Wow that was a long day i did the hike with a girl i meet she tryed one time before but had to trun around she was sick. The day he and i did it she was pretty strong and we did make the summit. Up and back time 12 1/2 hours.
spannring29 - Feb 25, 2007 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Welcome to Colorado
I hiked Longs with my brother, Doug, a few days after he moved to Colorado. We summited in about five hours and the only weather we encountered was wind in the Boulderfield. Doug handled the altitude well and the views were spectacular. A long day, but well worth the hike.
Hyadventure - Feb 22, 2007 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2006
Keyhole
One windy ass day, a little snow. I loved the route, would like to return to do the cables route some day. On the trail by 5, on the summit by 10 and back to the car by 2.
Went Up lambs slide and then freaked out some foks on braod way they hd nop idea wherI came frome and was solo j needed some ime alone after a rough break up . I gues it worked out well enough . I met some col folks on top and had a great home brew they made .All was well with the word a cold beer and near as perfect climb with a amzing strom to top off the day whenwhile enjoying the homebrew!
thaks to woh ever you are
Rick
ibndalight - Feb 1, 2007 8:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2006
Route Climbed: Keyhole
We climbed up the Keyhole Route on a saturday during the summer with perfect weather. Mountain was very crowded.
My 1st CO 14er. Was planning on the Keyhole but was convinced to follow this guy I met on the trail up the N Face-soloing the wet slabs was quite an introduction to Colorado! This trip helped me decide that mountains were where it's at!
AirborneBuff - Dec 30, 2006 12:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2004
snowpack=no crowds
Took the keyhole route before the snowpack melted out of the trough and while it was slow going with crampons and axe - no crowds to compete with. I had the summit all to myself.
boisedoc - Dec 17, 2006 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 1988
great mountain
A classic Colorado mountain with the Keyhole route being quite entertaining. Only problem is the hordes of people making rockfall a real danger in the trough.
4 attempts, 3 successfull. Twice by summer Keyhole, 1.5 times by winter Cables. This mountain never disspoints.
goatboy smellz - Nov 22, 2006 3:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 1995
Kiener's Route via Glacier Rib
Soloed this when I was young & dumb, avoided Lamb's Slide by climbing Glacier Rib to the left of the slide. It was late enough in the year, so I was told, that there would be chopped steps across Lamb's to access the route. The only difficult sections I remember was bear hugging a rock to squeeze through a very exposed traverse $ finding where the route began on the Staircase.
MoapaPk - Nov 2, 2006 2:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1971
North face cable, then keyhole
We went up the cables on the North Face, then down the Keyhole route. The cables were icy and slippery; perhaps that is why they were removed years hence.
My friend Tony B and I were 16 years old, and came in from the eastern US. We back-packed up to Chasm Lake and spent one night in the Chasm Lake shelter -- no one else joined us. Tony spent about an hour repairing the bunk. He had a mother marmot sitting on his lap while he took pictures; ptarmigans walked right by.
We were woken up about 4 AM by the mechanical buzzer on Tony's watch (remember: 1971!). In the dark, I made chocolate milk by mistake, and had that milk on my Kellogg's "concentrate" cereal. My strongest memory is of burping up chocolate milk for 1.5 hours until the sun rose and distracted us with the beautiful scenery.
By the time we descended, storms were moving in from the east and west. We picked up our gear at Chasm Lake, and hiked out in a light rain.
huskerhiker - Oct 30, 2006 10:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
Keyhole Route
Camped in the Boulderfield the night previous. Rained solid from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. Saturday morning we chose to attempt summit despite incredibly dense fog. Less than 10 others summited that day. Began to drizzle as we descended, so already slick rocks became much more slippery. The Trough became a virtual cascade of streams and waterfalls on descent, making for less than ideal conditions.
