Longs Peak Trip Report 09/17/2012

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Longs Peak - 14,259 feet
Date Posted	09/17/2012
Date Climbed	09/15/2012
Author	Brimstone10

Longs Peak 9.15.20.12
This past saturday I went up longs peak for the first time with two friends. We started our hike on Saturday 9.15.12 at 11:30am with the Boulder Field as our destination for the night. We made it to the Chasm Lake Junction at around 3:00pm. Longs Peak Chasm Lake Junction We continued on and finally reached the Boulder Field around 4:15pm where we setup the tent, ate some dinner and talked with a few of the other campers for a while before going to bed. When we woke up the next morning the awesome sight of the Alpen Glow awaited us while we ate breakfast and began to prepare to head to the summit. Alpen glow as seen from our site in the Boulder Field After breakfast, we began our ascent towards the keyhole at 7:30am and stopped at the small hut to strip some layers as it was heating up fast. Climbing towards the Keyhole From there we crossed over the keyhole and entered The Ledges which looked a lot worse in the pictures online Traversing the ledges The Ledges After making it through The Ledges it was time to tackle The Trough which had a little snow and ice in places, but nothing that wasn't avoidable. This part was a little more strenuous and dangerous due to the loose rocks sliding around from climbers above us. The hardest part of this climb was getting up and over the large stone at the top of The Trough Looking down the Trough We then crossed into The Narrows which really weren't too bad. I thought the chockstone that needs to be crossed to continue would be harder, but by simply sliding behind it, it was no big deal. At the Chockstone on the Narrows Once through The Narrows, we hit The Homestretch where a few other groups were. Looking up the Homestretch Me on the Homestretch . We were able to scramble up The Homestretch without any issues or traffic jams and reach the summit around 9:15am. Me on the Summit It was a great climb and we had a prefect day and night for it. It was a little windy at The Boulder Field during the night and the next morning but all in all it was a perfect day for the climb. The down climb wasn't too bad as long as you stay low and keep at least 3 points of contact. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Longs Peak 9.15.20.12

This past saturday I went up longs peak for the first time with two friends. We started our hike on Saturday 9.15.12 at 11:30am with the Boulder Field as our destination for the night. We made it to the Chasm Lake Junction at around 3:00pm.

We continued on and finally reached the Boulder Field around 4:15pm where we setup the tent, ate some dinner and talked with a few of the other campers for a while before going to bed. When we woke up the next morning the awesome sight of the Alpen Glow awaited us while we ate breakfast and began to prepare to head to the summit.

Alpen glow as seen from our site in the Boulder Field

After breakfast, we began our ascent towards the keyhole at 7:30am and stopped at the small hut to strip some layers as it was heating up fast.

From there we crossed over the keyhole and entered The Ledges which looked a lot worse in the pictures online

After making it through The Ledges it was time to tackle The Trough which had a little snow and ice in places, but nothing that wasn't avoidable. This part was a little more strenuous and dangerous due to the loose rocks sliding around from climbers above us. The hardest part of this climb was getting up and over the large stone at the top of The Trough

We then crossed into The Narrows which really weren't too bad. I thought the chockstone that needs to be crossed to continue would be harder, but by simply sliding behind it, it was no big deal.

Once through The Narrows, we hit The Homestretch where a few other groups were.

.

We were able to scramble up The Homestretch without any issues or traffic jams and reach the summit around 9:15am.

It was a great climb and we had a prefect day and night for it. It was a little windy at The Boulder Field during the night and the next morning but all in all it was a perfect day for the climb. The down climb wasn't too bad as long as you stay low and keep at least 3 points of contact.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

zephyr_pelicante	Nice 9/17/2012 4:53pm congrats on your first time, this info is helpful
travelgirl	Yes, a magnificent day for a good climb! 9/17/2012 8:16pm Congrats with your trip. Nice pics and good weather. We saw you changing in the Agnes Vaille cabin and you caught us on pic #3 :-) I guess you were a lot faster at summiting than we were. It took us 3 hours from our tent... Cheers, The blond Dane with the reindeer cushion
Winter8000m	Nice work! 9/17/2012 10:23pm Looks like they got barely any snow up high on Longs....Any snow on the East face? Doesn't look like it. Great job!
Mindy	Welcome to Colorado 9/18/2012 12:24pm Congratulations on this accomplishment. See you both in the winter!

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