This peak was the second 14er of my carreer. I climbed it with a girlfriend long before I made it to the top of Whitney. We were the only ones up there - wow!
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August ?, 1998
Sorry for the late entry here since I did this so long ago, but as I was filling in summit logs for some other 14ers I did recently, I thought I'd chime in and 'virtually bag' this one as well. Longs was the toughest 14er I did, but mostly because I had a cold that day. We started around 6:45 and summitted at 14:30. The boulder field killed me. Walking around Lady Washington at 13,000+ feet for so long drained all my energy.
Then we got through the Keyhole and the weather turned on us. Howling winds of over 30 mph, cold temps and drizzling with thunder in the distance. We decided to press on since there was no lightning near us. Fortunately, the weather stayed away, and we were able to summit. My least favorite part was the trough. Going down it and knowing you have to regain all that elevation was not pleasant, and I was in no mood for it.
But my spirits all changed when we reached summit. My headache went away and I was able to breathe again. I wished we could've taken a different path down, retracing the steps got boring really quick.
All in all, I was very pleased to be able to get to the summit on my first try. I've heard some horror stories of people being turned back by weather. We were very lucky indeed.
Route Climbed: Lambslide couloir to Clarks arrow, down the Keyhole Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
Got on trail at 3:15am and reached the summit of Meeker via the lambslide couloir. Then we proceded to follow Clarks arrow to the homestrech on to the summit of Longs. Came down the keyhole route and made it back to the car 15 hours later. As if Longs isn't enough on it's own we threw in Meeker(13,911) and made for a very long challenging day. The weather was ideal and we had no problems with the exception of exaustion. Longs is an amazing mountain and I know that I will return to try another more technical route in the future. Anyone considering this mountain be aware that it is a serious mountain and is not in any way good for the inexperienced.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: June 27, 2000
Took two kids up their first 14er. We got a late start and it started snowing in the Trough, but we continued. Half way up the Homestretch with lightning hitting the summit at two minute intervals, we decided it would be prudent to turn around. The good news is we had the whole mountain to ourselves :-) Photos.
Route Climbed: Cables route Date Climbed: Aug. 12 1997
Climbed solo from Chasm Lake over Lady Washington, then a nice direct route up class 3 slabs, not hard except for one 5.4 move, a chest high overhang where you have to lunge over and grab into a crack. Descended the Keyhole in wet blowing snow, much harder than the climb. Lost feeling in 4 fingertips for 2 months. 10 hours car to car.
Route Climbed: keyhole route Date Climbed: september 1992
Climbed Longs Peak on a beautiful day in fall with my friend Chuck
lavaka - Apr 29, 2002 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2001
Route Climbed: First Cables Route, then the Casual Route Date Climbed: June and July, 2001
Cables Route is fantastic. For any experienced climber, it gives a quicker and, in my opinion, better way to the top than the Keyhole route. Rock fall danger only when lots of other climbers there. Best route for early summer. We roped up (rated 5.4), but found the rope pretty useless - though above the technical stuff, there were dicey moments if you lost the route. Casual Route was scary as hell for a climber of my ability - summited at 4:45 PM, way too late. Very commiting climb, but easiest one on the Diamond. Descended Cables Route, which was sopping wet and the descent to Chasm View was miserable, but better than a Keyhole descent. (posted: April 2002)
edit (Sept 2008): I've since been back many times, climbing Keplinger's Couloir, Keyhole once or twice, Casual Route again, Cables Route again, and Pervertical Sanctuary (also on the Diamond).
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 2001
Left at 1 a.m. reached the keyhole by sunrise. Banged my knee up pretty severely just below tree line falling on a slick wood bridge crossing a mountain stream. The crowds weren't too bad and those that were there gave me the encouragement to keep going through the pain. I had to quit at the trough though because my leg wouldn't support my weight. I decided to err on the side of safety and call it a day just an hour or so from the summit. I will be returning though to get this peak on a winter ascent in December
First my girlfriend (See Snake Dike trip report) dumps me, next I take a 40foot fall rock climbing at Vantage WA, leaving my arm in a cast for the summer. Third, I decide since I'm now solo and can't rock climb, it's time to bag some summits, so off to Colorado.
Longs Peak was the first CO peak I tried. After sitting on the couch for 2 weeks nursing my emotional and physical wounds, this was sure a wake-up call. The other 14ers I tried were easy after Longs. What a fat mountain.
I enjoyed every minute of the climb except for the mass crowds. Climb this one during the week for sure if you are heading up in peak season (summer). Be extra careful during the trough portion not to launch off any rocks to the people below.
I am surprised there are not more accidents from rock fall during the scrambling portion while you are in the trough.