Broke camp as soon as we returned to Boulderfield and descended as quickly as possible - not out of fear of lightning, but to return to dryness and warmth.
eazyelion - Oct 28, 2006 12:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2006
Loft Meeker&Longs
Wonderful ascent to Loft and quickly up Meeker in early morning light. Descended considerably too far down and ended up having to do some complicated moves to make our way back on route below the Palisades. Actually found Clark's Arrow! Kind of a joke if you ask me with how guide books talk about finding it. The stress of trying to get back on route was exhausting, yet rewarding with the scrambling up to the homestretch and eventual summit. Keyhole descent was long, but enjoyable after successfully climbing the two highest peaks in RMNP.
winterfae - Oct 24, 2006 1:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
Keyhole
Made great time on the way up, summitted as clouds engulfed the view unfortunately. Was definitely fun though and would love to do it again on a clear day! Trough and homestretch were faves on this one.
Beautiful, shorter, less crowded and perhaps easier than the Keyhole. Rappelled off the north face for fun on the way down. The Loft is the way to go, especially on Labor Day weekend. September 2005.
Casey Bates - Oct 10, 2006 11:15 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2007
Keyhole Solo
Left parking lot at 2:00am. Solo. Spring conditions. Snow not firm enough for crampons but an ice axe was essential for the many exposed traverses after the Keyhole. Few people. Great conditions.
First time attempting Longs in September 2006: Could not go beyond Keyhole due to wind and verglas. Solo trip. Bivied near treeline and began climbing at 3:00am. Sunrise was epic from the boulder field. An extremely valuable solo experience even without the summit!
Grizz42 - Sep 28, 2006 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2006
Keyhole
Great hike up until keyhole when clouds started moving in. Got to the summit but couldn't see anything then it started to snow. Made it quite a long day.
A whole lot of fun! Started hiking at 2:30am. Summited by 8:30am. The top of the mountain was engulfed in a cloud, so the view was minimal, though the cloud broke for a few minutes. I thought the homestretch was great fun - best part of the mountain!
swm88er - Sep 22, 2006 5:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2006
Keplinger's
Crazy Climb! Story forthcoming. Wouldn't change anything, but wouldn't climb Longs that way again.
snowhiker - Feb 28, 2007 8:40 pm
Keyhole routeWow that was a long day i did the hike with a girl i meet she tryed one time before but had to trun around she was sick. The day he and i did it she was pretty strong and we did make the summit. Up and back time 12 1/2 hours.
spannring29 - Feb 25, 2007 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Welcome to ColoradoI hiked Longs with my brother, Doug, a few days after he moved to Colorado. We summited in about five hours and the only weather we encountered was wind in the Boulderfield. Doug handled the altitude well and the views were spectacular. A long day, but well worth the hike.
Hyadventure - Feb 22, 2007 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2006
KeyholeOne windy ass day, a little snow. I loved the route, would like to return to do the cables route some day. On the trail by 5, on the summit by 10 and back to the car by 2.
Rick F - Feb 3, 2007 7:34 pm
One popular peak !Went Up lambs slide and then freaked out some foks on braod way they hd nop idea wherI came frome and was solo j needed some ime alone after a rough break up . I gues it worked out well enough . I met some col folks on top and had a great home brew they made .All was well with the word a cold beer and near as perfect climb with a amzing strom to top off the day whenwhile enjoying the homebrew!
thaks to woh ever you are
Rick
ibndalight - Feb 1, 2007 8:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2006
Route Climbed: KeyholeWe climbed up the Keyhole Route on a saturday during the summer with perfect weather. Mountain was very crowded.
Flex - Jan 21, 2007 10:01 pm
Cables Route-Solo Aug/98My 1st CO 14er. Was planning on the Keyhole but was convinced to follow this guy I met on the trail up the N Face-soloing the wet slabs was quite an introduction to Colorado! This trip helped me decide that mountains were where it's at!
brandon - Jan 5, 2007 9:31 pm
Casual Route Diamonda bit of snow still, storming for the topout
AirborneBuff - Dec 30, 2006 12:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2004
snowpack=no crowdsTook the keyhole route before the snowpack melted out of the trough and while it was slow going with crampons and axe - no crowds to compete with. I had the summit all to myself.
boisedoc - Dec 17, 2006 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 1988
great mountainA classic Colorado mountain with the Keyhole route being quite entertaining. Only problem is the hordes of people making rockfall a real danger in the trough.
