While most of the way up is a trail, it quickly turns from boulder hopping to Class 3 rock scrambling. Since it is a long day hike, it is recommended to arrive at the trailhead early. There was way more exposure than we were used to but nothing felt terribly unsafe, we just proceeded at a considerably slower pace. An ice ax is nice to have for this part of the climb during snowy conditions. The infamous, exposed “Diamond Wall” may even have climbers on the face that you can watch working their way up as you snack and stare at the giant peaks before you. “It's a rewarding climb but it's very long and physical. We latched on to them which gave me confidence for crossing some of the more challenging/exposed sections. Turn right onto Longs Peak Road. Standing tall at 14,259 feet, it is Colorado’s 15th highest summit. “In general, I just tell people don't underestimate Longs. What’s more, the panoramic views you’ll find at the Longs Peak summit are truly iconic. Not a good first-time fourteener. The winds after you make it through the keyhole are no joke.
This granite face becomes extremely slippery when wet, and a fall here is dangerous. The next release will be on July 1, for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July. The north and east faces of Longs come into view, as well as Storm Peak (13,326') ahead. While an epic feat, Longs Peak is not a great “first 14er” to check off your bucket list. "The Narrows" section wasn't too bad if you have previously experience with exposure. We started at 3 in the morning and finished it at 5pm in the evening. This year, that didn’t happen until early August. This is a very popular alpine trail with the Keyhole route attracting several thousand climbers during the summer season. There are restrooms available at the trailhead, at 11,000 feet, and in the boulder field on this hike. Use the information below as a guide for hiking Longs Peak! The Keyhole Route is by far the most popular route on the mountain. Perhaps I had just set myself up for disappointment with the world hype of Colorado to discover it’s not really that remarkable. The park fee is $20 for 3 day access or $35 for an annual pass as of 2005. The Trough takes you to yet another set of exposed ledges called the Narrows.
As Saturday proceeded, the day before the climb, it rained with some snow on Longs and as I mentioned, rain showers passed through the area around 2 am, again, not in the forecast. So plan accordingly. •The Homestretch: This stretch is the most sustained vertical portion of the climb. Head South from Estes Park on Highway 7 for 9.2 miles. The approach to the boulder field is a steady incline but pretty easy for an experienced hiker. Drove to the trailhead, early in the morning.
The Keyhole will blow you away. Over half the climbers I saw on Sunday had a helmet on after the Keyhole. The most difficult part is doing the boulder field, however if you take your time most people can navigate it without trouble. Proper training is required for this hike, or “climb.” This includes hiking trails of a similar elevation gain, but also hiking in high altitude. Snow and ice was isolated and no need for micro spikes, yet 10/11(Sun) afternoon snow may have changed the conditions going forward. There was a little bit of snow and ice in the Trough, but I did just fine without spikes. Please note: This is a challenge route which requires some rock climbing experience, with intense class 3 sections after the keyhole (ledges, trough, narrows, homestretch). Watch a live feed of the mountain at http://noconow.co/longslive. Glad to experience mother nature kicking so much ass, can't wait to give it another go next year! Camping. •Storms can be severe any month, with lightning, rain, snow or hail often accompanied by strong winds. The most visibly prominent peak in Colorado's front range, Longs is visible from the state's major population centers, drawing climbers in. Unlike other access points in Rocky Mountain National Park, there are no entrance fees or day permits required to access this area. It was windy on the drive in and windy throughout the hike, especially so once above timberline. Check the skies for threat of storms. Follow him on Twitter @stemeyer or @XploreNoCo. The Chasm Lake Trail begins from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 9,405 feet, and climbs around 2,500 feet to Chasm Lake at 11,823 feet. Be willing to turn around.”. So, hope for the best for weather but use good judgement when passing through the keyhole to the summit and back because it's a long commitment in very exposed terrain where the footing can become more slick. Alan Arnette, an experienced mountain climber with summits of Everest and K2, has climbed Longs Peak 40 times, often as training for his high-mountain climbs. Too dangerous, maybe 7 or 8 people total we saw come down while warming up in the hut. There is no underestimating this ascent & heed the warning signs posted about poor weather & being self-reliant. Longs Peak is the only (“14er”) peak above 14,000 feet located with Rocky Mountain National Park. During this section we both wore helmets with the purpose of protecting from rocks falling, but we ended up just bumping our heads several times and were glad for the protection. Be mindful of altitude sickness, as it is a quick ascent. If you are scared of heights... don’t do it. Hell of a hike. The weather in the mountains are constantly changing, and it’s important to be up-to-date on the conditions before you hike Longs Peak. I am sure that when the artist decided to depict Longs on the quarter, they were imagining that Longs represents the beauty of our Centennial State and the adventurous spirit of its residents. It is primarily for organizational purposes for my Trip Report Curing My Summit Fever. The prime months to hike Longs Peak is from mid-July to September. This has to do with bad weather, late starts, and underestimating the challenge of the hike. The maintained forest hiking trail ends at the Boulder Field 6 miles from the trailhead. Dehydration is very common, and altitude sickness can happen to anyone. Longs Peak is the only (“14er”) peak above 14,000 feet located with Rocky Mountain National Park. All of our single-day tours have been designed to accommodate a range of ability levels. On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days that have not been booked for August. Trailhead: From Estes Park, take Colorado Highway 7 south about 9 miles to the Longs Peak Ranger Station. As somebody said at the Keyhole point, "It's not a no, it's FUCK No!". Only hard thing is the duration, its just super taxing on your body. "The Trough" was slick in places & definitely had potential for rockfall from above climbers. •The Trough: This large couloir is a dangerous stretch for two reasons.
