Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: July 23, 2003
This climb was my first 14er, and what a dousy! Left the Long's Peak trailhead at 4:45 am, a bit behind schedule. Got a super sunrise above the Chasm Lake trail junction before continuing on. I was suprised at all the folks who were not wearing or carrying adequete gear for bad weather. Very windy in the keyhole and along the Narrows. Approx. 40 people on the summit at 9:15 am. A very long hike took me about 5 hours to descend. (don't wear newish shoes!) All in all a great climb and great mountain. I look forward to climbing it many times over the next few years. Cheers!
Route Climbed: Loft (Return via Keyhole) Date Climbed: July 4, 2004
My third summit of Longs -- I really should try some other 14ers one of these days. Quite a bit of snow from Chasm up to the Loft -- crampons and an axe were useful today. Left trailhead at 4am -- on the summit around 10:30am. Snow still in the Homestretch and the Narrows. The Trough had so much snow we glissaded down it -- much more enjoyable than loose rock. Going down was slow and we didn't get back to the trailhead until 4:45pm. Weather was kind to us though.
I've actually climbed both the Keyhole and the Loft and must say that the Loft was much nicer. Less crowded, a little shorter, a lot more fun. Going right underneath the Palisades was quite a treat, too.
Route Climbed: Keyhole/Loft Date Climbed: July 2003
After trying to climb Longs in late June (2003) and turning around before the trough due to very icy conditions and the lack of crampons and an ice-axe, we were finally able to reach the summit on this beautiful day.
My wife and I started at 12:30am at the Longs Peak trailhead and reached the Boulderfield by 5am. Since my wife felt a little altitude sick and it was freezing cold, we waited till 8:00am to continue up to the summit which we reached at about 9:30. (There was a large number of climbers on the route.)
Next we proceeded by descending the Loft route and got some questioning looks from the other climbers. (Unfortunatelly we were too tired to also climb Meeker!!). On this route we were the only climbers and some necessary routefinding added to the challenge of the route.
-- Maybe next time we try the Longs Peak Grand Slam as described by Gerry Roach (anyone interested?)
Route Climbed: Loft Route Date Climbed: September 1998
Started in the wee hours to reach Chasm Lake in time for the sunrise. Finished by the Loft Route. Have reached Longs' summit twice, but was turned back another time by unexpected cold and snow.
Route Climbed: Clarks Arrow Route Date Climbed: August 2002
This summit log is long overdue. I went alone, got to the trailhead at 3:45am. Hiked the wrong way, and met up with an adventurous climber from Michigan. We climbed the class 3 slope up to the ridge. I climbed the pinnacle right across from the Longs summit, noticed where I was, and scurried down to the ridge in 10 minutes. My new buddy was down there. We decided to move on, down 1,000 feet to the Clark's Arrow, and 2,000 feet up the class 3 slope towards the homestretch. I loved this hike. I made it to the summit even though I screwed up the route. As soon as I got in my car, a violent and thunderous hailstorm cracked. I was lucky to get out of there dry.
Route Climbed: Lambs Slide to Kieners Date Climbed: June 1 - June 2, 2003
Two great sunrises for the price of one!! See the TR by Jason. Longs Peak was my first true mountain climbing experience in May of '99. I was in Colorado for the summer and linked up with a couple of guys who were willing to throw an axe in my hand and give me a crash course on walking w/crampons and how to self arrest. A spring ascent of Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route was a wild way to jump into the world of mountaineering! Since the first climb I have climbed Longs several times including full moon climbs. RMNP and Longs are truly an amazing place! I also climbed the Keyhole Ridge route with Jason and Chris on my 30th birthday. That makes six trips to the summit!
Nice summit day, but I sure didn't like that traverse before the final scramble to the summit. Man I tell you I was darned ready to grab any fool that nudged me while on that thing. It was difficult passing with all the traffic going back and forth. The summit is huge and flat like a football field.
Nice thing about Colorado, all the peaks I hiked up were done in jeans and cotton. :)
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July 20, 2003
Started at 3:30 and it was pretty uneventful up to the Keyhole although once past the 12,200 foot pass (I can’t remember what’s called) it was very scenic when Longs Peak and the Keyhole came into view. Past the Keyhole is where the fun started the entire route was marked with bullets painted on the rocks. The trail was pretty easy until we hit the Trough, up the trough there was snow on the right side of it and rocks on the left. At first we jumped out on the snow and went up a couple hundred feet then climbed up the rocks a few hundred feet then back on the snow the finally back on the rocks. The rock in the Trough was pretty loose and there was one little section getting out of the Trough to what is called the Narrows that was a little tricky. The foot holds were small and slick and with the soles of my boots being wet the first couple steps were a little tricky.
