| Peak: | Longs Peak |
| Route: | Keyhole Route |
| Range: | Front |
| Posted By: | DanielL |
| Date of Info: | 10/25/2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10/25/2014 |
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Climbed the Keyhole route up Longs this morning. As Carl said in last week's conditions report, there is pretty minimal snow on the trail from the trailhead to the boulderfield. Once past the Keyhole, we were hiking on snow for just about the rest of the route. The Ledges section was nearly all covered in powdery snow, and we put on microspikes right away for traction. Past that, the Trough held variable snow, ranging from totally loose to quite firm, and there was generally more snow on the right side. Overall, I found that the right side (more snow) was better for climbing, instead of having to deal with the loose snow-covered rocks. The Narrows held firm snow for most of the traverse, and again, I found that traction (microspikes) and an axe were important to have on this section. Above that, the Homestretch was fairly straight-forward as there was a pretty continuous stretch of snow that allowed for a consistent boot pack all the way to the top. Overall, this was an awesome climb and the most fun I've had on Longs! Essential gear included gaiters, axe, and microspikes (didn't carry crampons, although as more snow accumulates and gets wind packed, these will become more valuable). Also, on a warm day like today (high of 50 degrees on the peak), watch out for rapidly softening snow in areas like the Narrows and Homestretch which receive more sunshine. |
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