It was pretty easy-going until the Keyhole. After that it was fun scrambling and amazing views all the way up to the summit, especially looking down into Glacier Gorge. Despite efforts to start early enough, the group I was with wasn't acclimatized to the elevation and had to go quite slow, which caused us to get caught in the middle of a lightning storm on the way back down. See "En'lightning' Experience" trip report for details.
CSUMarmot - Aug 31, 2010 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
ROOOOOOOCK!!!!!!
Ah the scenic sounds of the Trough
ripper333 - Aug 13, 2010 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
training run
5 hrs car to car.. was useful for training seeing you can run for a couple hours out of the TH but cant say im bout all the peeps and the spray painted bulleyes leading the way ...
Bill Reed - Jul 23, 2010 6:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2003
Made it on our 1st attempt!!!!
Stayed in the Boulderfield, made the summit at 8:30 AM.
VermontMike - Mar 13, 2010 11:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
Crowded but fun!
Fun route even though crowded.
belexes - Feb 26, 2010 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2009
Keyhole
Meetup.com hike with one other hiker. The parking lot was full at 3AM, with more coming in after us. Great hike in great weather. I felt a little nauseous at the summit, but that's part of the, er, fun.
Another hiker wearing jeans and a sweatshirt was climbing up as we were coming down in snow and hail. We told him to head down with us, but he had summit fever. We found out later that he had perished of hypothermia on the summit. It was really sad. A warning to those unprepared for Longs or any other mountain, I guess.
blah, minus the massive crowds and painted blazes it would have been a blast. thats what i get for going up on a saturday in july i guess. good quality route though
What a cattle route the spray paint on the rocks was painful to see.
ChrisHunley - Mar 27, 2009 5:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Success!
After a few attempts via other routes, this was the first time I made the summit. Regardless of the crowds (which are pretty incredible on a weekend in August) this route is a classic. As far as 'Standard Routes' go, this one is phenomenal.
Fireman79 - Feb 11, 2009 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Keyhole
I climbed this a while ago but just found this site.
We left the car at 1am and climbed this with headlamps. We summited at 7:20 am. In time to see the sun rise. This mountain holds a fond place in my memory. Spectacular!
The trough is a bear when there is ice! Well so is the home stretch...!
Tried to climb the Keyhole Ridge, but was forced to bail to the Keyhole Route due to snow/ice. The trough was icy but rock slabs provided an easy ascent. Good route overall.
gbrady - Dec 14, 2008 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1980
My first 14er
This route takes for ever, but it makes up for it by showing all the sides of Longs and the magnificent views.
This climb is a classic. No matter how many times I may do this climb, it will never get old. Good climb to expose newbies to class three and exposure (as this was my first 14er)
AirborneBuff - Oct 18, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2004
Solo with Ice Axe
climb required crampons and an ice axe, but that ensured for solitude at the top
kunz82414 - May 2, 2008 9:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2003
Yep, this is the route
Keyhole is the way I went
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Apr 5, 1994
Solo
I forget the exact date. I remember interesting mixed climbing up the final stretch.
cavufool - Dec 14, 2007 8:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
1st Class III
This was my first experience with class III scrambling while exposed above treeline. I found it to be a bit sketchy with an injured shoulder and trying to cram my size 12's into the cracks on the homestretch. But after gaining another season's experience and returning via Keplinger's couloir I found a line just to the left of the Homestretch (to avoid the crowd) to be very enjoyable!
Rocky Alps - Sep 20, 2010 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2005
First scrambleIt was pretty easy-going until the Keyhole. After that it was fun scrambling and amazing views all the way up to the summit, especially looking down into Glacier Gorge. Despite efforts to start early enough, the group I was with wasn't acclimatized to the elevation and had to go quite slow, which caused us to get caught in the middle of a lightning storm on the way back down. See "En'lightning' Experience" trip report for details.
CSUMarmot - Aug 31, 2010 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
ROOOOOOOCK!!!!!!Ah the scenic sounds of the Trough
ripper333 - Aug 13, 2010 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
training run5 hrs car to car.. was useful for training seeing you can run for a couple hours out of the TH but cant say im bout all the peeps and the spray painted bulleyes leading the way ...
Bill Reed - Jul 23, 2010 6:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2003
Made it on our 1st attempt!!!!Stayed in the Boulderfield, made the summit at 8:30 AM.
VermontMike - Mar 13, 2010 11:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
Crowded but fun!Fun route even though crowded.
belexes - Feb 26, 2010 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2009
KeyholeMeetup.com hike with one other hiker. The parking lot was full at 3AM, with more coming in after us. Great hike in great weather. I felt a little nauseous at the summit, but that's part of the, er, fun.
iditarod81 - Jun 29, 2009 2:09 pm
Witness to a death.Another hiker wearing jeans and a sweatshirt was climbing up as we were coming down in snow and hail. We told him to head down with us, but he had summit fever. We found out later that he had perished of hypothermia on the summit. It was really sad. A warning to those unprepared for Longs or any other mountain, I guess.
ZachStone - Jun 14, 2009 2:08 pm
In lineblah, minus the massive crowds and painted blazes it would have been a blast. thats what i get for going up on a saturday in july i guess. good quality route though
sierrasclimber - Apr 7, 2009 10:37 pm
CattleWhat a cattle route the spray paint on the rocks was painful to see.
ChrisHunley - Mar 27, 2009 5:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Success!After a few attempts via other routes, this was the first time I made the summit. Regardless of the crowds (which are pretty incredible on a weekend in August) this route is a classic. As far as 'Standard Routes' go, this one is phenomenal.
Fireman79 - Feb 11, 2009 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
KeyholeI climbed this a while ago but just found this site.
We left the car at 1am and climbed this with headlamps. We summited at 7:20 am. In time to see the sun rise. This mountain holds a fond place in my memory. Spectacular!
The trough is a bear when there is ice! Well so is the home stretch...!
Ted Eliason - Jan 17, 2009 12:00 pm
Pretty but somewhat tediousThe biggest crux is the wind. Otherwise this is a long, somewhat tedious and crowded route on a good day.
Narendra - Dec 25, 2008 11:25 am
October ascentTried to climb the Keyhole Ridge, but was forced to bail to the Keyhole Route due to snow/ice. The trough was icy but rock slabs provided an easy ascent. Good route overall.
gbrady - Dec 14, 2008 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1980
My first 14erThis route takes for ever, but it makes up for it by showing all the sides of Longs and the magnificent views.
DanielWandsneider - Dec 9, 2008 7:47 pm
ClassicThis climb is a classic. No matter how many times I may do this climb, it will never get old. Good climb to expose newbies to class three and exposure (as this was my first 14er)
AirborneBuff - Oct 18, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2004
Solo with Ice Axeclimb required crampons and an ice axe, but that ensured for solitude at the top
kunz82414 - May 2, 2008 9:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2003
Yep, this is the routeKeyhole is the way I went
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Apr 5, 1994
SoloI forget the exact date. I remember interesting mixed climbing up the final stretch.
cavufool - Dec 14, 2007 8:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
1st Class IIIThis was my first experience with class III scrambling while exposed above treeline. I found it to be a bit sketchy with an injured shoulder and trying to cram my size 12's into the cracks on the homestretch. But after gaining another season's experience and returning via Keplinger's couloir I found a line just to the left of the Homestretch (to avoid the crowd) to be very enjoyable!
stevepack - Sep 30, 2007 8:46 pm
Summer 1984Descended the Keyhole route after a climb of the Cables Route. Interesting day...snowing like crazy, couldn't see very far. Lots of fun!!!