I camped in the boulder field and took the Keyhole route to the summit. I'm an early riser, and managed to have the entire summit to myself for a half hour on an August weekend. Not bad. I descended via the old cables route and only passed two climbers on the way down. Again, not bad. There were tons of climbers on the main trail, so I felt fortunate to have such an incredible mountain to myself in such incredibly good conditions.
cushman - Nov 29, 2007 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2006
Climbed The Notch, Was a fun ice climb and decended under a full moon hardly had to use a head lamp
tjarvela - Nov 5, 2007 9:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2005
2 years later
I summited Longs over two years ago. August 21st, 2005. An amazing hike. Met "Joe from NY" in the parking lot the night before and we hiked up together. Started at 2am, summited around 8am and just got below treeline before the afternoon storm came in on our descent. Highest mountain I have ever been on...a bit higher than NH's Mt. Washington.
Wade Baker - Oct 27, 2007 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2002
First 14'er
2-day climb. Loved camping in The Boulder Field. Wouldn't mind doing it again.
argothor - Sep 28, 2007 5:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 1996
Keyhole Route
My brother and I decided to attempt Longs after only being in Colorado for three days. We didn't really have the summit as our goal, but to get as far as we could. Well, the weather was great and we were feeling good, so before you know it, we were on the summit enjoying an awesome view. First 14er for the both of us.
I climbed this in Junior High with my folks (mid 1980s). It was my first big mountain and I was scared of falling off "The Ledge"...until I saw it and it wasn't as bad as I imagined.
Ascended via the Loft route and off back of Loft near Clark's Arrow (but missed the arrow, descending too far and staying in 3rd class). Visited Meeker summit on the way. Perfect conditions, thanks to a report from the weather service which showed lower winds in afternoon (morning had been 'knock you over wind' - reported by those I saw coming out). Started from TH at 1pm and reached Longs summit at 6:20pm. Some ice and snow on ledges beneath Loft. These were OK but required care and concentration. On summit, winds were almost dead calm and sky clear. Best weather I've ever experienced on Longs. Descended via Keyhole and reached that at dark. Hiked out via Boulderfield and trail with headlamp, reaching TH at 10:30. Wonderful, wonderful day.
Boriss Andean - Sep 25, 2007 12:56 am Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2004
Keyhole Route
Had to wait almost an hour near the Base of Mount Lady Washington until the rain/lightning stops.
Met two hikers from Colorado Springs and Chicago on the way up and we summited together. Nice hike!
Longs Peak 4,346 m (14,259 ft).
nigelmcc - Sep 24, 2007 12:41 am Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2005
Fun
Fun stuff
Timothy Pearl - Sep 22, 2007 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2007
Up Keyhole-Down Loft
Killed it. Made summit in 3.5 hours (8am). Decided to avoid the long line of people behind and descended Clarks Arrow/Loft route. Downclimbed the exciting rock directly down the loft next to the now-frozen waterfall. 4.25 hours down (12:15pm). RT in 7.75 hours. To the three parties that said "you're not supposed to down-climb the loft": ... where's your sense of adventure?
Made it to base of Homestretch and had to turn back. Hiked with friend from Denver, Anne. Camped in Goblins Forest -- started late at 615 because wind and storms overnight. Turned out to be correct decision because many who went earlier were turned back by snow and hail at Boulderfield between 7-10am. Sunny by the time we arrived, with blowing clouds. We were able to move higher on some mildly wet rocks, but fierce lone storm blew up just as we completed Narrows. Lightning and strong hail forced us down and we scooted quickly over to Trough and off exposed area. Weather did clear after hail, but we deemed it iffy and went down. Despite no summit, this was one of my favorite times on Longs. Only a few intrepid souls and a tiny weather window made for exciting day.
Element - Sep 11, 2007 11:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Flatlander's First Fourteener
This was my first succesful attempt at a Colorado fourteener. Summitted at 7:45 AM via the Keyhole route. The length of this route will be forever etched in my mind. In my opinion, this route had some real exposure. I did not enjoy coming back down the "homestretch" on my butt. Herds of people coming up as I was going down. Overall, a great and enduring climb.
A repeater for me, first time was via the Keyhole route. Took the Loft route to Meeker first this time, then over to Longs via Clark's Arrow, and down the Keyhole. Awesome weather for a terrific day!
Longs Peak was my first 14er ascent... returning after having completed 46 now, it was interesting to see how far I've come in my mentality and climbing skills. We did the Loft route (this is totally the way to go!), summited Meeker first, descended Keplinger's coulier (followed a cairned route that took us down some exposed class 4- oops!), then up to Longs- met with the Keyhole route at the homestretch, summited, and descended via the standard Keyhole route. It was amazing! I was so grateful to have a DIGITAL camera this time to get some great shots of the phenomenal terrain!:-)
Apparently only ~40 people on Longs is a quiet day. The homestretch was heavily iced up and it took some careful route picking to make my way safely to the top. As somewhat expected, there were tons of unprepared people on the mountain. One guy tooks a 50' fall on the way down the homestretch. He was unharmed, and very lucky!
mjroche - Jan 6, 2008 3:54 pm
Great PeakBest climb on earth. Casual Route and Kieners both rock
mjroche - Jan 6, 2008 3:53 pm
Casual RouteBest climb on earth
breagen - Dec 2, 2007 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2005
KeyholeTried the day before but were stopped at the keyhole due to weather, next day had beautiful weather and a amazing summit
MattGreene - Dec 1, 2007 8:30 pm
Early to rise...I camped in the boulder field and took the Keyhole route to the summit. I'm an early riser, and managed to have the entire summit to myself for a half hour on an August weekend. Not bad. I descended via the old cables route and only passed two climbers on the way down. Again, not bad. There were tons of climbers on the main trail, so I felt fortunate to have such an incredible mountain to myself in such incredibly good conditions.
cushman - Nov 29, 2007 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2006
Via Flying DutchmanFirst 14er, nice route.
