SummitPost.org

Hello everyone!

This is my first time posting here. I found this site recently and I am so glad I did. Great information.

I'm heading to RMNP in July and am going to attempt a summit of Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route. My question is regarding footwear. I plan to wear hiking boots for most of the climb. I have read that stickier climbing shoes would be helpful on the homestretch. Is it worth the extra weight to carry trail running shoes in my pack? Or will my boots be OK?

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

You'll be fine with hiking boots. I would pack an axe and crampons, it's very snowy up, and will be for a while.

Longs Peaks in July....I would recommend flops. You wear them on the way in to the TH at 2 a.m. and you put them on in the late afternoon when you get back and your feet hurt. The plus side is they stay in the car the whole time.

Ohh, boots of choice otherwise.

Long.Ranger wrote:You'll be fine with hiking boots. I would pack an axe and crampons, it's very snowy up, and will be for a while.

Planning to turn back if I run into much snow or ice, I don't have an axe or crampons unfortunately.

I wore my trusty sticky-soled Five Ten Camp Four approach shoes for both the approach and the climb. They worked well. You can call the ranger station to get current information about how much snow and ice in on the route.

Hmm, when in July - early or late? It kind of matters...my guess is that if it's early, you're like to encounter snow and ice given this year's late melt, but if late, then no. Last year we descended the Keyhole in the 3rd week of July and there was no snow or ice to speak of.

I'll be staying in the park from the 10th through the 16th. Planning to climb Longs either the 14th or the 15th. So I guess I'm taking a gamble with the late melt. Hopefully I'll get lucky, otherwise I'll have to go back sometime. Fingers crossed, but I'm sure the mountain will still be there next time.

I climbed it in some crappy 15$ sneakers from walmart