Colorado 14ers: La Plata Peak via Ellingwood Ridge Virtual Trail Guide

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

In loving memory of Jason Graves, please read a full guide on this hike here: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/la-plata-peak-via-ellingwood-ridge-trail-guide/

[@hordboy]

I hiked up La Plata via the standard route with my son in August. It was fun but maybe slightly tedious. (From Ohio, no acclimation, yada) Took a look at Ellingwood and was like yeah, FTS.

[@danieldbattin]

This was your most entertaining video yet! Thank you for sharing! I can relate to some sufferfest hikes that I have done in the Adirondacks and New England and Tourist Creek, Wind River Range, Wyoming. We are all human and the mountains can make us feel really small at times, which helps keep us humble. Glad you made it safely!

[@tomland9929]

What a ball buster, I’ll never try that route. Watching your video from my recliner will be sufficient.

[@jonathanmather6897]

Hell yeah! I’ve been on a mission to be the first one to barefoot climb all of Colorado’s 14ers. Nice to see some coverage of this route! This was my first ridge last year on the journey (really regretted not taking the standard route.) I had no idea it would remain to this day the most difficult, and grueling route I would attempt, including the traverses. The level of route finding on this ridge is insane. My feet were sore for a week after all of the backtracking. Never have I been so happy to reach the summit as I was on this route.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

My feet are sore for you - good luck!

[@jonathanmather6897]

@@TheVirtualsherpa Almost halfway done. :) Thanks!

[@CyanicG]

@@jonathanmather6897 have fun on capitol peak 😬

[@Jonkunneman]

Hahahaha I thought this was a troll post at first! But wow dude that’s gnarly! Good luck!

[@jackluke6209]

hope you bring an extra pair of shoes for emergencies. Have fun lol

[@Bob777-m2t]

By far, the best climbing coverage of CO climbing I have seen in almost 20 years! I got my A$$ kicked on this mountain too. :) Thanks so much for great detailed enjoyable picturesque coverage of Colorado 14ers.

[@jameshoffman552]

I'd call that the Dante's Inferno hike. Breathe toxic smoke while continuously avoiding death by lose gully.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

I know this is a long one but I truly try to show future hikers all of the challenges this route has and am very realistic with how long this hike will probably take you. Realistically, there is no true "trail guide" for this hike as there are SO many different variations to take. Unlike some in the comments believe, this route will likely take you into class 3+ terrain, so you should be very comfortable route finding and scrambling in higher class terrain. You could stay lower on the ridge to avoid many of these towers but it would likely result in hiking in VERY loose terrain which in my opinion is more dangerous than staying up high. We do summit both East La Plata and La Plata Peak in this video.

[@brandonbird6415]

Could've used a video like this when we went up a couple years ago. That ridge was definitely my hardest day on a mountain so far. Thanks for making this!

[@sladesmith6257]

Never ever ever. My scared ass about hit its limit on the little steep section on Uncompahgre near the top and the lil downclimb on the ridge to Missouri. That looks like 8 hours of terror. I admire you badasses who do this kind of stuff!

[@roybje]

Great videos! I always get good recon from them. Suffer fest is right! I have done Ellingwood Ridge twice and both times it was brutal! first time was 8 hrs to summit and second was 10 hrs to summit. I think this is a good video of what not to do on the ridge. The best advice I can give is when in doubt go LEFT. Not over and not to the right. Always go left. I believe there is only one time you go to the right and it is pretty obvious when standing on a small saddle to see that right option. The only other advice I could give for someone looking to climb this route is make sure your weather window is really good. Bailing on this route really isn't an option. Thanks again for the videos.

[@jasonthomas16]

Great video. There’s really no videos of this route at all on KZbin Thanks for doing the hike and putting the video out. Hiking with all that smoke looked absolutely brutal along with the amount of Route finding you had to do.

[@emiltjonneland721]

I climbed this route about a month ago I managed to do it solo in 6.5 hours car to car. I definitely agree there is a lot of route finding and committing down-climbs but I still thought it was a glorious route worth of being called a classic.

[@amateurhouradventures]

That looked grueling! Great to watch though, keep it up!

[@robc.8269]

I hiked the standard route up la plata earlier in the summer. We met these younger guys the night before & it rained off & on through the night. They did ellingwood in the clouds & were coming down before we reached the summit. They were crazy & they enjoy scrambles. They were insane.

[@mehul21]

This is grueling, painful but I get it. Sometimes you just have to do it. Just because. Keep it up man. Been following your content for over year now and it’s been awesome through and through. Inspired me to visit Colorado which I did last year and now planning for a week long trip early summer next year. Thanks a lot for your great videos!!

