tilden, Wesley, Doug, and Slava) taken at 9:20am. La Plata is taunting us!

Doug Launches Off the Rock
Doug about to launch off the rock. Rick in the background, downclimbing. (This is ER9 in CO Scrambles Book)

Tilden Navigates the Ledge
Tilden has just passed the crux. There is a significant dropoff on this exposed ledge. Thankfully we all did just fine. I was very happy Doug was there to assist me, at one moment my foot slipped and I thought it might be my last! (This is ER11 in the CO Scrambles Book)

La Plata and La Plata East
La Plata is still fairly far away. Taken at 11:15am. We are still 2 hours from the summit! With clouds looming, we all pick up the pace.

CMC Climbers Ascending Ellingwood Ridge
The spiky spine Slava and Doug are on was really fun. The most solid and enjoyable part of the climb, in my opinion!

Wesley on Ellingwood Ridge
Wesley and Rick approaching the summit!

Descending Standard Route of La Plata
Descending La Plata – escaping PM thunderstorm. There was graupel, thunder, and lightning off in the distance. We moved quickly down the main trail and stayed a little bit apart just in case one of us got struck. We got a bit wet and had a few slips, but no major problems.

We stopped at one point to filter water as several people had run out. Thank goodness Slava brought his water filter, what a saving grace! We had not expected to be out for so long, but the ridge was tricky!

Three Wise Men Descending La Plata
Three Wise Men on La Plata (What can I say, these guys are Troopers!)

Victors of Ellingwood Ridge of La Plata
Back to the Trailhead at 5:30pm

Elevation Profile - Ascent of Ellingwood Ridge of La Plata
The elevation profile of our ascent – courtesy of Slava

Elevation Profile Descending La Plata
The descent – courtesy of Slava

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