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Peak(s):  Longs Peak  -  14,259 feet
Date Posted:  08/28/2008
Date Climbed:   08/27/2008
Author:  jgkaz
 Long‘s Peak - Keyhole rte (first timer)   

It was the first 14er for the three of us to climb, and we weren‘t prepared for what was before us. That is to say it was far more beautiful and awe-inspiring than any of us could have imagined. It was also a much larger challenge than we anticipated. But all that hard work made us appreciate it that much more. Long‘s is a great peak, and the trail is in great shape right now.
We originally planned to summit on Aug 16, but the storm that hit the night before dumped "knee-high" snow above treeline. It took a week and a half for that to melt, so by the time we went on Wednesday, Aug 27 there was no snow or ice anywhere on the trail. There were a few wet spots leading up to the boulder field, but they are easily passable and my shoes were bone dry the entire trip.
We started the trail at 3:30. It took us 8 hours to summit. We started the descent at noon and were back to our vehicles just before 6. It probably took us a little bit longer than it should have, but we were enjoying the trip and scenery. In fact...a quick story.
Just before sunrise we were passed by an Amish family: Father, teenage son, 10 year old son and two daughters in their mid-teens. There was not a backpack on one of them, so no food, change of clothes, additional socks, rain gear...nothing. No Camelbacks, jugs of water or anything other than a canteen on Dad‘s belt. The men were wearing overalls and the girls were in long dresses. As I reviewed all the preparation our team did, and all that stuff I was carrying it made me wonder if we would be carrying that family off the mountain later in the day. I learned the answer to that question as we were nearing the top of the trough as they passed us -- again -- on their way down from the summit! So I‘m not sure if this was a superhuman family, or if our group was just abnormally slow. I‘d like to think it‘s the former, but maybe the truth is somewhere in between. Good for them...they were extremely pleasant folks.
It was not terribly crowded that day. Parking was not a problem and reviewing the log book suggests about 50 people made an attempt. It was a little on the cold side, especially in the wind. THE WIND! There were parts of the mountain where the wind was absolutely vicious. Without the wind it was around 40 degrees. But when that wind hit it just cut right through you. There were only a few areas with that exposure, so it was by no means a constant problem. It wasn‘t really dangerous, and the summit was fairly calm. Still, I was shocked at the wind tearing through the keyhole and at the top of the trough. Estimates ranged from 50 to 70 mph, and it was steady like that, not gusty. Maybe that‘s normal, but it was quite an experience for us.
The descent was a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. Given the difficulty going up can be very tired coming down. I imagine this is when a lot of falls, ankle turns, and knee injuries occur.
Overall it was gorgeous. As I was taking it all in the thought crossed my mind of how impossible it is to try to capture that scenery with a camera. Pictures simply can not do the landscape justice...you have to experience it for yourself. But it is not an easy trip by any means, unless of course you‘re an experienced mountaineer.



Comments or Questions
sgladbach
User
Are you hooked?
8/29/2008 12:03pm
Good Job! Though your preparations enhanced your chances of a safe expedition, you will often see sucessful climbers that you worry might not be ready/informed about what they‘ve gotten themselve into. Long‘s, being the highlight of Rocky Mountain Nationsl park, is notorious for this problem.

Long‘s is the most often CLIMBED peak in the state (excluding those who drive to the summits of Pike‘s and Evans). That is why they need a ranger staff just to patrol the mountain, always ready for a rescue.

Again, good job. keep it up.



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