smiarowski - Jul 29, 2007 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2002
Keyhole
We left Missouri in the afternoon, drove 14hrs through the night, grabbed some PowerBars at a WalMart and played around Estes Park, slept in the car for about 4hrs before hitting the trail in the middle of the night. After getting off the mountain in the afternoon, we drove another 14 hrs back home.... whew -- a whirlwind tour!!!
blackcoffee - Jul 27, 2007 12:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1988
Keyhole Route
Bivied in the boulder field at 12000'. Took the Keyhole Route, but watched a party on the old cables route with great interest, and started learning to climb a month later.
Mots010 - Jul 24, 2007 9:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
Keyhole
Keyhole route. Next time I'll try the old Cables Route for something more interesting.
Tom Fralich - Jul 21, 2007 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2007
Keyhole Ridge
Mary and I climbed this route from a camp at the Boulderfield. We hiked up early on July 20 and got a nice spot, although it was boiling hot all afternoon. We woke up at 4AM and were roped up at the start of the ridge by 6AM. It was Mary's first alpine ridge climb and she did fantastic. We simul-climbed essentially all of the route, arriving on top at around 10AM. There were tons of people on the summit who had come up the Keyhole. We descended the north face (old cables) route, which was quick and straightforward. After some lunch, we headed down with thunderstorms chasing us the whole way.
It was Friday the 13th, but everything went perfect for me on this climb. The NPS still had a warning posted about the route being a technical climb due to ice/snow. This kept the crowds away even though there was no need for crampons or ice ax. I had perfect weather. It was sunny, clear, 60s, and calm on top. I was on the trail at 4:45am, at the keyhole at 7:00am, and on top at 8:35am. I spent an hour on top eating and napping. I was back at the car by 12:45pm. Nice day.
This was one tough climb for me. I'm mostly a hiker, not a climber. Even though this was my 9th time to be on a 14er, this was the first time I had ever "climbed" one since the others were only hikes.
I was totally out of shape on a spontaneous trip up from Dallas. The 6 mile approach to camp at 12,000 ft. with 50+ lbs. kicked my butt. The keyhole ridge was spectacular and we even had some company that decided to follow us, er, I mean pass us. Had to turn around at 13,600 ft. as storms moved in.
atavist - Jul 1, 2007 11:43 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2004
keyhole without the crowd
a lot of snow up high (May 04). there were a few people on the trail down low, but no one else made it to the trough.
km_donovan - Jun 27, 2007 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2007
Summit to Ourselves
Going in the middle of the week has it benefits. Enjoyed the summit without the hoards. #53 One to go!
bolojm - Jun 19, 2007 5:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
2nd Summit
My 2nd time on Longs via the Keyhole...great full-moon climb except for like 700 people going for the summit that day! Fortunately starting earlier than most and going faster than most only resulted in about 30 other people at the summit (summited at 8 AM). Descended the North Face just to be different.
Panthera uncia - Jun 17, 2007 6:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2004
AMAZING!
I've climbed the peak via the Keyhole route twice and experienced bad T-storms both times.
thebeave7 - Jun 11, 2007 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
Loft to Clarks Arrow, sort of
Climbed up the loft at sunset on good snow. Bivied in the loft and watched the sunrise from the top of Meeker. Then down toward Clarks Arrow, dropped too far, then ascended the coulier next to Keplingers. Had to navigate around 10ft of ice on sketchy C4, then topped out on good snow. Down the Keyhole, lots of snow, good footing with crampons.
huskertriguy - May 29, 2007 4:48 pm 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.
Peak_Bagger - May 15, 2007 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2002
My 1st 14er
It was a blast except for the other 100 people going up!!!
fun route.. glad to have had the challenge of winter
involved .. made it that much sweeter of a summit.. great conditions. climbed with
johnnie V. 13 hr day..
My dad and I were facinated with this mountain when our family moved from Minnesota to Colorado. We saw it from our home in the 'burbs' of Westminster, and wanted to 'bag it' as he said. I was 16 yrs old, and it was my first 14,000' mt. We started at 3:30 am, summited at noon, and still got caught in a ferocious lightning/hail storm in the 'boulder field'. We ran to treeline... so exhilarating... I was hooked!
EverydayExplorer - Apr 4, 2007 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2005
Keyhole
Great first climb. The keyhole really funnels the wind and takes you by surprise. Left really early to avoid the crowds and the resulting rockfall.
Chris - Mar 25, 2007 3:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2007
Trough from Black Lake
Great climb with CharlesD, thebeave7, zenalpinist, brenta, pksander, marella, and Mike. Perfect weather. A bit breezy up high.
thebeave7 - Mar 20, 2007 12:51 am Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2007
Trough Direct
Set up a basecamp at Black Lake on Saturday night with CharlesD, Chris, Brenta, Pksanders, zenalpinist, and a few others. Left camp at 530a, nice solid snow up the Trough, wind blasted us intermitently. Minimal ice on the narrows, steep snow up the homestretch. Weather was perfect except the ocassional wind. Up top at 945a. Snow softened up for the ski out from Black Lake in the afternoon(1-2p).
mow10 - Mar 16, 2007 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 1995
Loft
Loft route is as easy as Keyhole and crowds are nonexistent. Done this twice and topped out on Meeker both times before joining Keyhole Route.
smiarowski - Jul 29, 2007 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2002
KeyholeWe left Missouri in the afternoon, drove 14hrs through the night, grabbed some PowerBars at a WalMart and played around Estes Park, slept in the car for about 4hrs before hitting the trail in the middle of the night. After getting off the mountain in the afternoon, we drove another 14 hrs back home.... whew -- a whirlwind tour!!!
blackcoffee - Jul 27, 2007 12:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 1988
Keyhole RouteBivied in the boulder field at 12000'. Took the Keyhole Route, but watched a party on the old cables route with great interest, and started learning to climb a month later.
