Kiefer - Mar 15, 2009 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2009
Trough
Sixth time up on the summit. The weather wa so perfect and beautiful, it felt like a mid-May afternoon...definately NOT March. Snow conditions in the Trough were less than stellar but it is still winter. Stable snow though. Summited with 5 others from 14ers.com. Great day!
xmtbiker - Mar 8, 2009 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2007
Lambs slide couloir
Great dawn ascent. Practically had the mountain to ourselves.
shknbke - Feb 21, 2009 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 21, 2009
Trough winter ascent
I finally got a decent weather window to take a shot at Longs in winter, but it still didn't go down w/o a fight. High winds to Black Lake, but then it let up as we climbed. The Trough was in great shape, and the Narrows/Homestretch were reasonable with crampons. Longs is a formidable challenge in winter.
Hiked this one back in August 99, July 2000, and August 2001. A great trip with great variety of different styles of hiking. Getting to the summit was on the coolest things I have ever done. Looking forward to getting back there someday
Fireman79 - Feb 11, 2009 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Loved it!
Trail was the keyhole. Left car at 1am and with headlamps, we summited at 7:20am Spectacular sun rise for sure!
tooantsy - Feb 10, 2009 3:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2004
Age, good health and cooperating weather were on my side that day
Long's is a special mountain for me since I had no idea what a fourteener was before the idea of climbing one was thrown at me. I came prepared but owe a LOT of our day-hike's success to cooperating weather. Good health and age worked for me that day as well, something we all learn to appreciate as we get older :)
Joe_Parvis - Feb 6, 2009 1:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2009
Lucky Weather Window
Light winds, sunshine, and temps in the 20's. What a weather window! Ascended Trough from Black Lake area. Snow coverage was thin. Didn't see anyone all day but the previous day (nicer weather, if anything) saw 3 summits via Trough and some ski descents. Camped the night before below Black Lake. Saw ptarmigan, bighorn sheep, and snowshoe hare. Winter is beautiful, especially when it acts like Spring. Thank you, weather window; thank you, Longs.
SarahThompson - Jan 26, 2009 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
8 times, 7 different routes
8/24/03 - Up and down the standard Keyhole route. One of the first mountains I ever climbed. I was a couch potato at the time and making the summit was a HUGE accomplishment.
8/27/05 - Up the Loft to Meeker, over to Longs, down the Keyhole route.
7/21/07 - Up the technical Keyhole Ridge, down the North Face (old cables route). One of my first alpine climbs.
3/15/08 - Winter ascent of the North Face. Cold, windy day. Lots of suffering.
6/20/09 - Notch Couloir with 5.3 rock finish to summit. Down the North Face. Wow!
1/9/13 - Solo winter ascent of Keyhole Route in fairly dry conditions.
8/17/13 - Climbed Kor's Door with Hornsby Direct finish to Broadway. Led P1 and P3 of 5. Perhaps the best alpine climbing I have done in Colorado thus far. Then scrambled up Kieners to the summit and descended the North Face. Another incredible day on Longs.
9/12/15 - As part of the Glacier Gorge Traverse: Arrowhead -> McHenrys -> Chiefs Head -> Pagoda -> Longs -> Storm. Simulclimbed the Southwest Ridge.
seeksit - Jan 9, 2009 6:43 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1971
Late season climb
My first taste of a high mountain ascent without any training or preparation. I didn't even bring any water. It was a spur of the moment decision to climb Long's with a guy fresh from Iowa. He got altitude sickness at 12,000 feet. I got to the top at 4PM and rushed back down to the ranger station on the east side where my friend was waiting. Less than a week later we had 19" of snow down in Ft. Collins.
ZachStone - Dec 14, 2008 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Good walk
but far to many people on the Keyhole route
gbrady - Dec 6, 2008 9:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1980
First 14er
Climbing Longs was one of the best events of my young life. I had just completed a backpacking class in college and wanted to use my new skills. We camped at Jim's Grove and then woke up at 3 AM the next morning. Loved every minute of the climb. The sunrise, the Boulder Field, the Trough, The Narrows, Homestretch all places I will never forget. The summit was unbelievable. The view was incredible. Although it was 28 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.
skyward22 - Dec 1, 2008 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2008
Halloween climbin
Went to attempt Long's Peak again on November 1st, this time via the Flying Dutchman with Kai Larson. We camped the night before near Chasm Lake and headed out at 4 a.m. for the approach around Chasm Lake. Lost an ice screw on the way (found & return to me by George--thanks!!!). Had no trouble with the WI-3 crux but made too slow of progress up the coluior and just abseiled down an ice waterfall on the other side of the Loft before Lamb's slide, then continue down lower Lamb's slide and back to our gear. Overall an enjoyable day.
