Longs Peak info

“May have a chance to climb this while in the state in May. Any one been there? got tips? I like mountains but this would be a lot higher than anything I've dealt with, heckova day hike to 14K ft.”

“mtnman - Go for it. I went up 12 years ago, in the summer. Don't know how much snow there might be in May. My friend made it all the way. I went quite a way on the ledge past the keyhole. It is the most hiked of all the 14'ers. I have not read the following, but it has some nice pictures. Plenty of information is available from a goggle search.
Recent Hike: Longs Peak via Keyhole Route

There was a stone wall area for tenting in the boulder field.”

“I spent 3½ weeks doing a different mtn. every day. In summer thunderstorms would roll-in to the mtn. tops almost every mid- to late-afternoon, with lightning! Conditions were usually OK at lower elevations, so we tried to head down by early afternoon.”

“There are two routes from what I recall when I climbed Long's Peak about 7 years ago. The normal route is up the main trail, through the "keyhole", and around the back and up the "homestretch". The other route (don't know if it still exists) was more daring where you went up the main trail to in front of the keyhole and then skirted over to climb up the right side of the diamond face. I think there were chains to help pull you up. We stayed at a campground called Goblin's Forest at 10,000 to acclimatize and started the climb around 1 or 2 am to get on and off the peak before the thunderstorms roll in. Unless you are a trail animal, I wouldn't advise trying to hit the summit from starting at the parking lot. This was in late June. The Peak is huge, flat, rocky, and about the size of a football field (very social place!), but the climb up puts you into some spots with alot of air! I just started posting Pics of this trip on webshots, I'll try to get the climbing pics up for ya. I hope this helps you.”

“Thanks guys. I have been hearing that pre june-July its pretty icy and not for fun. I'm thinking that maybe we can at least get to the boulder field and back starting from the parking lot. I also understand that you can expect lightning up top every day by noon. We'll see”

“A group of us did it the first week of August last year. Camped one night at the boulder field. No snow or ice on the rocks but there were a few snow flurries in the air as we traversed the ledges. If it had accumulated it would have been one very scary trip back to the keyhole.

I've got tentative plans to return the later part of July this year and scout out some of the side trails. Plus I just got to see the keyhole one more time!

It wouldn't be a casual hike if there was ice and snow on the route.”

“Anybody know what the activity there in the wintertime is? I noticed that there is a campground there for 10$night during the winter. Not sure how ambitious I will be but would like to find a place around that area (not too far from Denver) to car base camp and maybe get a little snow play in the week after Christmas. Also does anybody know what the condition of the roads might be this time of year? Chains/No Chains, etc?”

“lots of snow in winter. climbing longs is an all day afair 5000 ft elevation gain over 12 miles. If the trough is snowed in you will need ice axes and crampons to climb it. the trough usually melts out in late july. that said climbing it in winter is quite an accomplishment”

“Thank you for the info, peakclimber. Are you in the Denver area? Have any other suggestions for a 1 to 2 day car camp/backpack/winter hike in that area that you would recommend over this one?
last edited: 12/15/04 2:29:25 AM”

“I don't normally tell people to go to backpacker.com but I think you would get a better answer over there in the Rockies Forum. Most of the people who post on it live in Colorado. You will have to register to ask a question.
http://forums.backpacker.com/forum.jspa?forumID=15”

“its beautiful this morning (Longs Peak, that is) Completely snow covered and framed by big white puffy clouds.”

“Roam, ya bastard, stop rubbing it in! :)”

“what????????”

“The view.”

“VIEW!

I've got the view: Bright sunshine, green grass and flowers. Later today I might even go down and view the surf and some of tourists in bikinis.”

“at the foot of Longs...no water! There are some great day hikes that one could do, other than longs peak trail. I don't have my map here in my office to rattle them off, but there are plenty of options. You have been forewarned about the show conditions...do NOT take that lightly! When I was there in early may a few years ago, there was lots of snow in the higher regions, we made it to the "if your hair stands on edge, its time to leave" sign. Treeline. We couldn't go any further as we did not have crapmons or proper clothes...we were in shorts and tshirts. It was sunny, warm and beautiful. That night, it snowed 6" and the following day we day hiked in blazing blue skies and virgin white powder...stupendous. Feel free to email me directly, I've done a few really GREAT hikes in Rocky...Part of my soul lives there year round, and I'll be (hopefully) living in Estes Park in 5 years.”

“When your hair stands on end, it's time to hit the ground immediately. You are in grave danger of going to a grave because of a lightning strike.

Thunderstorms seem to hit the upper parts of the mountains in that area almost every summer afternoon. Above the treeline you are the best lightning rod in sight.
last edited: 12/15/04 9:58:10 AM”

“Damn Roam...that's quite the view, although nowslimmer's sounds good too.