Once out of the Narrows we went up the Homestretch. The rock in this area was very solid with lots of hand and foot holds but after going through a thousand feet of class III climbing I was getting pretty tired. Rod was moving quickly though this section and I was just taking my time. Rod waited about five minutes on top for me and we headed over to the boulder on the top that was the summit (9:20).
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 07 August 2003
I think it thunderstorms here every afternoon during monsoon season. It's not like the southern Sierras, where you can sometimes go a week or more without rain. I got nailed by thunderstorms and hail the last two times I hiked this mountain, and yep, I got it again this time. Maybe I should set my alarm clock, so I can start hiking early, like the smart people.
Andrew McKenzie - Jul 19, 2004 2:18 am
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: July 23, 2003This climb was my first 14er, and what a dousy! Left the Long's Peak trailhead at 4:45 am, a bit behind schedule. Got a super sunrise above the Chasm Lake trail junction before continuing on. I was suprised at all the folks who were not wearing or carrying adequete gear for bad weather. Very windy in the keyhole and along the Narrows. Approx. 40 people on the summit at 9:15 am. A very long hike took me about 5 hours to descend. (don't wear newish shoes!) All in all a great climb and great mountain. I look forward to climbing it many times over the next few years. Cheers!
ahansen54 - Jul 5, 2004 1:00 am
Route Climbed: The Loft ---> The Keyhole Date Climbed: July 4, 2004Climbed with jhansen007. My first 14er and my first snow climb. See his post below for more details.
jhansen007 - Jul 5, 2004 12:47 am
Route Climbed: Loft (Return via Keyhole) Date Climbed: July 4, 2004My third summit of Longs -- I really should try some other 14ers one of these days. Quite a bit of snow from Chasm up to the Loft -- crampons and an axe were useful today. Left trailhead at 4am -- on the summit around 10:30am. Snow still in the Homestretch and the Narrows. The Trough had so much snow we glissaded down it -- much more enjoyable than loose rock. Going down was slow and we didn't get back to the trailhead until 4:45pm. Weather was kind to us though.
Robert Lutz - Jun 2, 2004 11:37 pm
Route Climbed: keyhole Date Climbed: August 2003long tiring and scary in one place but fun
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:06 pm
Route Climbed: cornhole route Date Climbed: july 99with manny from the boulderfield campground. being up early avoided a little of the herd, but it's a popular one.
sbkelley - May 12, 2004 3:39 pm
Route Climbed: Loft Date Climbed: September 2003I've actually climbed both the Keyhole and the Loft and must say that the Loft was much nicer. Less crowded, a little shorter, a lot more fun. Going right underneath the Palisades was quite a treat, too.
tysonwormus - May 9, 2004 1:31 pm
Route Climbed: Keiners Route Date Climbed: May 8 2004Quite an amazing climb. Beautiful route, splendid day and a pleasantly deserted summit.
Chris - May 8, 2004 8:41 pm
Route Climbed: Kiener's, Keyhole, North Face Date Climbed: July 1994, May 1997, August 2002This is an amazing mountain. There is a route to suit (almost) every ability and taste here. Highly recommended!
georgbetsy - May 4, 2004 10:37 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole/Loft Date Climbed: July 2003After trying to climb Longs in late June (2003) and turning around before the trough due to very icy conditions and the lack of crampons and an ice-axe, we were finally able to reach the summit on this beautiful day.
My wife and I started at 12:30am at the Longs Peak trailhead and reached the Boulderfield by 5am. Since my wife felt a little altitude sick and it was freezing cold, we waited till 8:00am to continue up to the summit which we reached at about 9:30. (There was a large number of climbers on the route.)
Next we proceeded by descending the Loft route and got some questioning looks from the other climbers. (Unfortunatelly we were too tired to also climb Meeker!!). On this route we were the only climbers and some necessary routefinding added to the challenge of the route.
-- Maybe next time we try the Longs Peak Grand Slam as described by Gerry Roach (anyone interested?)
