What if I become a Longs Peak team fill-in guy? (camping)

[jibler]

Hey so hitting longs has continued to elude me.

Recall that i actually had permit in sept 21 to spend the night up there and then climb it. but I got covid - i think. Tested negative but it was no gouda.

but that is how i'd prefer to take longs -spend a night up there and do it classy-like.


So what i put it out there that if someone has some kind of opening in their reservation/permit on such and such a date -- I can be that Fill-In guy to jump in there??

Is that kind of thing done? here?

[jibler]

the radio silence on this one is leaving me further confused on this plan....

[two lunches]

idk jibby, camping in the boulder field looks like a total freaking nightmare to me. exposed, windy, and boulder..y... just day trip it

[davebobk47]

I did exactly that many years ago - someone had a spot that I was able to fill.

I actually slept great at the boulder field. The only downside was carrying a big pack up there. The tent sites had excellent rock walls and it was nice having a much shorter day. So many people stumbled past us looking like zombies as the approached the Keyhole.

[WVMountaineer]

idk jibby, camping in the boulder field looks like a total freaking nightmare to me. exposed, windy, and boulder..y... just day trip it

I actually had a very pleasant experience back packing the boulder field last August. Was nice to just take our time instead of feeling the whole day rush that Long's poses. The developed camping locations were pretty nice with the sandy base and high rock walls. We got 2 tents into one of the bigger sites and really enjoyed it. Packed in during the day and arrived and set up camp by 4pm and had great weather so we decided to push for the summit arriving just before sunset. Only encountered 2 lost people beyond the key hole and that was truly amazing compared to my first conga-line summit of Long's on an August day in 2014.

Jibler, I hope you can find a group to join because it's a great experience camping at the boulder field.

[dwoodward13]

Having summited multiple times from both styles, I strongly prefer day hiking. IMO, while a very unique and cool experience, the camping kind of sucks up at the Boulderfield and for me, the odds of success would be better day hiking.

In any case jib, there are quite a few spots still open in the late August-Sept time frame on the reservation website. Earlier in the season they are midweeks, but in September weekends open up too.

[9patrickmurphy]

This is likely doable, but asking the community in May for a spot in late September probably isn't the move. I've been told by park employees that it's easy enough to call the wilderness office the day before and they'll likely have a no-show you can steal a permit from. Haven't tried it myself though.

[curt86iroc]

just do it in a day. way less hassle...

[cardgenius]

I’ve been wanting to get back up Longs for a few years now so if you want to day trip it, I’ll roll with ya jib!

[jibler]

I could definitely use a crew - esp to try a day trip of longs

I've never quite understood the mechanics of that - you sleep in car at trailhead?

does that require RMNP permit - for dayhike?



This may go down as a sort of humble summer - but I am actually hoping to get a little nuts locally and knock out the big 3 14ers.

[madmattd]

I could definitely use a crew - esp to try a day trip of longs

I've never quite understood the mechanics of that - you sleep in car at trailhead?

does that require RMNP permit - for dayhike?

I debated finding one of the handful of legal options to camp along the Peak to Peak (camping in the lot is not allowed, and ymmv with getting away with it) before ultimately deciding I would sleep at home - I figured a bit over an hour less sleep, but good sleep, was better than the intermittent sleep I often get in my car/camping. No regrets as it played out in my case. I'm only about 75min from the trailhead, so I got up around 12:30, ate a good breakfast, drove to the trailhead (eating a second breakfast en-route), and got started on the trail just before 3. Hit the Keyhole right at sunrise, as I planned. Granted I suspect I usually go to bed earlier than many, and I managed to be asleep even earlier than normal - by like 8:30 - that night.

No RMNP day access permit needed anywhere in the park if you enter before 5am (Bear Lake corridor), or before 9am (anywhere not in Bear Lake corridor). For a normal Longs start, getting there that early is a given, regardless of whether they actually enforce entrance permits or not there (I've never gone to that lot after 9am so I have no idea!).

[two lunches]

I've never quite understood the mechanics of that - you sleep in car at trailhead?

does that require RMNP permit - for dayhike?

we left boulder proper at 3am, arrived at the trailhead shortly before 4, and found a completely full lot while it was still dark as sh*t on a saturday in august. the cars lining the road were... abundant... and some of them parked fairly precariously off the edge of the road. as matt mentioned, no permit is necessary.

i totally understand wanting to go with a crew, but like all front range 14ers, trust me when i say that you will NOT be alone up there on any route.