The Keyhole Route is an awesome experience! It is long (16 miles round-trip), but very well worth the effort. Took about 12 hours to do the round-trip, car-to-car. From the trailhead to the Keyhole, it is just a "hike." From the Keyhole to the summit, it is a nice, long "scramble." Saw quite a few people who got sick from altitude as well! Would definitely do this baby again!!!
Route Climbed: East Face, Pervertical Sanctuary. Date Climbed: july 1993
The ascent was fantastic 5.11 climbing.
The descent on the other hand was a total epic. Never trust the forcast, we were caught unprepared in a fluke blizzard and spent a long time on the north face in our climbing tights looking for the rappel anchors. Thank god there were others in the same situation thât knew where they were when we heard their voices. A humbling experience.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August, mid 70's
Fun climb. While on top met people who had come up the cables route. Talking to them is what got me started with technical mountaineering. Sat there watching the clouds build below us. Decended in snow, whiteout, and lightning. (Stupid climber!)
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 07/01/2001
A long strenuous hike/scramble/climb starting at Goblins Forest campground. About 13 miles round trip. Used the East Longs Peak trail to the Keyhole, then followed the Keyhole route to the summit. Lots of travel above treeline on this route, so had to start heading down early (9:30 am) to avoid the typical afternoon thunderstorms. The route after the Keyhole is tough, and pretty exposed in places, but the rewards at the summit were worth it. Started at about 2:00 am.
A true classic...wake up early and bring a helmet, as the trough can produce some nasty falling rock if there are people ahead of you. Watch out for lightning, as you are exposed for quite some time...
ocelot - Jul 9, 2002 8:57 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July, 1972This peak was the second 14er of my carreer. I climbed it with a girlfriend long before I made it to the top of Whitney. We were the only ones up there - wow!
charles97 - Jul 9, 2002 5:41 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August ?, 1998Sorry for the late entry here since I did this so long ago, but as I was filling in summit logs for some other 14ers I did recently, I thought I'd chime in and 'virtually bag' this one as well. Longs was the toughest 14er I did, but mostly because I had a cold that day. We started around 6:45 and summitted at 14:30. The boulder field killed me. Walking around Lady Washington at 13,000+ feet for so long drained all my energy.
Then we got through the Keyhole and the weather turned on us. Howling winds of over 30 mph, cold temps and drizzling with thunder in the distance. We decided to press on since there was no lightning near us. Fortunately, the weather stayed away, and we were able to summit. My least favorite part was the trough. Going down it and knowing you have to regain all that elevation was not pleasant, and I was in no mood for it.
But my spirits all changed when we reached summit. My headache went away and I was able to breathe again. I wished we could've taken a different path down, retracing the steps got boring really quick.
All in all, I was very pleased to be able to get to the summit on my first try. I've heard some horror stories of people being turned back by weather. We were very lucky indeed.
Wildtrail - Jun 28, 2002 3:13 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Ridge Date Climbed: July 1999First "alpine" ascent.
xskier77 - Jun 23, 2002 2:04 pm
Route Climbed: Lambslide couloir to Clarks arrow, down the Keyhole Date Climbed: June 22, 2002Got on trail at 3:15am and reached the summit of Meeker via the lambslide couloir. Then we proceded to follow Clarks arrow to the homestrech on to the summit of Longs. Came down the keyhole route and made it back to the car 15 hours later. As if Longs isn't enough on it's own we threw in Meeker(13,911) and made for a very long challenging day. The weather was ideal and we had no problems with the exception of exaustion. Longs is an amazing mountain and I know that I will return to try another more technical route in the future. Anyone considering this mountain be aware that it is a serious mountain and is not in any way good for the inexperienced.
Matt Mahoney - Jun 9, 2002 1:38 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: June 27, 2000Took two kids up their first 14er. We got a late start and it started snowing in the Trough, but we continued. Half way up the Homestretch with lightning hitting the summit at two minute intervals, we decided it would be prudent to turn around. The good news is we had the whole mountain to ourselves :-) Photos.
Matt Mahoney - May 17, 2002 10:35 am
Route Climbed: Cables route Date Climbed: Aug. 12 1997Climbed solo from Chasm Lake over Lady Washington, then a nice direct route up class 3 slabs, not hard except for one 5.4 move, a chest high overhang where you have to lunge over and grab into a crack. Descended the Keyhole in wet blowing snow, much harder than the climb. Lost feeling in 4 fingertips for 2 months. 10 hours car to car.
