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 Peak:  Longs Peak
 Route:  Keyhole Route
 Range:  Front
 Posted By:  Eagle Eye
 Date of Info:  9/14/2020
 Date Posted:  9/15/2020
Details

I went up Longs Peak yesterday on the Keyhole Route. Starting near the entrance to the Trough there is snow. In the Trough snow can either be avoided by staying on rocks, or traveled through. I put on micro spikes so I mostly stayed in the snow. Probably a little bit of thawing of the recent snow has put a small amount of ice in places. I went up the left side of the crux, at the top of the Trough because the bottom of the right side was iced up, this was early morning. Beyond the Trough, the Narrows didn't have any snow but did have minor frozen over puddles and pools of water. Upper Narrows area and the Homestretch were dry dry dry. There weren't very many people on the mountain and I had the summit to myself, about 9:15 am. A flight for life helicopter spent quite a while in Glacier Gorge early in the morning.


Comments or Questions
Beckitykate
Ice on Ledges?
9/15/2020 10:01am
So glad you were able to make it! I'm planning an attempt in a day or two. I'd heard there was ice along the ledges. Was it all gone for you?


astranko
Heli In Glacier Gorge
9/15/2020 12:10pm
For everyone's reference, the helicopter was because they found the missing person in RMNP at McHenry's Notch. Sad story.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/13/us/rocky-mountain-national-park-missing-man-search-trnd/index.html


Eagle Eye
User
longs
9/15/2020 5:13pm
Beckitykate; from the viewpoint of the Keyholes' opening, I'd glanced toward the Trough and decided to go ahead and put on micro spikes before being in the confined space of the ledges. Very shortly afterward (and with more of the immediate route in view) i was finding them unnecessary and took them off. Best of luck to you!!!

astranko: Thanks. I knew there was an on-going Glacier Gorge area rescue/recovery/missing person and thought it was a bad sign that the helicopter hovered so long. Or good that there was closure before winter set in.



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