Ice Man Jerry Van - Nov 12, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 1998
The Notch ColiurClimbed The Notch, Was a fun ice climb and decended under a full moon hardly had to use a head lamp
tjarvela - Nov 5, 2007 9:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2005
2 years laterI summited Longs over two years ago. August 21st, 2005. An amazing hike. Met "Joe from NY" in the parking lot the night before and we hiked up together. Started at 2am, summited around 8am and just got below treeline before the afternoon storm came in on our descent. Highest mountain I have ever been on...a bit higher than NH's Mt. Washington.
Wade Baker - Oct 27, 2007 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2002
First 14'er2-day climb. Loved camping in The Boulder Field. Wouldn't mind doing it again.
argothor - Sep 28, 2007 5:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 1996
Keyhole RouteMy brother and I decided to attempt Longs after only being in Colorado for three days. We didn't really have the summit as our goal, but to get as far as we could. Well, the weather was great and we were feeling good, so before you know it, we were on the summit enjoying an awesome view. First 14er for the both of us.
hans.schenk - Sep 26, 2007 10:11 pm
Keyhole RouteI climbed this in Junior High with my folks (mid 1980s). It was my first big mountain and I was scared of falling off "The Ledge"...until I saw it and it wasn't as bad as I imagined.
Joe_Parvis - Sep 25, 2007 12:59 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2007
Longs via LoftAscended via the Loft route and off back of Loft near Clark's Arrow (but missed the arrow, descending too far and staying in 3rd class). Visited Meeker summit on the way. Perfect conditions, thanks to a report from the weather service which showed lower winds in afternoon (morning had been 'knock you over wind' - reported by those I saw coming out). Started from TH at 1pm and reached Longs summit at 6:20pm. Some ice and snow on ledges beneath Loft. These were OK but required care and concentration. On summit, winds were almost dead calm and sky clear. Best weather I've ever experienced on Longs. Descended via Keyhole and reached that at dark. Hiked out via Boulderfield and trail with headlamp, reaching TH at 10:30. Wonderful, wonderful day.
Boriss Andean - Sep 25, 2007 12:56 am Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2004
Keyhole RouteHad to wait almost an hour near the Base of Mount Lady Washington until the rain/lightning stops.
Met two hikers from Colorado Springs and Chicago on the way up and we summited together. Nice hike!
Longs Peak 4,346 m (14,259 ft).
nigelmcc - Sep 24, 2007 12:41 am Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2005
FunFun stuff
Timothy Pearl - Sep 22, 2007 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2007
Up Keyhole-Down LoftKilled it. Made summit in 3.5 hours (8am). Decided to avoid the long line of people behind and descended Clarks Arrow/Loft route. Downclimbed the exciting rock directly down the loft next to the now-frozen waterfall. 4.25 hours down (12:15pm). RT in 7.75 hours. To the three parties that said "you're not supposed to down-climb the loft": ... where's your sense of adventure?
Joe_Parvis - Sep 21, 2007 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
Hail on Keyhole - rejected at topMade it to base of Homestretch and had to turn back. Hiked with friend from Denver, Anne. Camped in Goblins Forest -- started late at 615 because wind and storms overnight. Turned out to be correct decision because many who went earlier were turned back by snow and hail at Boulderfield between 7-10am. Sunny by the time we arrived, with blowing clouds. We were able to move higher on some mildly wet rocks, but fierce lone storm blew up just as we completed Narrows. Lightning and strong hail forced us down and we scooted quickly over to Trough and off exposed area. Weather did clear after hail, but we deemed it iffy and went down. Despite no summit, this was one of my favorite times on Longs. Only a few intrepid souls and a tiny weather window made for exciting day.
Element - Sep 11, 2007 11:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Flatlander's First FourteenerThis was my first succesful attempt at a Colorado fourteener. Summitted at 7:45 AM via the Keyhole route. The length of this route will be forever etched in my mind. In my opinion, this route had some real exposure. I did not enjoy coming back down the "homestretch" on my butt. Herds of people coming up as I was going down. Overall, a great and enduring climb.
HokieJim - Sep 10, 2007 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Loft routeA repeater for me, first time was via the Keyhole route. Took the Loft route to Meeker first this time, then over to Longs via Clark's Arrow, and down the Keyhole. Awesome weather for a terrific day!
ktiffany22 - Sep 10, 2007 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Repeater was worth it!Longs Peak was my first 14er ascent... returning after having completed 46 now, it was interesting to see how far I've come in my mentality and climbing skills. We did the Loft route (this is totally the way to go!), summited Meeker first, descended Keplinger's coulier (followed a cairned route that took us down some exposed class 4- oops!), then up to Longs- met with the Keyhole route at the homestretch, summited, and descended via the standard Keyhole route. It was amazing! I was so grateful to have a DIGITAL camera this time to get some great shots of the phenomenal terrain!:-)
thebeave7 - Sep 9, 2007 9:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007
Radical SlamWent up with Chris Gerber and Alan, ascended via the Loft then made the full circuit of the Radical Slam, including the requisite 50 pushups.
weeds19 - Sep 8, 2007 5:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2007
A quiet dayApparently only ~40 people on Longs is a quiet day. The homestretch was heavily iced up and it took some careful route picking to make my way safely to the top. As somewhat expected, there were tons of unprepared people on the mountain. One guy tooks a 50' fall on the way down the homestretch. He was unharmed, and very lucky!