The Climb, Colorado’s Longs Peak 14,259' Elev.

in #travel7 years ago (edited)

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View of Colorado's Longs Peak from just outside Rocky National Park east side

My friend, Mary Ann and I watched the weather forecast for a couple days before we decided on our best day to attempt Longs Peak.
At 3:00 am we arrived at the Longs Peak Trailhead and parked in one of the last parking spots. From the Longs Peak Trailhead we started our hike with headlamps on for the first few hours. As we hiked in the dark you could see groups of hiker headlamps ahead of us as they worked their way up the trail. I was surprised at how many people were attempting the climb, probably because this was going to be the best weather day that week. Just as the sun was coming up, at about 6 miles, we made it to what is called "The Boulder Field” where there are some campsites. We watched the sunrise on Longs Peak and what is called "The Keyhole". From there we made the climbed to "The Keyhole" and through to the other side. Now from the Keyhole it gets much more difficult where you have to follow bulls-eyes painted on the rocks. Here starts a traverse across a steep ledge system to what is called “The Trough” then ascend “The Trough” to another ledge system called “The Narrows” all over granite rocks with steep drop offs. The final scramble to the summit is called “The Homestretch”. From the Keyhole it took me two hours to climb 1.6 miles to the summit and I felt like I was passing everyone. Made it to the summit at 9:15 am and then spent an hour on the top. Mary Ann stopped just beyond the Keyhole and decided it was too scary for her to continue. I met Mary Ann on my way back down at the Boulder Field, where she had been waiting for me. Thunder clouds had been building ever since I left the summit and was threating the last few miles back to the trailhead. We made it back to the car at 3:15 pm and just before we had thunder storms.
So it took me about 12 hours round trip with a whole hour spent on the summit.
This was the second scariest climb I've ever done (#1Yosemite’s Half Dome.) Another Awesome Adventure!!

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View of Longs Peak at first light


First light looking east


Made it to "The Boulder field"

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Mary Ann and I


Sunrise on Longs Peak and the Keyhole in the saddle from the Boulder Field

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Sunrise on Longs Peak


Sunrise on "The Keyhole"

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Climbing to "The Keyhole"

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The Agnes Vaile Shelter, which was built as a memorial after Ms. Vaile died in this area shortly after becoming the first woman to climb Longs Peak in the winter. While making her decent on January 25th 1925, Vaile slipped and fall about 150 feet. Spent with fatigue, Vaile insisted she needed a short nap, but froze to death before her hiking partner could bring back help.
Today the memorial serves as a refuge for hikers in need.


Almost to "The Keyhole"


Mary Ann climbing up to "The Keyhole"


Looking through "The Keyhole"


First traverse from the Keyhole following the bull-eyes


"The Trough"


Looking down "The Trough"

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View looking south from the top of "The Trough"


First view of the next ledge system "The Narrows"


Looking down from "The Narrows"


Looking back at "The Narrows"


Looking up at "The Homestretch"


Looking down "The Homestretch"


View


Made it to the Summit!!


The summit


More summit celebration


Standing on the highest point


Heading back down "The Homestretch"


Looking back down "The Trough"


The ledge system back to "The Keyhole"


Looking back at Longs Peak and watching the thunder clouds build

Thanks for folling my adventures

!steemitworldmap 40.2530 lat -105.6160 long 'Colorado's Longs Peak' d3scr

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nice post

you're welcome

Dude c'mon, don't spam my moms post with your garbage copy pasta comment. And then to upvote yourself without even upvoting the post? Where do you get off with that crap!

now i'm gonna flag her post... good job bro

Gonna flag a post you claimed to like?? LOL!! Do whatever you want. I hope you feel like the garbage you are. You've been reported to @steemcleaners. Have fun with that.

Impressive climb! I haven't made it out to Colorado yet, but this looks like an awesome and tough day. Thanks for sharing so much detail. Keep the trip reports coming.

It definitely will get your adrenaline going.

My favorite thing is climbing a hill for the sunrise. The sun is raising especially for you :))

lovely pics and seems you had a great climb... glad to nominate this for ocd-resteem!

@doverland, Your post was Resteemed by @OCD!
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Wow! This looks like much fun... Doesn't look like actually. This is fun. Would love to see more of this and more of you on steemit.

I have more and hope to get my stuff on steemit more often. Thanks for checking it out.

If you really like it @dorth I'm sure she would appreciate an upvote... just sayin' dude.

Ok mom, I'm officially jealous. lol. I gotta climb Longs peak someday, that looks so awesome. Lots of spicy class 3! That little hut is cool looking, but that's a crazy story about Agnes Vail. Awesome summit shots. That one of you with your fingers in the air is my favorite! That view is badass.

Would love to get you to Colorado and climb some peaks sometime.

Hiya, just swinging by to let you know that this post made the Honorable mentions list in today's #TravelDigest!

I also wanna try this kind of adventure!! Looks exciting. Great pictures!💛

This is what I do. Follow me and experience my adventures with me.

Followed you already sir! Always take care on your travels :)))