La Plata Peak (14,336 feet)

Another weekend adventure drew us to La Plata peak - a 14er with a trailhead just off of Independence Pass (between Leadville and Aspen) and a summit with a great view. Weather started to close in on us as we reached the top, and rain on our descent reduced the total number of photos we both got, but it was a good (and hard) hike.

Click here to read a detailed trip report of this hike.

Star Mountain, and morning clouds

8-3-2008 6:34 am

The La Plata ridgeline

8-3-2008 7:03 am

Seyres Peak, at the end of the valley

8-3-2008 7:14 am

Lisa looks up the gulley we're about to climb

8-3-2008 7:25 am

A marmot hangs out on a nearby rock

8-3-2008 7:55 am

Unnamed 13ers on the left, Casco Peak (13,908 ft), and French Mountain on the far right in the distance

8-3-2008 7:59 am

On top of the ridge, looking at the next ridge over (Ellingwood Ridge) and Mt. Elbert in the distance

8-3-2008 8:25 am

Lisa, climbing through the talus on a climbers trail

8-3-2008 8:59 am

An interesting cairn, with Mt. Elbert in the distance

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-3-2008 9:02 am

Lisa, hiking through talus - the summit visible in the distance

8-3-2008 9:08 am

Mt. Elbert (14,433 ft) visible in the distance (on the right)

8-3-2008 9:28 am

The view to the west

8-3-2008 9:41 am

Red Mountain - named for obvious reasons

8-3-2008 9:41 am

The summit

8-3-2008 10:10 am

Brian and Lisa on the summit

8-3-2008 10:12 am

[PAUSE THE SLIDESHOW BELOW TO WATCH THE ENTIRE VIDEO]

Brian and Lisa glissade down

Opting for a more pleasant descent than rock hopping, we glissaded down a small snowfield. When Lisa goes, you"ll notice that the snow wasn"t quite as smooth as one might like, but it still beat walking!

8-3-2008 10:12 am