Drove from Indiana nonstop to Estes Park...Camped in Goblin's Forest that night...Camped in Boulder Field the second day...Successful to the summit and back down the third day...It was cold(12F) but bearable, very strong winds, storm at summit about 12:00pm, visibility was very little to none, ice on all the rock...had to use crampons and pick from the keyhole to summit and back to keyhole...very challenging
Route Climbed: Loft 1995/North Face 2003 Date Climbed: September 1995, June 2003
Climbed loft to Meeker than dropped down and over to Longs. Descended via Keyhole in 1995.
2003 attempted North Face. Rapped off after reaching 2nd eyebolt (one long pitch from start of route) due to rotten rime ice that was too thin for screws, but too thick to chip away for nuts/cams.
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: Sept. 2005
1st: sept. 2005: Keyhole Route. fun route, very crowded
2nd: Dec. 11, 2005: North Face: made it on our 2nd try: 18hours car2car. one or two of em' spent waiting for the sun to come up in a very cold boulder field.
3rd: July 4th 2006: Notch Couloir: awesom climb, interesting weather. sunshinne/heavy hail/sunshine/cloudy/hail/sunshine? prob. my favorite.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 3 2005
Great, long day. Left the car around 4:00am, returned around 4:30pm. Took an hour long break while rehydrating at the bottom of the Boulderfield. Wife did great...her first 'big' mountain. Next year I'll try Keiners.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 11, 2003
This was the first fourteener I ever climbed. I really enjoyed the climb, but it was way too crowded. I'd recommend climbing on a weekday or finding a less crowded and thus less popular mountain. Then again, you have to climb it at least once!
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 1 October 2005
Started about 4:45 a.m. Steady progress up to the Keyhole, then picked my route carefully. Snow in trough made things slightly more interesting, but still not yet very technical. Beautiful up top - no wind, and good visibility. Uneventful trip down, about 9h30m CTC - faster than anticipated for this flatlander.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 30, October 1, 2005
I traveled the Keyhole Route on Friday September 30 and sat atop the summit for a few minutes before heading down to Keyhole to catch the sunset and bivy at the boulderfield for 4 hours before heading back up to the summit for a Oct 1 sunrise show that I will never forget. The ice/snow in the trough was more intense in the dark than it was 7 hours previously in the evening.
I recommend the sunrise show to anyone who wants to see how all the lakes/ponds to the east seem to soak up all the wonderful morning light as the sun crests over the horizon.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August of 2003 and 2004
Excellent scramble, but too many people and long approach. I was so proud of my mom for summiting with me! If I ever climb again, I would love to do the North Face, Keplinger's Couloir, Keyhole Ridge, or the Keyhole route in winter.
Route Climbed: North Face (old cable route) Date Climbed: July 25, 2005
We did this route on our way to Grand Teton. We avoided all the ice and snow by climbing up a crack that runs from the top of the ridge between the North Face and the Diamond; it seemed an obvious route. Check out the trip photos at http://www.intergate.com/~devendorf/LongsPeak-Jul'05/
Route Climbed: Keyhole/North Face Date Climbed: August 21, 2003
Great hike/climb and not one step shared with anybody else-- no kidding. Okay, there were others sharing the trail up to and back from Boulder Field, but I had the Keyhole Route and the descent to myself because I went up from camp in the late afternoon and returned at sunset. This was the way to go, as I can't imagine my frustration sharing the Trough and Homestretch with slow and/or inept climbers. When I got back to the parking lot, I checked the register and found that about 300 people were out on the mountain that morning-- definitely not for me.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 11th,2005
Made it to the top on August 11th, 2005! The Keyhole Route is crazy...especially the Narrows! Took us 13.5 hours roundtrip...great hike! Photos and in depth report available on our personal website at Natural Born Hikers
jonnyboots - Nov 30, 2005 3:52 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: June 29,2005Drove from Indiana nonstop to Estes Park...Camped in Goblin's Forest that night...Camped in Boulder Field the second day...Successful to the summit and back down the third day...It was cold(12F) but bearable, very strong winds, storm at summit about 12:00pm, visibility was very little to none, ice on all the rock...had to use crampons and pick from the keyhole to summit and back to keyhole...very challenging
wyomountaineer - Nov 8, 2005 4:48 pm
Route Climbed: Loft 1995/North Face 2003 Date Climbed: September 1995, June 2003Climbed loft to Meeker than dropped down and over to Longs. Descended via Keyhole in 1995.