skyward22 - Dec 1, 2008 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2008
semi-epic
Went to solo the Keyhole route. Left my place in Boulder at about 3 AM and made my way to the Boulder field fairly quickly. The temperatures were okay for late October but the wind was horrendous as I was getting occasionally knocked off my feet to my ass while trying to fight the gusts. Maybe 70 mph gusts as low as the Boulder field? Went up to the keyhole and waited in the hut for an hour to see if the wind would die down any. Made the decision to continue and made my way across the boulder field to the trough. However, with technical conditions and no bull's eyes visible, I got a little off route and ended up having to down climb some 4th class snow/ice mixed. Got to the trough and up to the Narrows. Decided (painfully) to turn around here because of the wind, which was even worse. Didn't feel my getting blown off the ledges. Got a little off route again on the way back and didn't make it back through the keyhole by dark and had to settle in and bivy for the night at 13,000 ft. Very cold, very windy. My emergency bivy bag ripped in the wind so I ended up sleeping on my pack off of the snow. Luckily had my double plastic boots on and my down jacket, as well as my softshell. Stayed warm enough but was pretty much shivering the entire night and didn't sleep much. A miserable experience but a good learning one as well. Learned much more than I would have in making the summit on a summer day.
snowflake - Nov 28, 2008 12:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1979
cables
Did the cables on a whim back in my hippie days while working a summer job in Colorado. Tennis shoes, boy scout canteen and all; boy was I stupid but lucky.
timfoltz - Nov 13, 2008 8:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
# 4
Fourth time up, brought two people up their first 14er as well, great day, always a great climb.
Dropmo40 - Oct 31, 2008 1:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
good things are worth waiting...paying for
lightning thunder its all good, rainbows, rocks, a permit fee, its all good
Just a beautiful day! Climbed this up in 4 1/2 hours, down in three. Most enjoyable mountain.
woodsxc - Sep 25, 2008 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2008
Long day
My first Fourteener and my longest day on the trail. We were hiking for over fourteen hours and I've done 20 mile hikes in less than half that time. We took the Keyhole route and really had a good time of it. I hadn't realized how exposed the Homestretch is and it pushed the limits of fun, but it was a good challenge. Seeing the sun come up right between the Twin Sisters and turn the East Face rosy red for five minutes was worth the 3:45 wake up. With this under my belt, I'd like to move on to some more challenging peaks. Good luck to all of you in future summits.
Longs Peak is a special mountain to me. My father had climbed it in 1980. He died 3 years after I was born. Coming from the Netherlands, my sister and I climbed it when I was 14 on a beautiful summer's day. My mom was really proud. For years and years Longs has remained my altitude record, until this summer I climbed the magnificent Dent Blanche in the Swiss Alps, which is 12 meters higher. That was a feeling no one can describe.
Kiefer - Mar 15, 2009 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2009
TroughSixth time up on the summit. The weather wa so perfect and beautiful, it felt like a mid-May afternoon...definately NOT March. Snow conditions in the Trough were less than stellar but it is still winter. Stable snow though. Summited with 5 others from 14ers.com. Great day!
xmtbiker - Mar 8, 2009 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2007
Lambs slide couloirGreat dawn ascent. Practically had the mountain to ourselves.
shknbke - Feb 21, 2009 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 21, 2009
Trough winter ascentI finally got a decent weather window to take a shot at Longs in winter, but it still didn't go down w/o a fight. High winds to Black Lake, but then it let up as we climbed. The Trough was in great shape, and the Narrows/Homestretch were reasonable with crampons. Longs is a formidable challenge in winter.
ash80 - Feb 16, 2009 11:46 pm
It's a beast!Hiked this one back in August 99, July 2000, and August 2001. A great trip with great variety of different styles of hiking. Getting to the summit was on the coolest things I have ever done. Looking forward to getting back there someday
Fireman79 - Feb 11, 2009 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Loved it!Trail was the keyhole. Left car at 1am and with headlamps, we summited at 7:20am Spectacular sun rise for sure!
tooantsy - Feb 10, 2009 3:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2004
Age, good health and cooperating weather were on my side that dayLong's is a special mountain for me since I had no idea what a fourteener was before the idea of climbing one was thrown at me. I came prepared but owe a LOT of our day-hike's success to cooperating weather. Good health and age worked for me that day as well, something we all learn to appreciate as we get older :)
Joe_Parvis - Feb 6, 2009 1:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2009
Lucky Weather WindowLight winds, sunshine, and temps in the 20's. What a weather window! Ascended Trough from Black Lake area. Snow coverage was thin. Didn't see anyone all day but the previous day (nicer weather, if anything) saw 3 summits via Trough and some ski descents. Camped the night before below Black Lake. Saw ptarmigan, bighorn sheep, and snowshoe hare. Winter is beautiful, especially when it acts like Spring. Thank you, weather window; thank you, Longs.
SarahThompson - Jan 26, 2009 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
8 times, 7 different routes8/24/03 - Up and down the standard Keyhole route. One of the first mountains I ever climbed. I was a couch potato at the time and making the summit was a HUGE accomplishment.
8/27/05 - Up the Loft to Meeker, over to Longs, down the Keyhole route.
7/21/07 - Up the technical Keyhole Ridge, down the North Face (old cables route). One of my first alpine climbs.
3/15/08 - Winter ascent of the North Face. Cold, windy day. Lots of suffering.
6/20/09 - Notch Couloir with 5.3 rock finish to summit. Down the North Face. Wow!
