walkwest: La Plata 3

"Where's the trail?!?!?"

Nic, Josh, Caleb on Democrat

One of the most pathetic, heart-wrenching, and funny things I've heard as a parent happened on the hike to the top of Mount Democrat a few years back. Nic, Josh, Caleb, and I were doing this one together, it turned out to be 12 year old Caleb's first 14er summit! This warm summer day was fairly cool for us South Texans and the wind was howling up on the mountain. As we made our way up the steep talus, Caleb wandered off the trail a few feet to wipe away the fluids that were pouring out of his eyes and nose. He leaned over with his hands on his knees gasping for air (we are accustomed to rich, thick gulf coast air). He looked up and was a little disoriented and said with a combination moan/wail/cry,

"Where's the trail?"

My heart broke for him, I have ruined his young mountain climbing career and probably have scarred him for life. A mere two seconds after his lament, he eyes the trail and nonchalantly says,

"Oh, there it is..."

My how things turned.

Back to this day...As we watched our leaders struggle up the steep shoulder that hopefully leads to the basin below the southwest ridge AND as we realize that there was no trail marker at their point of entry, Nic and I began to lament,

"Where's the trail?!?!?"

We decide to stay in the valley for a while hoping that we come across a trail marker and/or a view of La Plata Peak. We walk west another quarter of a mile...

The unavoidable ascent...
It became clear that we were not going to find the trail marker AND that we were moving farther away from the La Plata. Our next decision - we must go up, hoping that our trailblazing skills will get us in view of La Plata. If we could see it, we could salvage the trip.

So up we went, rapidly. This turned out to be the longest steepest thing I have ever climbed. After about 500 feet of elevation gain we stopped for a break. My thighs and calves were already cramping and we were only a third of the way up.