[@tonooros3939]

I did this route as my first 14er last weekend, its good to hear it's a sufferfest for someone who's done many peaks.. I still loved it though and am excited to knock out more peaks :)

[@funtobuild9968]

Makes all of your other hikes look like a piece of cake, thanks for sharing!

[@marcump]

You are exactly right, that climb was brutal.. neverending it seemed. The hike up to timberline was long as well i recall.

[@papajon62]

Wow what a beat down! That ridge was a time eater. It was impressive how fast you made it back down after the summit.

[@mickeybrumfield764]

Thanks for showing us this ridge hike cause I know I will never do it.

[@habaceeba]

Thanks for this video. It really is the best guide I have seen for Ellingwood Ridge. This one has been on my list for 10 years and I thought your video was going to help, but I think I'm going to have to X this one out. That does not look like fun. I love class 3-4 and route finding, but this just looks brutal.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Don't mean to scare people away haha just trying to be realistic with my experience.

[@stephensmith6599]

Thank you for sharing. Was just on the standard route ... and Ellingwood Ridge looked wicked. Nice work.

[@itdidnotworkmichael]

Damn dude! Watch all your videos and this easily has to be your most demoralized mind set I’ve seen. I did la plata a few years ago and was contemplating the ridge but after watching this, I think taking the standard route was the better choice.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

I was in an extra bad spot mentally on this day, even before the hike. The smoke did not help. However, I think even if I went into this at 100% it would have been a slog. Sometimes that's just the hand the mountains deal you.

[@itdidnotworkmichael]

@@TheVirtualsherpa You rock, regardless 👍🏻

[@brentmarquez4157]

lol - I agree La Plata is rough - wouldn't even think of doing this route - hats off.

[@mariafritz7290]

When you said “it’s 3:45 and I started at 7” while you were still plugging away on the ridge I GASPED lol that sounds so awful 😂😂

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

It was a SLOG of a day for sure.

[@kristenoliveira6645]

Hats off to you!!! I was nauseous watching this. Super gnarly ridge, congrats on getting it.

[@crath3570]

Looks like a solid challenge.

[@tylerfenton8669]

Fell down the downclimb you both did at 17:30 this weekend after grabbing onto some rotten rock there. Scariest thing I've ever been through in my entire life. This climb is so rewarding in the absolute worst way.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Glad you are okay - easily a load of 4 and 5 on this route if you stick to the ridge direct. This move is probably high 3/ low 4 for sure.

[@medicinegone]

Sucks about the smoke. I live up near Red Feather Lakes, dealing with the Cameron Peak fire. I still get out and tailrun where I can. It's been one hell of a summer though.

[@emilywein8956]

This is one of the only routes on a 14er that I have asked myself WHY. WHY would anyone do this. Glad this video cemented my want to never touch ellingwood ridge. Not that you don't understand this is a classic and such but there are so many other enjoyable days to be had all over the area. And personally I ended up hiking La Plata in late september with the snow this year and the trees out and it was fantastic. Glad I picked that over ellingwood ridge. Ironically it took me way less time as a slower hiker dayhiking Crestone Peak from cottonwood than for you to do this entire route. Which just goes to show how long it actually is.

[@georgemartin1498]

Love/hate your Energizer Bunny comment. Been there😂. Can’t think of any significant times when I haven’t asked myself “what was I thinking”? But addiction is a powerful master😢

[@dancer1]

Morning brotha

[@GrayMan7070]

It's long, it's bad, it sucks. I'll pass :) And Dude you ARE in shape, GREAT footage, congrats on not loosing yours, that looked gnarly.

[@tylernero6671]

When I did the ellingwood ridge I felt like Goldilocks, the first way I would try would be too losse, the secound would be too steep and the third would be loose and steep but doable.

[@Dontbustthecrust]

"This poorage is too hot" Goldilocks remarked "This poorage is too cold" Goldilocks cried. She settled on the third one "This one sucks too but fuck it I'm hungry."

[@brandonwhite6421]

This was a long, tough day today. I had fun, but agree with your frustrations. All in all, I vote "classic sufferfest".

[@cmcer1995]

Wow! I had heard Ellingwood Ridge was tough, but now I am glad I never tried. You definitely have a good comfort level with exposure than me. I climbed the normal route twice, first time got blizzard out just 600 feet from summit, was my 4th and not properly equipped at that time 09-07-95, next week no problem. Oh yea, and you're doing it while holding onto a camera...never and not roped either, gutsy man. Well, I am worn-out just watching you guys do this one, glad I never tried. But, some on the best footage I have seen including your Canyoneering in Utah.

[@735outdoor]

That rock-climbing looks pretty fun! I hope to do some of that eventually on my channel.

