Longs Peak (14,255 ft) 9/11/05

Longs Peak: 5100 ft elevation gain, class 3 difficulty, 15 miles round-trip

Class 3

Scrambling or un-roped climbing. You must use your hands most of the time to hold the terrain or find your route. This may be caused by a combination of steepness and extreme terrain (large rocks or steep snow). Some Class 3 routes are better done with rope.

I decided to solo climb Longs Peak for the reason that the trail is heavily used and I would see people throughout the climb. This trip was physically and mentally exhausting. It is important to start the journey before 6 am to summit well before the afternoon thunderstorms. I started late at 8:30 am and made it this the summit by 2:20 pm. When I reached the top the clouds started to form. I only stayed at the summit for 5 minutes. The round-trip took me only 9hrs and 45mins. Most guide books recommend 12-15 hours so I made good time.

From the Ranger Station, start up the great East Longs Peak trail. Hike 0.5 miles to a signed trail junction - stay left on the main trail. Continue up through the forest and pass Goblins Forest. The trail comes close to Alpine Brook a couple of times. Switchback up a hill before crossing Alpine Brook on some log bridges.

Above taken from :

http://www.14ers.com/

A great website for more information about Longs Peak and other Colorado 14ers.

Leave the heavy forest shortly after the stream crossing and continue up to tree line near 11,000' (approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead). Longs is now in view as well as the route past Mt. Lady Washington and over to Granite Pass

Above also taken from: http://www.14ers.com/

Mt. Lady Washington is the ridge to the right in this picture. The trail travels around Mt. Lady Washington to Granite Pass.

After granite Pass the trail heads towards the Boulder field and the Keyhole. (both not pictured due to weather on the way down)

After the passing through the Keyhole, I traveled along the Ledges towards the Trough. It is a little better than a mile to the summit from here but the hardest mile of the climb. The trail was marked with bulls-eyes painted on the rock to show where the trail lead.

This picture shows a top view of the Trough. The trail section of the Trough starts at 13,300 ft and last for 600ft elevation gain. This was the hardest part of the climb. The rock is mostly stable but there are a few sections of small, loose rock. (notice the bulls-eyes on the rock.)

In a previous blog entry I hiked to Mills Lake. This picture also shows Mill Lake in the upper right corner.

The section after the Trough is called the Narrows. The becomes very narrow with a significant fall (1000+ft) only inches from the trail. Areas of the narrows are only 10 inches wide with a large fall to the bottom of the valley. A number of people die after the keyhole due to weather. If this trail would have been wet the rock would have been very slippery. (notice more bulls-eyes)

Finally the Homestretch!!! Only 300ft vertical left to the summit. By this point, I was only able to climb 5-10 yards before I needed to take a rest. The elevation was 14,000 and I could feel my heartbeat in my neck. I took my time because I did not want to get sick at this point of the climb.

This is a view of Chasm Lake and Peacock pond from the summit

Facing southwest from the summit

The Summit!! 14,255ft

On the way down I was planning on taking more pictures but I got snowed on for 2 hours after the Keyhole and then an electric storm hit right after I made it to the treeline.

This picture shows the snowstorm














I would like to climb Longs Peak again since it is so close to our house (45mins to trailhead). I would definitely want to go with someone and spend more time on the summit and parts of the trail taking more pictures. I am disappointed that I did not get all of the picture that I wanted to show the view of the climb.

Mark