tiefenthaler - May 13, 2002 11:26 pm
Route Climbed: keyhole route Date Climbed: september 1992Climbed Longs Peak on a beautiful day in fall with my friend Chuck
lavaka - Apr 29, 2002 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2001
Route Climbed: First Cables Route, then the Casual Route Date Climbed: June and July, 2001Cables Route is fantastic. For any experienced climber, it gives a quicker and, in my opinion, better way to the top than the Keyhole route. Rock fall danger only when lots of other climbers there. Best route for early summer. We roped up (rated 5.4), but found the rope pretty useless - though above the technical stuff, there were dicey moments if you lost the route. Casual Route was scary as hell for a climber of my ability - summited at 4:45 PM, way too late. Very commiting climb, but easiest one on the Diamond. Descended Cables Route, which was sopping wet and the descent to Chasm View was miserable, but better than a Keyhole descent. (posted: April 2002)
edit (Sept 2008): I've since been back many times, climbing Keplinger's Couloir, Keyhole once or twice, Casual Route again, Cables Route again, and Pervertical Sanctuary (also on the Diamond).
phillinley - Apr 28, 2002 4:23 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 2001Left at 1 a.m. reached the keyhole by sunrise. Banged my knee up pretty severely just below tree line falling on a slick wood bridge crossing a mountain stream. The crowds weren't too bad and those that were there gave me the encouragement to keep going through the pain. I had to quit at the trough though because my leg wouldn't support my weight. I decided to err on the side of safety and call it a day just an hour or so from the summit. I will be returning though to get this peak on a winter ascent in December
darinchadwick - Apr 3, 2002 12:28 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 1996First my girlfriend (See Snake Dike trip report) dumps me, next I take a 40foot fall rock climbing at Vantage WA, leaving my arm in a cast for the summer. Third, I decide since I'm now solo and can't rock climb, it's time to bag some summits, so off to Colorado.
Longs Peak was the first CO peak I tried. After sitting on the couch for 2 weeks nursing my emotional and physical wounds, this was sure a wake-up call. The other 14ers I tried were easy after Longs. What a fat mountain.
jwclimbs - Jan 30, 2002 11:37 am
Route Climbed: North Face/Cables Route Date Climbed: 7.4.00Very Nice! My first roped alpine experience.
Beautiful day and lots of 4th of July Summiter's at the top.
Went back in 2001 for Keyhole Ridge and rapped down Cables.
I love this mountain! Casual Route - Here I come!!
coop - Jan 15, 2002 9:15 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July 1999I enjoyed every minute of the climb except for the mass crowds. Climb this one during the week for sure if you are heading up in peak season (summer). Be extra careful during the trough portion not to launch off any rocks to the people below.
I am surprised there are not more accidents from rock fall during the scrambling portion while you are in the trough.
Nelson - Jan 4, 2002 8:23 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole, Kieners, Loft, Cable Route, Trough (from Glacier Gorge) Date Climbed: Seven attempts, 6 summits, in 5 different months, since 1996I'm lucky to have this mountain in my backyard!
nader - Dec 26, 2001 4:42 pm
Route Climbed: Longs Peak Ranger Station Trailhead Date Climbed: July 1992Made it to Keyhole
dshoe - Dec 21, 2001 9:11 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 08-98The Keyhole Route is an awesome experience! It is long (16 miles round-trip), but very well worth the effort. Took about 12 hours to do the round-trip, car-to-car. From the trailhead to the Keyhole, it is just a "hike." From the Keyhole to the summit, it is a nice, long "scramble." Saw quite a few people who got sick from altitude as well! Would definitely do this baby again!!!
Zeke - Nov 28, 2001 1:29 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: Aug. 1998Long day, got snowed on in August. Very windy at the Keyhole, the finish is fun, but very, very crowded.
schadik - Nov 23, 2001 2:06 am
Route Climbed: East Face, Pervertical Sanctuary. Date Climbed: july 1993The ascent was fantastic 5.11 climbing.
The descent on the other hand was a total epic. Never trust the forcast, we were caught unprepared in a fluke blizzard and spent a long time on the north face in our climbing tights looking for the rappel anchors. Thank god there were others in the same situation thât knew where they were when we heard their voices. A humbling experience.
mconnell - Sep 14, 2001 12:47 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August, mid 70'sFun climb. While on top met people who had come up the cables route. Talking to them is what got me started with technical mountaineering. Sat there watching the clouds build below us. Decended in snow, whiteout, and lightning. (Stupid climber!)
dkeating2112 - Aug 24, 2001 6:45 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 07/01/2001A long strenuous hike/scramble/climb starting at Goblins Forest campground. About 13 miles round trip. Used the East Longs Peak trail to the Keyhole, then followed the Keyhole route to the summit. Lots of travel above treeline on this route, so had to start heading down early (9:30 am) to avoid the typical afternoon thunderstorms. The route after the Keyhole is tough, and pretty exposed in places, but the rewards at the summit were worth it. Started at about 2:00 am.
Peter Eliassen - Aug 16, 2001 11:34 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 7/30/99A true classic...wake up early and bring a helmet, as the trough can produce some nasty falling rock if there are people ahead of you. Watch out for lightning, as you are exposed for quite some time...