Longs Peak

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 4/7/2017, By: Hucksley
Info: Solid skin track leading all the way up to about a quarter mile past the Alpine Zone signage. After that, knee-deep postholing ensued on what ended up being a hellacious, albeit rewarding morning for me. Brought snowshoes, microspikes, crampons and ice axe, definitely needed spikes below treeline and shoes above it. Westerly winds were gusting at 70+ mph, knocking me down more times than I'd care to admit on a public forum. At one point I was unable to see Mt. Lady Washington in front of me due to the massive snow spindrift that circled the area. I was able to reach the Chasm Lake junction before deciding to call it a day. In terms of what everything else looks like for you skiiers out there, less than ideal. Higher elevations were much more dry than I expected given all the snow we had earlier this week. On my descent, snow was already starting to get sloshy at around 9 a.m. this morning. I'd recommend waiting on this one given the inclement weather that's already here and on its way. 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 3/4/2018, By: burblanc
Info: Homestretch from sandbeach. Can't comment on other aspects but looks dry. Take with a grain of salt. Most likely plenty of snow on the route up. 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 3/3/2017, By: cordisimo
Info: Got the winter duathlon! A fairly large wind slab below the North Face that I thought to be safer staying to the far left towards Chasm View. The dihedral had just enough snow to make it really comfortable climbing, crampon on rock for the last move though (which was the crux -- for me, and why I didn't go back down Cables too). Above that I went higher than normal to avoid another large windslab. Descended Keyhole which was in great condition, wore crampons from the summit to the keyhole. You'd might be okay with just microspikes and an axe there, but I didn't feel like adding that extra weight to the ride. Should have just gone down the NW couloir, it looked totally dry! 

Route: Trough
Posted On: 2/18/2017, By: JtheChemE
Info: Climbed and descended Trough today. Did not use snowshoes all day, the trail to Black Lake is runnable. The track set by bmcqueen and upgraded by brerrabbit is solid from Black Lake to the upper basin.

No tracks in Trough from last weeks parties, they were filled in by windblown snow. By the time I was descending, my own tracks also largely gone, so be prepared to set your own steps. Snow was soft, made for slow going, but no real signs of instability.

Homestretch definitely icy in spots from last weeks melt. 

Route: Dovetail
Posted On: 2/18/2017, By: Monster5
Info: We went up Dovetail Right (~M2 steep snow condition) and down Cables.

No snowshoes needed or wanted up to Boulder field, though others had them. Good bootpack and all winter cuts bootpacked.

N Face wind hammered and stripped. A few micro avy spots but overall pretty stable. All eye bolts and a lot of rock exposed on Cables.

Dovetail had a couple mini rock pitches and one longer slabby pitch. A buddy also did Notch and a solo guy was booting up Through Direct. 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 2/13/2017, By: ahumphreys000
Info: From 2/13: Went up to the boulder field on Longs Peak. Started about 8:30 a.m. from trailhead and back to the car around 2:15 p.m. Winter trails are looking great but heads up for some (and by some I mean quite a few) fallen trees on trails following that insane wind day last week. Trail cuts immediately to the right following the regular creek crossing near tree-line. A late start meant some posthole action going up but only above tree-line. Snow was okay going up with some graceful posthole dancing on the way down. I rock-hopped where I could for most of the day, cutting trail on snowfields (you'll see if you're up there in the next week.)

OF NOTE: Several people turned away from the ridge to Chasm Lake today. Not sure if the snow was really that bad but plan accordingly because that ledge will always be a killer. 

Route: Trough from Glacier Gorge
Posted On: 2/12/2017, By: bmcqueen
Info: Climbed from Glacier Gorge today. Great trench up to Black Lake. Beyond that, some snow shoe time to a bit before the base of the Trough. Trough is still a bit soft. We cramponed up the bottom and top and put snowshoes back on for middle. Narrows and Homestretch have a bit of snow, but very manageable in crampons. Plunge stepped whole way down Trough. 

Route: North Face
Posted On: 1/30/2017, By: pbakwin
Info: North Face / Cables
Winter trail is excellent below treeline. Variable conditions above, largely wind swept with snowfields you can walk on and places you posthole, but not usually very deep. Typical for this time of year. We brought snowshoes but never bothered with them - don't know why I ever bring snowshoes on Longs from the East. Microspikes were handy. Last few 100' below the eyebolts is consistent, very firm wind crust - excellent cramponing. First eyebolt (about 15' above the ground) is completely covered by snow, so the initial steep section on the Cables is easy. Above there snow coverage is thin, but thankfully stayed stuck to the rock. Climbing would be characterized as "mixed". The top steep section, 15' below the top eyebolt, is bare rock - awkward in crampons and heavy mittens. Middle & top eyebolts are completely exposed. Above the Cables are 2 somewhat spooky snowfields to cross as you wonder if these might decide to take you on a journey off the East Face. Then mix of snow & talus. BTW, Longs is windy in winter! Also, it is worth noting that the Sun is still not reaching the NF at any time of day. @thetinalewis posted a few pics on her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3hhZ5A9Sf/?hl=en 