1/9/13 - Solo winter ascent of Keyhole Route in fairly dry conditions.
8/17/13 - Climbed Kor's Door with Hornsby Direct finish to Broadway. Led P1 and P3 of 5. Perhaps the best alpine climbing I have done in Colorado thus far. Then scrambled up Kieners to the summit and descended the North Face. Another incredible day on Longs.
9/12/15 - As part of the Glacier Gorge Traverse: Arrowhead -> McHenrys -> Chiefs Head -> Pagoda -> Longs -> Storm. Simulclimbed the Southwest Ridge.
seeksit - Jan 9, 2009 6:43 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1971
Late season climbMy first taste of a high mountain ascent without any training or preparation. I didn't even bring any water. It was a spur of the moment decision to climb Long's with a guy fresh from Iowa. He got altitude sickness at 12,000 feet. I got to the top at 4PM and rushed back down to the ranger station on the east side where my friend was waiting. Less than a week later we had 19" of snow down in Ft. Collins.
Narendra - Dec 25, 2008 11:13 am
LongsNice hike, avoid the weekends.
ZachStone - Dec 14, 2008 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Good walkbut far to many people on the Keyhole route
gbrady - Dec 6, 2008 9:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1980
First 14erClimbing Longs was one of the best events of my young life. I had just completed a backpacking class in college and wanted to use my new skills. We camped at Jim's Grove and then woke up at 3 AM the next morning. Loved every minute of the climb. The sunrise, the Boulder Field, the Trough, The Narrows, Homestretch all places I will never forget. The summit was unbelievable. The view was incredible. Although it was 28 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.
skyward22 - Dec 1, 2008 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2008
Halloween climbinWent to attempt Long's Peak again on November 1st, this time via the Flying Dutchman with Kai Larson. We camped the night before near Chasm Lake and headed out at 4 a.m. for the approach around Chasm Lake. Lost an ice screw on the way (found & return to me by George--thanks!!!). Had no trouble with the WI-3 crux but made too slow of progress up the coluior and just abseiled down an ice waterfall on the other side of the Loft before Lamb's slide, then continue down lower Lamb's slide and back to our gear. Overall an enjoyable day.
skyward22 - Dec 1, 2008 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2008
semi-epicWent to solo the Keyhole route. Left my place in Boulder at about 3 AM and made my way to the Boulder field fairly quickly. The temperatures were okay for late October but the wind was horrendous as I was getting occasionally knocked off my feet to my ass while trying to fight the gusts. Maybe 70 mph gusts as low as the Boulder field? Went up to the keyhole and waited in the hut for an hour to see if the wind would die down any. Made the decision to continue and made my way across the boulder field to the trough. However, with technical conditions and no bull's eyes visible, I got a little off route and ended up having to down climb some 4th class snow/ice mixed. Got to the trough and up to the Narrows. Decided (painfully) to turn around here because of the wind, which was even worse. Didn't feel my getting blown off the ledges. Got a little off route again on the way back and didn't make it back through the keyhole by dark and had to settle in and bivy for the night at 13,000 ft. Very cold, very windy. My emergency bivy bag ripped in the wind so I ended up sleeping on my pack off of the snow. Luckily had my double plastic boots on and my down jacket, as well as my softshell. Stayed warm enough but was pretty much shivering the entire night and didn't sleep much. A miserable experience but a good learning one as well. Learned much more than I would have in making the summit on a summer day.
snowflake - Nov 28, 2008 12:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1979
cablesDid the cables on a whim back in my hippie days while working a summer job in Colorado. Tennis shoes, boy scout canteen and all; boy was I stupid but lucky.
timfoltz - Nov 13, 2008 8:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
# 4Fourth time up, brought two people up their first 14er as well, great day, always a great climb.
Dropmo40 - Oct 31, 2008 1:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
good things are worth waiting...paying forlightning thunder its all good, rainbows, rocks, a permit fee, its all good
CBakwin - Sep 30, 2008 1:45 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
Yo!Just a beautiful day! Climbed this up in 4 1/2 hours, down in three. Most enjoyable mountain.
woodsxc - Sep 25, 2008 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2008
Long dayMy first Fourteener and my longest day on the trail. We were hiking for over fourteen hours and I've done 20 mile hikes in less than half that time. We took the Keyhole route and really had a good time of it. I hadn't realized how exposed the Homestretch is and it pushed the limits of fun, but it was a good challenge. Seeing the sun come up right between the Twin Sisters and turn the East Face rosy red for five minutes was worth the 3:45 wake up. With this under my belt, I'd like to move on to some more challenging peaks. Good luck to all of you in future summits.
ThomasOldeHeuvelt - Sep 13, 2008 3:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1997
A special memoryLongs Peak is a special mountain to me. My father had climbed it in 1980. He died 3 years after I was born. Coming from the Netherlands, my sister and I climbed it when I was 14 on a beautiful summer's day. My mom was really proud. For years and years Longs has remained my altitude record, until this summer I climbed the magnificent Dent Blanche in the Swiss Alps, which is 12 meters higher. That was a feeling no one can describe.