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Peak(s):  Longs Peak  -  14,259 feet
Date Posted:  08/21/2008
Modified:  08/24/2008
Date Climbed:   08/12/2008
Author:  IowaGuy
 Longs Peak - Boulderfield Camping & Keyhole route   

Accomplishment of our lifetime... My two teenage daughters and I have prepared for this trip from Iowa's lowlands to Rocky Mountain National Park for over a year now. Camped in the lower sites in RMNP the first night. When we arrived at the LP ranger's station on Sunday we were warned to seriously reconsider spending two nights at the Boulderfield due to some intense storms coming in. We notched down our adrenalin and proceeded to hike up the majority of Estes Cone, coming back in the rain and lightning, which helped us justify our decision. After another night in the lower campgrounds, and after lots of animal viewing which included a black bear, we took off for the Boulderfield around 9:30 a.m. The weather was perfect and our packs were heavy. There were times I wondered if we had enough energy in us to have done just a day hike but I remembered that I had heard from others about the Boulderfield camping experience. When did I get my permit you ask? I called the first week of March (many asked while we were there).

The hike to the Boulderfield was beautiful, and we met many great people along the way, including the Martins. As you leave the treeline you get a larger sense of the landscape and how much farther you have to hike. We dragged our feet to that lunar landscape campground around 3:30; completely and I mean completely exhausted. Many hikers were still coming down the mountain and they looked wiped out, with many miles to go. Since there were no afternoon storms we thought it best to muster up enough energy to make camp and get some food prepared. The three person North Face bomb shelter just barely fit inside the rock walls of our site. I'm glad most of the sites are flat with smooth beds. We ate, talked with our neighbors and prepped for the upcoming hike/climb. One of our neighbors was named Kathy, who was Agnes Vaille's great-niece. The stories about Agnes Vaille were fascinating and gave a new perspective to the trip. Agnes father had built the stone shelter by the Keyhole in memory of her many decades ago. I finally met someone who camped in the Boulderfield the prior night and the weather lived up to the nasty forecast. Unfortunately we were so tired that we missed the overnight meteor shower. Despite a cold night with some big wind gusts, camping at 12,760' was fascinating and worth every bit of effort. There are only 9-sites and you must have the backcountry permit, which is ordered in the spring. As for water, the stream flows under the boulders and you can hear it quite easily. Sometimes it can be hard to find a location to fill up your water bottles. It is unlike any other camping I've ever had. Note: Use the marmot boxes!

Longs Peak Trailhead. Let them know you're leaving...
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Chasm Junction view
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Spacious accomodations
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In the early morning hours I used the solar privy, which gave me a great view down the trail to witness the Christmas light look of all the hikers coming up the mountain. At 6:30 the three of us and our neighbor Alec took off for the summit. The sun was strong by the Keyhole at 7:00 and the wind was ripping through it. We briefly looked in the stone hut and pushed through to the backside. Our rest stop was part way across the Ledges so the wind was slower. This was our first look at the jaw dropping view. My daughters were swift and focused as we moved across the rock. What made this more difficult for me was knowing that Tessa was recovering from an evening headache and loss of appetite. From this point on many people were asking their ages and congratulating them on their effort.

Through the Keyhole. Stopped to take in the exposure.
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Like many other trip reports, there were climbs over and around boulders on the Ledges and definitely at the top of the Trough. Every so often we came across some ice from the prior night's storm. Once we scaled the never ending Trough, the view over the next ridge was eye popping and there was sun on the rock. We were still stopping to let our heart rate slow down, but it gave the best chance to view the scenery. I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. The Narrows were intense but the climb up the Homestretch was more difficult. This was due to the confidence of having the sun on the rock but still knowing you could slip on the ice veins here and there. However we knew the top was close, and I was surprised all of us made it to this point. So the adrenalin was flowing and it pushed us to the summit.

The everlasting climb up the Trough
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Trekking across the Narrows
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Finally the Homestretch...
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9:15 a.m.: Tessa, Sierra and I reached the summit and the wind was calm and the skies were clear and blue. We enjoyed the moment, signed the log book and looked to the north to Estes Park and the east to the lakes below. The views were remarkable! We finished off most of our snacks and took off on the return trip around 10:00. While my heart and lungs were not pounding any more, the fear of falling increased. Tessa was doing better and Sierra took off with Alec to lead the way. Our timing was good as the parade of hikers were mostly heading down now. Down climbing required a lot of seat crawling and focusing on ice patches. I slipped on the Trough but was able to stop on a foot hold. We regrouped on the narrow section of the Ledges and then pushed through the Keyhole to take a break in the stone shelter. This gave us a chance to realize how hungry we were and ready to push on to the Boulderfield campsite. I was getting concerned about our time as I figured we would arrive there at 12:30, which we did. We had enough energy to cook some packets of delectable backpacker food and tear down our campsite. Saying goodbye to our neighbors and the Martins, we finally hit the trail at 2:30. The route on the backside of Mt. Lady Washington had an elk herd just below the trail and the chipmunks at Chasm Junction were spunky as ever. By the time we were at the lower bridge, I found out that the guy behind me knew a friend of mine back in Iowa; always good for trail conversation. After the final death march, we arrived at the trailhead by 6:30, ready for some in-town fast food and a chance to reflect on a great camping trip and climb to the top. Wow, that backpack was getting heavier by the footstep near the end.

The Boulderfield campsites from the Peak, using 12x zoom. Note the solar privies and hitching posts.
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Photo evidence we made it
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Estes Park and the trail around Mt. Lady Washington
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Back across the Narrows
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Honestly, I had serious doubts of whether we would summit after crossing the backside of the mountain, but I'm glad we pushed on. You can do it too if you just keep moving, be prepared for whatever could happen, and keep moving (need to emphasize). Having heard stories about hikers the prior week becoming stranded because they traveled too light and unprepared raises concerns about how many people the rangers have to care for on this mountain. Pack smart and ask for assistance before you hit the trail.

I dedicate this to my father who shared his fascination with the Rockies with me at an early age, and to my two teenage daughters, Tessa and Sierra, who amazed me every hour of this trip. It was the best father, daughter, daughter experience and challenge I could imagine us taking. Longs Peak was our first 14er, but not our last.

The drive out on Highway 7...
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Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
KirkT
User
Great to see..
8/21/2008 1:36pm
families climbing together. The 2 peaks I summited with my 10-year old daughter are among the fondest memories I have with her in Colorado. Keep those memories forever, they truly are precious. Congrats.

Kirk


Presto
User
Touched my heart!
8/21/2008 2:12pm
What a great trip report! Thanks so much for sharing your family‘s special experience with all of us. Happy trails!


krz2fer
User
Great!
8/21/2008 3:53pm
I‘m glad you and the ladies made it up. It‘s great to see that it meant so much to the family. You made it up and experienced it all together.. and that has to be a great feeling!


LoneStar
User
Top Notch!
8/23/2008 2:52am
Great job! As a father of two girls (who are more into horses than hiking ... so they might go as far as the hitching post) I applaude you for your commitment to make this trip with your girls. Some friends and I got turned back by the snow a few days after your trip, so glad this worked out for y‘all.


IowaGuy
User
Thank you all.
8/23/2008 11:55pm
We hiked some 500‘ bluffs and boulders in Wisconsin as training, but nothing is like Longs up close and personal. It was an amazing time with my daughters and I can‘t believe it is over. Time to plan another.



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