Climbing Death on Longs Peak

[ezabielski]

A lot of talk about the rail spikes. You don't have to use either of them to pass through that area, up or down, if you're worried about them. Helps to be taller though,

[krazykat]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article820697.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[14erFred]

Deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the fallen climber. May he rest in peace forever, and may his memory always be a blessing.

[onebyone]

Sounds like he was up there way early, which shows he wasn't totally clueless. I've scaled some stupid s**t when I was younger, sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident. Just seems like a bad decision alongside some bad luck. Could've happened to a lot of us here at one point or another.

[wondering_hough]

It's heartbreaking. I preach the message to anyone who will listen that Longs is no joke, despite the popularity -- for that matter, any class 3 peak should be treated with serious respect. I can't tell you how many times people express an interest in hiking Longs as their first 14er. Unless they already have some mountain time under their belts, I'll do my best to talk them out of it.

RIP

Agreed. Longs is having quite a year, maybe these recent accidents can remind people that just because the number of deaths on the peak is low relative to the number of attempts it sees, that peak is still one of the most dangerous in Colorado and deserves respect.

+1 to both comments

[Urban Snowshoer]

Has the number of fatal accidents been higher than normal this year--it seems like it is--or has it stayed relatively normal and I'm just hearing about it more often?

[Jim Davies]

There have been two fatal accidents on Longs this year, which is not unusual. There have been other stories (lightning on Trail Ridge, climber stuck on Broadway) that might make it seem worse than usual, but RMNP always gets lots of search and rescue events - over 200 per year.

[flyingmagpie]

Some years are worse than others for climbing fatalities. Every climber feels for those who are lost. They are our comrades, our brothers and sisters, and they have loved what we have loved. Any loss of life, any injury is terrible, but I don't think this has been a particularly bad year in terms of numbers. Part of that is because this climbing season has been shortened for many of us by snow lingering late into the summer, and lately, a persistent monsoon pattern. For those of you who are new to climbing, and don't remember it, 2010, on the other hand, was an awful year:

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_16283929" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mattpayne11]

Has the number of fatal accidents been higher than normal this year--it seems like it is--or has it stayed relatively normal and I'm just hearing about it more often?

No, I think this year is pretty average, far fewer than the spike in 2010...

I do like the idea of a 'no accidents since' sign at the TH, would be a nice addition perhaps.

I also am not sure why the Keyhole is the standard route. I did the Loft and downclimbed Keyhole and I think the Loft has far fewer hazards. Maybe that was just my perception.

[Dobbins]

No, I think this year is pretty average, far fewer than the spike in 2010...

Far fewer? 3 people died in 2010. So far this year 2 people have died and its only July. I don't know that I would say that one less is far fewer. Three people also died in 2009, so I don't know that I would call it a spike, either.

[TaylorHolt]

No, I think this year is pretty average, far fewer than the spike in 2010...

Far fewer? 3 people died in 2010. So far this year 2 people have died and its only July. I don't know that I would say that one less is far fewer. Three people also died in 2009, so I don't know that I would call it a spike, either.

I'm pretty sure he was referring to the total number of fatalities in Colorado, not just on Longs.

[mattpayne11]

Yeah, sorry... total deaths, not just Longs.