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Peak(s):  Longs Peak  -  14,259 feet
Date Posted:  07/18/2008
Date Climbed:   07/17/2008
Author:  womanhiker
 Our first class 3!!!   

OUR FIRST CLASS 3 14ER----LONGS PEAK

We headed towards Estes Park on Wednesday (16th) evening. After dealing with Denver traffic we finally made it to the trailhead parking lot. We cooked up some din din and chatted with a few folks before trying to get a few hours of shut eye in the car.

The alarm went off at 2:30am, and by 3:30am we were heading up the trail. The hike to the boulder field seemed to be pretty easy. We had to keep checking the weather all day. It was a very overcast day. Here is one of the first shots of Longs.

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The keyhole and view towards the west.

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From here I thought of stopping many times. I knew what was to come and I knew it wasn't going to be easy. However, I kept moving on and up. Scott and the homestretch....almost there!

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We made the summit!!!!

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When we reached the top, I was very overwhelmed with what I had just accomplished. Just like I felt after crossing the finish line during my first marathon. I know to some of you this probably sounds stupid, and I understand that. For me, this was an accomplishment I would have never thought of doing. Those feelings didn't last long as I knew the second hard part was to come....getting down!

Me heading down from the summit.

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And me making my way through the narrows on the way down.

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Just under 11 hours later we were finally back to the car. Whew! I am glad I decided to keep moving and very happy I did the hike!



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
dcbates80911
User
Good Job
7/18/2008 8:01pm
Good for you getting this one done and moving up on the difficulty scale. I‘m looking for my first class three and a friend wants me to do Longs with him. Many of the pictures concern me. I normally do not have a problem with heights, but these seem to be a little different. Was anticipated fear worse than the actual event? Once again, good job.


womanhiker
User
Fear...
7/18/2008 9:19pm
Yes, my anticipated fears were worse than the actual hike. The only part I was real shaky on was coming down the homestretch. I just worked at my own pace and made it down slowly. Best of luck to you! Let us know how it goes!


DendaJayne
Way to Go.
7/18/2008 11:59pm
My husband really wants to do this one, but I am scared! We just got back from Snowmass Mt.


J2TheZ
User
Nice job guys!
7/20/2008 8:36pm
I told you it wasn‘t too bad! Now do you feel a little more desire to finish all the 14ers?? Hopefully the little taste of class 3 that Longs gives you made you want more. Anyways, good work and hopefully there will be more in store for your future!


Colorado Husker
Awesome!
8/12/2008 3:13am
We‘re hoping for great weather Saturday to make it up Long‘s. You were brave to keep going, I hope for as much as luck as you had! GREAT pictures. Hope you had 1/2 as much fun as it looks like.



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