Long's Peak is a great summer climb. Winter? Whoa! HAve fun.”

“if your going to climb it, you had better check to make sure it is open. I am fairly sure the Rangers closed the trail last yr due to someone dying on it.”

“I'm planning on summiting Longs Peak this summer, in July or August.”

“just make sure your off before the afternoon thunderstorms come through”

“I was up in the Wild Basin 2 years ago...I bushwackded up Mertansia Falls to its headwaters, then went around the lake at the top of the Col and continued up to the Divide and then dropped down to finish the loop...it was great...total off trail...there were moments that I thought I was gonna die...especially the 500' slide down a sheer ice field...now that was fun!”

“Check out my New Year's Eve trip over on the trips page.

As for Longs, I want to camp at the Boulder Field and then make the summit in the am to be back below treeline prior to the afternoon storm risk.”

“I've heard recommendations for leaving at 1 am when summiting Longs Peak.”

“if you want to do it in a day, but if Roam stays at Boulder Field he can make it into a 2 day adventure. BTW they don't call it Boulder Field for no reason”

“BTW, crossing the Boulder Field requires "scrambling."



The Narrows

Long's Peak
last edited: 12/15/04 1:14:32 PM”

“Thanks guys for the info. I did some web research on it last night as well. Also looking at Moraine Park as a possible basecamp. RMNP site clued me in to a lot of things. No water in winter, etc. By the way, I got most of my gear for a little excursion, (clothes, 4 season tent, etc) but would need to rent or buy some snowshoes and a few other things. What about cross country skis? I got some of those leftover from my 3 years in Boston.

Roam- I sure wish that I could make the New Years Eve trip but doesn't seem like I can. To be back in TN on Monday to work I have to leave CO early on New Year's Day.”

“Mozark summitted Longs. I'll get there eventually.”

“Nowslimmer......I remember that spot. WooEeee!!!!

My son and I almost went back, but a 60ish woman was coming behind us and we decided to push on.”

“There was water you could get from Big Thompson River in Moraine Park last Sunday, not ALL of the surface was frozen over.

You can always melt snow as well.”

“BBILL knox, ufortunately i am stranded in central IL, however i have summited Longs twice. There is tons of information out there on winter mountaineering in colorado. If i where to visit RMNP in winter I would come in a 4x4 vehicle and definetly bring snow shoes. For summertime visits i believe the NPS keeps info about snow on longs peak posted.”

“youd better know what your doing.”

“Looks like Moraine Park might be more suitable for my purposes this time around. Roam said he was there last Sunday, so the roads were definitely open then and saw a herd of Elk...so now just to decide where and how far to wander on my dayhikes. Probably going up the first part of the week after Christmas but sometime that week for sure. Thanks for the info stikmon, I'll try to e-mail you and get any more specifics you know about the place. And thanks peakclimber for the suggestions. I am taking my Trooper for the trip, but don't have chains for the tires as of yet, but Roam seemed to convey the roads were in relatively good shape last weekend...so I guess it depends upon what the weather brings
last edited: 12/17/04 2:41:06 AM”

“There are hundreds of places in Colorado that are good winter hikes & climbs - 55 other 14ers, most of which are more winter-friendly than Longs and don't require $15 park entrance fee and $10 to camp. Do a search for fourteener web sites and you'll get lots of pictures, directions and descriptions.

The most popular winter 14er climb from Denver is probably Bierstadt from Guanella Pass. Next are Mt. Evans, Grays Pk & Torreys Pk. Quandry, Elbert, and Belford, a little further away, are also good in the winter.”

“I was in a Toyota Corolla too. I think the Park Service keeps Bear Lake Rd open, it doesn't get much elevation under it either. The turnoff to Moraine Park CG is off Bear Lake Rd. You should be fine, unless we get a winter storm twixt now and then. Weather is calling for some flurries next week, but who the hell knows.”

“Hey, btw, me and the kids might try to hook up with ya for a dayhike while your here. I'll email ya with my number and such.”

“Sounds good Roam. My friend that I am visiting has to work every day excepting Wednesday and Thursday so I will have some free time during the day/early evening. Was going to check out the REI store and maybe a few other things. I am supposed to talk to an HR person about a possible job but not sure what day that will be. I should have internet access while I am there too though so will keep an eye on the boards too.
last edited: 12/17/04 1:24:15 PM”

“And Toejam, thanks for the information. With any luck I may be in the Denver area permanently within the next 6 months or so....so then I could check out all the 14'ers. When I lived in the New England Area the only 14'er we had was the short one;) Mt. Washington that is.”

“

out my window :)
last edited: 4/13/05 10:34:28 AM”

“The camp at the boulder field has water in August.

Awesome hike!”

“Yeah... well I can see it too.. so NAH!”