[@levilong7618]

"I'm an unpredictable emotional mess right now." that had me lol'ing

[@alysonblu7655]

We have enjoyed the intel on these segments of video, but it would be helpful in knowing what time of year each of the segments were videod in (if it were mentioned in the video). You two are rock stars! Love Juno.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Check out the website guide linked - it has the linked garmin route with date hiked on everything I post.

[@benlauson555]

I've done that ridge, not bad. definitely more interesting than the standard route.

[@owenrichardson9567]

Tried this one in the winter...rough day for sure

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Think I may oddly might prefer this route in the winter if snow levels were high enough.

[@owenrichardson9567]

@@TheVirtualsherpa it would've been great with adequate snow, but that damn talus slog was even worse with loose December snow

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

@@owenrichardson9567 Oh I am sure, I can't even imagine!

[@Awon2zip]

I wanted to do this route to get more Class 3 experience. It was on my list for next summer. After this video, I'm going to do the standard route lol

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Check out the Sneffels west ridge instead, a much better intro to class 3.

[@Awon2zip]

@@TheVirtualsherpa that's on the list! I'm also going to do Quandary's west ridge. My only class 3 experience so far is Longs, Wetterhorn and neighboring Matterhorn Peak (13er). Keep up the great content!

[@eddiej7259]

@@Awon2zip I second sneffels. That was my very first 14er on my first full day in CO ever. September 1st with 2-3 inches of snow and ice made it a lot sketchier than it should have been but even then, with all that slippery ice, it wasnt all that bad.

[@Awon2zip]

@@eddiej7259 good to know! I would do a lot to avoid a gully like the one on the standard route

[@eddiej7259]

@@Awon2zip we took the SW up, definitely put a few hairs on our chest given all the ice and such. But after coming down the standard route, glad we didn't go up it. That's for sure. Would have just been super annoying.

[@BS2Dos]

That looked painfully frustrating; up down, up down etc. Sure it’s a nice peak to bag, but that looked like a very particular type of 14’er ‘fun’.

[@RosserRuns]

I just found and subbed. I look forward to support the content.

[@joshz6975]

"It's probably gonna suck" "Well that sucked!"

[@jakollee]

“This is not a dog-friendly hike.” LMFAO!

[@MrOfficialscotty]

Great video and details, well done! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Thanks Scott, appreciate it!

[@marknicholas5634]

Thanks for doing this hike so I never have too!

[@sleepy.philly]

20:25 haha that ridge is purgatory for sure, we summited at 5pm

[@noej2591]

looks absolutely awesome, but securing your hiking poles so that they not limit your moves should be a priority well before entering the ridge. And proper approach shoes could also help on those scrambles. Greetings from Europe, I'm enjoying your videos a lot! ;-)

[@kevinbowerman6328]

Jason! MIZ!

[@710denverterp4]

This guy knows what he’s talking about

[@krischan3568]

Kudos!!

[@MrJoeTheShow23]

A Sufferfest, Love to watch others do it lol

[@zhuli693]

how's this one compared with the blanca - little bear traverse ?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Much easier - you have several options to stick to ridge or avoid really tough stuff on this route whereas LB Blanca is just puckering exposure for the whole time.

[@BrentAllen]

Amazing hike! I noticed you weren't wearing gloves during the rock climbing parts would you recommend them? Or really just up to the individual?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

100% up to the individual. I personally like to feel the rock in my hands, especially when its lose. The extra grip, friction and feel help me understand what I am working with in terms of the rock quality.

[@BrentAllen]

@@TheVirtualsherpa awesome thanks! Your channel has further convinced me I need to live in Colorado and tackle these mountains. Appreciate you putting all the time and energy into creating these hiking guides and sharing it with everyone!

[@benlauson555]

@@BrentAllen I would recommend gloves with the finger tips exposed for long scrambles. It's important to feel the rock (finger tips exposed) but it's bad if your hands get to cold. That granite can get cold and get your hands cold real easy.

[@jorymil]

Would you ever consider bringing chalk/rope/harness/rock shoes on something like this? I don't think you'd need a ton of climbing gear, but man... I'd feel way safer with a rope on some of this. I'd also trade 50-100 feet of 5.8 climbing for not having to deal with all the boulder-hopping and downclimbing on the ridge itself.

[@edwardlobb931]

Severe perseverance on the gnarly of gnarlies. Not a good place in the rain, or high wind and pelting sleet. You've probably saved countless injuries with this video.