Yeti - Dec 4, 2006 5:58 pm
4 so far4 attempts, 3 successfull. Twice by summer Keyhole, 1.5 times by winter Cables. This mountain never disspoints.
goatboy smellz - Nov 22, 2006 3:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 1995
Kiener's Route via Glacier RibSoloed this when I was young & dumb, avoided Lamb's Slide by climbing Glacier Rib to the left of the slide. It was late enough in the year, so I was told, that there would be chopped steps across Lamb's to access the route. The only difficult sections I remember was bear hugging a rock to squeeze through a very exposed traverse $ finding where the route began on the Staircase.
MoapaPk - Nov 2, 2006 2:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1971
North face cable, then keyholeWe went up the cables on the North Face, then down the Keyhole route. The cables were icy and slippery; perhaps that is why they were removed years hence.
My friend Tony B and I were 16 years old, and came in from the eastern US. We back-packed up to Chasm Lake and spent one night in the Chasm Lake shelter -- no one else joined us. Tony spent about an hour repairing the bunk. He had a mother marmot sitting on his lap while he took pictures; ptarmigans walked right by.
We were woken up about 4 AM by the mechanical buzzer on Tony's watch (remember: 1971!). In the dark, I made chocolate milk by mistake, and had that milk on my Kellogg's "concentrate" cereal. My strongest memory is of burping up chocolate milk for 1.5 hours until the sun rose and distracted us with the beautiful scenery.
By the time we descended, storms were moving in from the east and west. We picked up our gear at Chasm Lake, and hiked out in a light rain.
huskerhiker - Oct 30, 2006 10:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2006
Keyhole RouteCamped in the Boulderfield the night previous. Rained solid from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. Saturday morning we chose to attempt summit despite incredibly dense fog. Less than 10 others summited that day. Began to drizzle as we descended, so already slick rocks became much more slippery. The Trough became a virtual cascade of streams and waterfalls on descent, making for less than ideal conditions.
Broke camp as soon as we returned to Boulderfield and descended as quickly as possible - not out of fear of lightning, but to return to dryness and warmth.
eazyelion - Oct 28, 2006 12:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2006
Loft Meeker&LongsWonderful ascent to Loft and quickly up Meeker in early morning light. Descended considerably too far down and ended up having to do some complicated moves to make our way back on route below the Palisades. Actually found Clark's Arrow! Kind of a joke if you ask me with how guide books talk about finding it. The stress of trying to get back on route was exhausting, yet rewarding with the scrambling up to the homestretch and eventual summit. Keyhole descent was long, but enjoyable after successfully climbing the two highest peaks in RMNP.
winterfae - Oct 24, 2006 1:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
KeyholeMade great time on the way up, summitted as clouds engulfed the view unfortunately. Was definitely fun though and would love to do it again on a clear day! Trough and homestretch were faves on this one.
Anneka - Oct 12, 2006 3:37 am
Loft ascent, North face descentBeautiful, shorter, less crowded and perhaps easier than the Keyhole. Rappelled off the north face for fun on the way down. The Loft is the way to go, especially on Labor Day weekend. September 2005.
Casey Bates - Oct 10, 2006 11:15 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2007
Keyhole SoloLeft parking lot at 2:00am. Solo. Spring conditions. Snow not firm enough for crampons but an ice axe was essential for the many exposed traverses after the Keyhole. Few people. Great conditions.
First time attempting Longs in September 2006: Could not go beyond Keyhole due to wind and verglas. Solo trip. Bivied near treeline and began climbing at 3:00am. Sunrise was epic from the boulder field. An extremely valuable solo experience even without the summit!
Grizz42 - Sep 28, 2006 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2006
KeyholeGreat hike up until keyhole when clouds started moving in. Got to the summit but couldn't see anything then it started to snow. Made it quite a long day.
TiogaBradford - Sep 22, 2006 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
Keyhole RouteA whole lot of fun! Started hiking at 2:30am. Summited by 8:30am. The top of the mountain was engulfed in a cloud, so the view was minimal, though the cloud broke for a few minutes. I thought the homestretch was great fun - best part of the mountain!
swm88er - Sep 22, 2006 5:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2006
Keplinger'sCrazy Climb! Story forthcoming. Wouldn't change anything, but wouldn't climb Longs that way again.