Route: Lambs Slide & Chasm Lake trail
Posted On: 1/23/2017, By: bedevere
Info: First of all: FOUND: 1 red rubber and metal microspikes footwear attachment, and 1 teal green longsleeve garment. It was presumably left near the trail on or before the 21st. Email me if this is yours!!! Pass the word. arj3000 -at- gmail

***SEE 1ST HALF OF THIS REPORT FOR CONDITIONS AND FIRST 8 PHOTOS. This "report" is added so I could include 8 additional photos.*** 

Route: Lambs Slide & Chasm Lake trail
Posted On: 1/23/2017, By: bedevere
Info: First of all:
FOUND: 1 red rubber and metal microspikes footwear attachment, and 1 teal green longsleeve garment. It was presumably left near the trail on or before the 21st. Email me if this is yours!!! Pass the word. arj3000 -at- gmail

CONDITIONS REPORT:
Longs Peak trailhead up through the forest was several feet of packed snow; no ice. Nice easy winter walking. Microspikes or crampons could be helpful on some of the steeper shortcuts, but not necessary. Packed part of trail 1-2 feet wide.

Above treeline the snow was also good, though up to 6 inches of snow to sink into up to Chasm Junction.

Trail to Chasm Lake was deeper, generally 6-12 inches of snow to sink into (on top of many more feet of snow). It's basically an all-snow hike; rocks are buried. There was a shallow slab avalanche between Peacock and Lady Washington that had occurred by the time I return-hiked this section... but overall, snow was pretty stable.

Chasm Lake frozen solid and covered in snow.... about 6 inches of loose stuff on top with a bit of crust.

Lambs Slide, Broadways and Flying Dutchman FULL of snow. Surprisingly stable snow in Lambs Slide, but deep. Most of the gully I sank in 12 to 30 inches. A bit slabby on top in places, but "lightweight" slab and seemed very stable after several days without snow. (Of course a small amount of new snow fell that afternoon but just added a little sluff on top.)

Great snow climbing considering such snow amounts would normally create a bit more avalanche danger.

IRON GATES route was nearly snow-free, at least viewed from below. Very surprising considering the HEAVY snows in the couloirs below Loft/Beaver/Diamond.

***SEE MY 2ND COPY OF PEAK CONDITIONS FOR 8 MORE PHOTOS.*** 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 1/22/2017, By: unclegar
Info: Longs Peak East Trail. Also went to Chasm Jct. The lower trail had obvious boot tracks as well as snowshoe tracks. I used snowshoes. Took the winter cutoff and once above treeline I barely punched through but there was a trail of tracks next to me most of the time. I took a little more direct route. It was cold enough that I mostly stayed on top of the snow if I walked next to the herd trail. Very cold near Chasm Jct. but it was also getting close to dusk. Water line froze, phone quit, GPS quit. Good thing I was just going for some exercise. 

Route: Longs Peak Trail
Posted On: 1/7/2017, By: d_baker
Info: Hiked as far as Chasm Lake junction. Trail to there is trenched out since recent storm. 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 1/1/2017, By: thatclimberguy
Info: Summited the Keyhole route today. Besides some high wind gusts, the route is in good condition. Solid trench thru treeline. Patchy/avoidable windblown snow after treeline to the keyhole. Trough has the most snow as usual, have good footwear.

I did summit in microspikes after the keyhole, but legit Crampons are best after that, be careful. Ice Axe would be helpful after the keyhole, but if you only ave trekking poles, that'd probably be fine for present conditions. Narrows and Homestretch have very little snow night now :) 

Route: Keplinger Couloir
Posted On: 12/30/2016, By: justiner
Info: From Wild Basin, 3 of us went out and established a trench on trail from the TH to ~ 1/2 mile to Sandbeach Lake, where we moved off trail. That trench should be around for a few days, until out of treeline, where the wind will obliterate it. Kep. is very dry, with only patches of snow. Kicking down rocks is a danger. Top of Keps to Homestretch has a few small snowfields, which will be your greatest objective dangers, as they're just windblown slabs sticking to the rocks. Homestretch is relatively snow/ice free and requires no additional equipment to get up/down. Prepare for a long day.

If you find a lone snowshoe, well, that's mine. Beer upon its return! :)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOoJUIqBrqu/ 

Route: Keyhole Route
Posted On: 11/26/2016, By: Zak Mcracken
Info: Similar to the last conditions report.

Extremely mild day on Longs. Didn't see a single person from after the fork at Chasm Lake until below the Keyhole on the way down.
Windy in the boulder field below the Keyhole, then very little wind on route until the summit. Snow and a few wind slabs building up on the ledges -- slabs can be avoided. Trough is mixed rock and hard snow, slightly slightly softer on the way down -- crampons were very useful. Narrows and homestretch largely free of snow that can be totally avoided, or is in flat sections where it doesn't matter.