Mots010 - Jul 24, 2007 9:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
KeyholeKeyhole route. Next time I'll try the old Cables Route for something more interesting.
Tom Fralich - Jul 21, 2007 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2007
Keyhole RidgeMary and I climbed this route from a camp at the Boulderfield. We hiked up early on July 20 and got a nice spot, although it was boiling hot all afternoon. We woke up at 4AM and were roped up at the start of the ridge by 6AM. It was Mary's first alpine ridge climb and she did fantastic. We simul-climbed essentially all of the route, arriving on top at around 10AM. There were tons of people on the summit who had come up the Keyhole. We descended the north face (old cables) route, which was quick and straightforward. After some lunch, we headed down with thunderstorms chasing us the whole way.
395guy - Jul 13, 2007 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2007
Keyhole RouteIt was Friday the 13th, but everything went perfect for me on this climb. The NPS still had a warning posted about the route being a technical climb due to ice/snow. This kept the crowds away even though there was no need for crampons or ice ax. I had perfect weather. It was sunny, clear, 60s, and calm on top. I was on the trail at 4:45am, at the keyhole at 7:00am, and on top at 8:35am. I spent an hour on top eating and napping. I was back at the car by 12:45pm. Nice day.
This was one tough climb for me. I'm mostly a hiker, not a climber. Even though this was my 9th time to be on a 14er, this was the first time I had ever "climbed" one since the others were only hikes.
ascendingzion - Jul 13, 2007 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2007
keyhole ridgeI was totally out of shape on a spontaneous trip up from Dallas. The 6 mile approach to camp at 12,000 ft. with 50+ lbs. kicked my butt. The keyhole ridge was spectacular and we even had some company that decided to follow us, er, I mean pass us. Had to turn around at 13,600 ft. as storms moved in.
Scott Rogers - Jul 11, 2007 10:37 pm
lots of peepslots of fun. My first class 3
atavist - Jul 1, 2007 11:43 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2004
keyhole without the crowda lot of snow up high (May 04). there were a few people on the trail down low, but no one else made it to the trough.
km_donovan - Jun 27, 2007 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2007
Summit to OurselvesGoing in the middle of the week has it benefits. Enjoyed the summit without the hoards. #53 One to go!
bolojm - Jun 19, 2007 5:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
2nd SummitMy 2nd time on Longs via the Keyhole...great full-moon climb except for like 700 people going for the summit that day! Fortunately starting earlier than most and going faster than most only resulted in about 30 other people at the summit (summited at 8 AM). Descended the North Face just to be different.
Panthera uncia - Jun 17, 2007 6:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2004
AMAZING!I've climbed the peak via the Keyhole route twice and experienced bad T-storms both times.
thebeave7 - Jun 11, 2007 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
Loft to Clarks Arrow, sort ofClimbed up the loft at sunset on good snow. Bivied in the loft and watched the sunrise from the top of Meeker. Then down toward Clarks Arrow, dropped too far, then ascended the coulier next to Keplingers. Had to navigate around 10ft of ice on sketchy C4, then topped out on good snow. Down the Keyhole, lots of snow, good footing with crampons.
huskertriguy - May 29, 2007 4:48 pm 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.
Peak_Bagger - May 15, 2007 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2002
My 1st 14erIt was a blast except for the other 100 people going up!!!
ripper333 - Apr 21, 2007 12:13 am
kienersfun route.. glad to have had the challenge of winter
involved .. made it that much sweeter of a summit.. great conditions. climbed with
johnnie V. 13 hr day..
holly sorenson - Apr 5, 2007 2:34 pm
Keyhole RouteMy dad and I were facinated with this mountain when our family moved from Minnesota to Colorado. We saw it from our home in the 'burbs' of Westminster, and wanted to 'bag it' as he said. I was 16 yrs old, and it was my first 14,000' mt. We started at 3:30 am, summited at noon, and still got caught in a ferocious lightning/hail storm in the 'boulder field'. We ran to treeline... so exhilarating... I was hooked!
EverydayExplorer - Apr 4, 2007 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2005
KeyholeGreat first climb. The keyhole really funnels the wind and takes you by surprise. Left really early to avoid the crowds and the resulting rockfall.
Chris - Mar 25, 2007 3:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2007
Trough from Black LakeGreat climb with CharlesD, thebeave7, zenalpinist, brenta, pksander, marella, and Mike. Perfect weather. A bit breezy up high.
thebeave7 - Mar 20, 2007 12:51 am Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2007
Trough DirectSet up a basecamp at Black Lake on Saturday night with CharlesD, Chris, Brenta, Pksanders, zenalpinist, and a few others. Left camp at 530a, nice solid snow up the Trough, wind blasted us intermitently. Minimal ice on the narrows, steep snow up the homestretch. Weather was perfect except the ocassional wind. Up top at 945a. Snow softened up for the ski out from Black Lake in the afternoon(1-2p).
mow10 - Mar 16, 2007 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 1995
LoftLoft route is as easy as Keyhole and crowds are nonexistent. Done this twice and topped out on Meeker both times before joining Keyhole Route.