Finished the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak yesterday.

Carried crampons and ice ax...used them only for about 5 minutes on the way up, and that was optional.

Most people stayed on the rock and didn't need them at all.

Back at the trailhead, the park service still had a sign up saying it's technical.

Go figure.

I was on Longs on June 30th taking the Loft route up and descending via the Keyhole when I ran into two NPS Rangers in the Trough. I asked them about the 'technical' rating still on Longs given the absence of significant snow.

They said the route would remain classified as technical as long as there was snow ANYWHERE on the route. The rangers, Andy and Jess said they were trying to add more useful descriptions to the RMNP web site other than technical or non-technical with more videos and pictures.

They encourage all climbers to send them pictures via the email link on their site since they cannot patrol the area as often as people climb it. The site can be found at http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/l ... report.htm

Did you happen to notice how the Cables Route looked?

melting out very fast. here is a picture from June 30th.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Zt ... directlink

cool. thanks

Heading up Cable's Route and Mary's Ledges on Friday.
I can send ya some recent pics this wknd.

please do. thanks