2003 attempted North Face. Rapped off after reaching 2nd eyebolt (one long pitch from start of route) due to rotten rime ice that was too thin for screws, but too thick to chip away for nuts/cams.
whatisis - Nov 4, 2005 5:21 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 19, 2005Picked an awesome day to go. The crowds weren't bad and the weather held nicely.
climbhighnow - Oct 28, 2005 12:17 pm
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: Sept. 20051st: sept. 2005: Keyhole Route. fun route, very crowded
2nd: Dec. 11, 2005: North Face: made it on our 2nd try: 18hours car2car. one or two of em' spent waiting for the sun to come up in a very cold boulder field.
3rd: July 4th 2006: Notch Couloir: awesom climb, interesting weather. sunshinne/heavy hail/sunshine/cloudy/hail/sunshine? prob. my favorite.
indianhillsted - Oct 27, 2005 5:35 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 3 2005Great, long day. Left the car around 4:00am, returned around 4:30pm. Took an hour long break while rehydrating at the bottom of the Boulderfield. Wife did great...her first 'big' mountain. Next year I'll try Keiners.
kpiljay - Oct 27, 2005 11:05 am
Route Climbed: Up Loft Route and down Keyhold Route Date Climbed: September 1, 2005This was a grueling and long climb. We climbed Meeker first and then Longs. Nice weather though and we stayed on the summit for an hour.
Hobbesgirl - Oct 21, 2005 1:52 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 11, 2003This was the first fourteener I ever climbed. I really enjoyed the climb, but it was way too crowded. I'd recommend climbing on a weekday or finding a less crowded and thus less popular mountain. Then again, you have to climb it at least once!
mpyle - Oct 10, 2005 9:39 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 1 October 2005Started about 4:45 a.m. Steady progress up to the Keyhole, then picked my route carefully. Snow in trough made things slightly more interesting, but still not yet very technical. Beautiful up top - no wind, and good visibility. Uneventful trip down, about 9h30m CTC - faster than anticipated for this flatlander.
mountainsurfer - Oct 10, 2005 1:02 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 30, October 1, 2005I traveled the Keyhole Route on Friday September 30 and sat atop the summit for a few minutes before heading down to Keyhole to catch the sunset and bivy at the boulderfield for 4 hours before heading back up to the summit for a Oct 1 sunrise show that I will never forget. The ice/snow in the trough was more intense in the dark than it was 7 hours previously in the evening.
I recommend the sunrise show to anyone who wants to see how all the lakes/ponds to the east seem to soak up all the wonderful morning light as the sun crests over the horizon.
jennakate - Oct 8, 2005 11:00 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August of 2003 and 2004Excellent scramble, but too many people and long approach. I was so proud of my mom for summiting with me! If I ever climb again, I would love to do the North Face, Keplinger's Couloir, Keyhole Ridge, or the Keyhole route in winter.
fritzd - Oct 6, 2005 9:59 pm
Route Climbed: North Face (old cable route) Date Climbed: July 25, 2005We did this route on our way to Grand Teton. We avoided all the ice and snow by climbing up a crack that runs from the top of the ridge between the North Face and the Diamond; it seemed an obvious route. Check out the trip photos at http://www.intergate.com/~devendorf/LongsPeak-Jul'05/
vanhorne - Oct 4, 2005 1:18 am
Route Climbed: North Face (cable route) Date Climbed: September 18, 2005Fun Climb but more ice and snow then expected
iceisnice - Oct 3, 2005 9:20 pm
Route Climbed: Keiners Date Climbed: June '03Great solo. Not too hard. Alpine ice with some fun, easy (5.6) rock.
crzyjt - Oct 2, 2005 1:36 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 6, 2005Good time. long day.
Bob Sihler - Sep 28, 2005 9:58 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole/North Face Date Climbed: August 21, 2003Great hike/climb and not one step shared with anybody else-- no kidding. Okay, there were others sharing the trail up to and back from Boulder Field, but I had the Keyhole Route and the descent to myself because I went up from camp in the late afternoon and returned at sunset. This was the way to go, as I can't imagine my frustration sharing the Trough and Homestretch with slow and/or inept climbers. When I got back to the parking lot, I checked the register and found that about 300 people were out on the mountain that morning-- definitely not for me.
jordancl - Sep 18, 2005 11:53 pm
Route Climbed: keyhole Date Climbed: Sept. 18, 2005Climbed by the full moon. Colder than a well diggers ass, I tell you what.
alpspitze - Sep 15, 2005 3:39 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 17, 1991One of my first Colorado 14ers on a week long solo adventure in the front range.
millerw05 - Sep 15, 2005 1:54 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July, 1985Had good weather with minimal wind.
Andinistaloco - Sep 14, 2005 1:30 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 1987?One of the first higher mountains I'd climbed. Great hike!
velodurt - Sep 8, 2005 3:02 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 11th,2005Made it to the top on August 11th, 2005! The Keyhole Route is crazy...especially the Narrows! Took us 13.5 hours roundtrip...great hike! Photos and in depth report available on our personal website at Natural Born Hikers