[@HylianHero9]

Is the choice between trail runners and boots entirely preference for you? I prefer trail runners (or hybrid types) but curious if boots are more helpful for these kind of climbs. I like the reduced weight of trail runners as well.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Totally personal preference. I have boots that are better in winter/snowy conditions but outside of that I almost always prefer trail runners. Like you said, lighter and for me, more comfortable. I also find that being agile on the mountain is much easier with trail runners. I used to wear nothing but hiking boots and after trying to do that on longer hikes (15+ miles) my feet would be ☠️. Don’t think I will ever look back.

[@jzoop1]

I missed the drone footage and the music.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Wilderness area - no flying allowed unfortunately

[@danielschloss1111]

What a challenge. That looked like a hike through hell.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Felt like it too 😂

[@leemiller5194]

Have you ever had any issues with / do you bring anything for predator protection?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Luckily no - but Colorado doesn’t really have any predators I’d worry about. Hiking more in grizzly country, yeah I’d def carry bear spray

[@brandonsalerno6456]

Probably going to hit up the crestones next climbing season, possibly the traverse. How hard were they actually? Didn’t have many issues with the west ridge on Quandary (until we got stuck in a storm and a very inconvenient snow patch caused us to go off route into some “fun” terrain”. Are they much harder than the west ridge and would you recommend climbing them both separately or via the traverse?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Talk about them in more detail here: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/ranking-the-colorado-14ers-by-difficulty/ - I would recommend hiking them together if you have the skill and comfort level. The class 5 move on the traverse is much harder than anything on the quandary west ridge and the exposure is MUCH higher on the last headwall.

[@brandonsalerno6456]

@@TheVirtualsherpa when it comes to exposure and difficulty of doing them separately, how do they compare?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

@@brandonsalerno6456 Crestone Peak is much easier than Needle and same route as doing the traverse or solo. Needle is a tough climb/downclimb regardless of how you do it. If you do them separately you add a bunch more elevation gain as well.

[@cdieterle33]

This hike does not have to be as difficult or dangerous as this video shows. If you just stay on the east (left) side of the ridge, you can avoid the vast majority of the class 4/5 climbing and exposure in the video. I'm sure it wasn't portrayed this way on purpose, but I just thought I should post this since thousands of people have already watched this video. With that said, the ridge is very long and requires tons of route-finding no matter which way you go. Props to you and Jason for staying smart and safe the whole time!

[@brandonbird6415]

Agreed. It probably costed us more overall elevation gain/loss to do it this way but it's definitely less technical imo.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Welcome to the rotten rockies .

[@dannyhayward2392]

I always vlick when I see an upload. 😬😬

[@AllyWhiteArtist]

People always act like climbing mountains is the hard part... I personally don't think so... I could get up just about any mountain... HOWEVER, I'm NOT good at down climbing, lol... Therefore, I think climbing DOWN a mountain is the real accomplishment... Seriously though, awesome video! Nicely done!

[@OayxYT]

Idk why I think that this looks fun, I don’t even climb

[@michizer0]

Is it dog friendly? Hmm no, it‘s rope friendly

[@gjalnisilver]

Today I've seen a video of someone doing a Capitol - Snowmass traverse. I dunno how people have the mental capabilities to do stuff like that, I still get scared the living bajeebus out of me from the stuff that you do. My mental capacity tells me this is not something I'll ever try - Ellingwood that is... Satan's Ridge would kill me by just looking at it, wouldn't even get up Capitol xD. Granted I suffer from vertigo, but I'm getting better at this, partly thanks to you.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

I get people all the time chirping me about not counting that as a route or having done it myself. Honestly, it does look fun but the amount of unknowns and danger on a route like that is just something I am not willing to accept at the moment.

[@gjalnisilver]

@@TheVirtualsherpa Which I totally appreciate as this route looks more than just dangerous. Just by the video everything in there looked loose from the start to end with mental exposure. Please stay safe and sound! No thrill is worth putting your life at risk. If I might ask another question tho. What helps you more, YT membership or patreon? Wanna support you, but dunno what's benefitting you more.

[@governmentpuppet87]

This for sure really sucked lol. Most miserable 14er I've done so far

[@johnnyringo4899]

No way in hell, i could barely watch.

[@imkputtz]

all complaining...

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Kind of like you with this comment 🤔

[@hix7166]

You're gonna get someone hurt if you're posting this as an actual trail guide with the expectation that people will use this video to reference the expected route. Completely off-route, class 4/5 is not necessary.

[@jasongraves149]

yeah, cuz we did all that up climbing and down climbing for shits and giggles, as you could see we were having an awesome time.

[@hix7166]

@@jasongraves149 I totally get that but calling this a trail guide might give some people a false impression of what the route should be

[@colbjallen8334]

Did someone tell this dude that Sherpa is a ethnic group. Guess I don't get your name, you don't look Sherpa to me