Technical gear is not necessary to climb this route during the summer, but gloves (and a helmet as an extra precaution) is recommended.
You’ll need 3 points of contact at all times, and gloves really come in handy at this point. Cost is $20/night and there are around 25 sites. Beautiful views down into Wild Basin are a distraction. A fantastic failure! How long: 12 hours (at least), a 2-3am “alpine start” time is common. Reservations will be available to enter the park from June 4 through July 31. At your final destination, Chasm Lake ripples with the spurts of wind and Longs Peaks’ monolithic granite stretches 14,259 feet tall into the sky. Here is a step-by-step description of Longs Peak’s Keyhole Route, which is the most popular way to the top: •The hike: The 6 miles from the trailhead to the Boulder Field is a stretch through forest and above treeline, gaining an elevation of 3,355 feet. The Keyhole and Longs Peak via Longs Peak Trail is a 23.8 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Allenspark, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. You will soon reach Granite Pass and the North Longs Peak Trail junction. On September 1, reservations will be available for the month of October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. You, too, can make the summit and safe descent — if you take the proper precautions. Ended up getting turned around by the gale force winds last weekend, but today was great weather, great people, and a kick ass hike, Quite surprised how this is rated 5 stars. You are extremely exposed from here on out. The rewarding feeling you’ll get at the top is something pictures can’t capture. This is a strenuous hike with difficult terrain that should not be underestimated. Access from Boulder or Denver is via highway 119 and 72 which intersects with highway 7. Started my ascend at around 3:45 am and for the first 3 ish miles, the trail was covered by the canopy of trees, the climb was consistent but steep ( ~ 600 ft/mile). The National Park has put together a more in-depth description of the Keyhole Route that can be found here, as well as a video with even more visuals and information. So worth it!! Did Longs Peak on 10/4 with a friend and it was incredible! The view from the rock formation keyhole is incredible. Can honestly say my best and worst hike were both Longs. This may be the most epic picnic spot in the national park if the weather doesn’t turn on you. Xplore reporter Stephen Meyers covers the outdoors and recreation for the Coloradoan. This trail is a much more achievable day hike than Longs Peak. I’d recommend having a GPS route handy, as route founding becomes difficult as you make your way down to Keplingers from the top of the loft. After the treeline, you venture into an exposed rugged tundra.
The trail is well labeled and easy to find due to the traffic it receives. The last half mile to the keyhole was mostly boulder hopping and battling the wind gushes. Distance: 8 miles one way. This 8.5 miles out-and-back trail will have you back at the parking lot in 4-5 hours. •Weather changes on Longs can occur within a matter of minutes. I didn't have any issues with smoke from the wildfires. You will eventually reach Chasm Lake Trail junction at which point you will traverse Lady Washington as you head toward the Boulder Field. Advice for high altitude headaches, take Advil/Tylenol which works great. The group has hiked Horsetooth Rock, Ouzel Falls, Twin Sisters Peak, Hallett Peak, Clark Peak and Hagues Peak. Best advice is don’t underestimate how long a hike like this will take, but go for it if you can! Nick Sangetta hikes Longs Peak in the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado on August 29, 2018. Rocky Mountain National Park 970-586-1206. Right next to the Longs Peak trailhead and Ranger Station is Longs Peak Campground. Pretty straightforward until the keyhole. Take your time on the Keyhole route as the high traffic has made the rocks slick which could make this route super dangerous in wet conditions. This summer, the Coloradoan and Xplore reporter Stephen Meyers hosted a hiking series, culminating in a summit attempt of 14,259-foot Longs Peak. A couple thoughts/recommendations to pass along: the weather forecast for Estes Park for the weekend called for mostly clear skies with no rain.
•Before you go, check conditions on Longs Peak at noconow.co/longsconditions. •The summit of Longs has recorded wind gusts of 200 mph. The whole thing up and through the keyhole was extremely easy and safe if you stay on path and have appropriate shoes with lots of grip on them. (Photo: Christopher Rosenberger) Wes Siler Oct 7, 2016 Distance: 15 miles roundtrip (East Long’s Peak Trailhead) Scrambling up and down slows you down. Be extra careful for falling rock in the Trough. There are many routes to get to the Longs Peak summit, but the Keyhole Route is the most popular.
It’s now time for Longs Peak, Aug. 28. Information: www.nps.gov/romo or 970-586-1206.
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