Larry V - Apr 23, 2004 1:19 pm
Route Climbed: Loft Route Date Climbed: September 1998Started in the wee hours to reach Chasm Lake in time for the sunrise. Finished by the Loft Route. Have reached Longs' summit twice, but was turned back another time by unexpected cold and snow.
hgrapid - Apr 18, 2004 11:13 am
Route Climbed: Clarks Arrow Route Date Climbed: August 2002This summit log is long overdue. I went alone, got to the trailhead at 3:45am. Hiked the wrong way, and met up with an adventurous climber from Michigan. We climbed the class 3 slope up to the ridge. I climbed the pinnacle right across from the Longs summit, noticed where I was, and scurried down to the ridge in 10 minutes. My new buddy was down there. We decided to move on, down 1,000 feet to the Clark's Arrow, and 2,000 feet up the class 3 slope towards the homestretch. I loved this hike. I made it to the summit even though I screwed up the route. As soon as I got in my car, a violent and thunderous hailstorm cracked. I was lucky to get out of there dry.
f360driver - Apr 14, 2004 6:47 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 9/03I have yet to do this route without seeing an 18yr old girl in sweat pants climbing it too. Please, 18yr old girl, make it a skirt next time!
rmuir - Apr 13, 2004 1:56 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: July 18, 1996A nice hike with a little scrambling at the top. I want to go back and do the cable route!
coloradoiceclimber - Apr 10, 2004 2:53 pm
Route Climbed: Lambs Slide to Kieners Date Climbed: June 1 - June 2, 2003Two great sunrises for the price of one!! See the TR by Jason. Longs Peak was my first true mountain climbing experience in May of '99. I was in Colorado for the summer and linked up with a couple of guys who were willing to throw an axe in my hand and give me a crash course on walking w/crampons and how to self arrest. A spring ascent of Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route was a wild way to jump into the world of mountaineering! Since the first climb I have climbed Longs several times including full moon climbs. RMNP and Longs are truly an amazing place! I also climbed the Keyhole Ridge route with Jason and Chris on my 30th birthday. That makes six trips to the summit!
Kimberly - Apr 5, 2004 4:44 pm
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: September 2001I climbed it while pregnant to prepare for crossing the Himalaya Mountains when I was five months pregnant.
Erik Beeler - Apr 1, 2004 10:38 am
Route Climbed: Key Hole Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2003See my trip report.
Pencil Pusher - Mar 27, 2004 3:19 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 1993Nice summit day, but I sure didn't like that traverse before the final scramble to the summit. Man I tell you I was darned ready to grab any fool that nudged me while on that thing. It was difficult passing with all the traffic going back and forth. The summit is huge and flat like a football field.
Nice thing about Colorado, all the peaks I hiked up were done in jeans and cotton. :)
Grant - Feb 25, 2004 9:19 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July 20, 2003Started at 3:30 and it was pretty uneventful up to the Keyhole although once past the 12,200 foot pass (I can’t remember what’s called) it was very scenic when Longs Peak and the Keyhole came into view. Past the Keyhole is where the fun started the entire route was marked with bullets painted on the rocks. The trail was pretty easy until we hit the Trough, up the trough there was snow on the right side of it and rocks on the left. At first we jumped out on the snow and went up a couple hundred feet then climbed up the rocks a few hundred feet then back on the snow the finally back on the rocks. The rock in the Trough was pretty loose and there was one little section getting out of the Trough to what is called the Narrows that was a little tricky. The foot holds were small and slick and with the soles of my boots being wet the first couple steps were a little tricky.
Once out of the Narrows we went up the Homestretch. The rock in this area was very solid with lots of hand and foot holds but after going through a thousand feet of class III climbing I was getting pretty tired. Rod was moving quickly though this section and I was just taking my time. Rod waited about five minutes on top for me and we headed over to the boulder on the top that was the summit (9:20).
Sock Monkey - Dec 28, 2003 6:07 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: August 7, 2003Long day of climbing with beautiful weather and great company!
Day Hiker - Dec 28, 2003 12:50 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 07 August 2003I think it thunderstorms here every afternoon during monsoon season. It's not like the southern Sierras, where you can sometimes go a week or more without rain. I got nailed by thunderstorms and hail the last two times I hiked this mountain, and yep, I got it again this time. Maybe I should set my alarm clock, so I can start hiking early, like the smart people.