The Climb, Colorado’s Longs Peak 14,259' Elev.

View of Colorado's Longs Peak from just outside Rocky National Park east side

My friend, Mary Ann and I watched the weather forecast for a couple days before we decided on our best day to attempt Longs Peak.
At 3:00 am we arrived at the Longs Peak Trailhead and parked in one of the last parking spots. From the Longs Peak Trailhead we started our hike with headlamps on for the first few hours. As we hiked in the dark you could see groups of hiker headlamps ahead of us as they worked their way up the trail. I was surprised at how many people were attempting the climb, probably because this was going to be the best weather day that week. Just as the sun was coming up, at about 6 miles, we made it to what is called "The Boulder Field” where there are some campsites. We watched the sunrise on Longs Peak and what is called "The Keyhole". From there we made the climbed to "The Keyhole" and through to the other side. Now from the Keyhole it gets much more difficult where you have to follow bulls-eyes painted on the rocks. Here starts a traverse across a steep ledge system to what is called “The Trough” then ascend “The Trough” to another ledge system called “The Narrows” all over granite rocks with steep drop offs. The final scramble to the summit is called “The Homestretch”. From the Keyhole it took me two hours to climb 1.6 miles to the summit and I felt like I was passing everyone. Made it to the summit at 9:15 am and then spent an hour on the top. Mary Ann stopped just beyond the Keyhole and decided it was too scary for her to continue. I met Mary Ann on my way back down at the Boulder Field, where she had been waiting for me. Thunder clouds had been building ever since I left the summit and was threating the last few miles back to the trailhead. We made it back to the car at 3:15 pm and just before we had thunder storms.
So it took me about 12 hours round trip with a whole hour spent on the summit.
This was the second scariest climb I've ever done (#1Yosemite’s Half Dome.) Another Awesome Adventure!!

View of Longs Peak at first light

First light looking east

Made it to "The Boulder field"

Mary Ann and I

Sunrise on Longs Peak and the Keyhole in the saddle from the Boulder Field

Sunrise on Longs Peak

Sunrise on "The Keyhole"

Climbing to "The Keyhole"

The Agnes Vaile Shelter, which was built as a memorial after Ms. Vaile died in this area shortly after becoming the first woman to climb Longs Peak in the winter. While making her decent on January 25th 1925, Vaile slipped and fall about 150 feet. Spent with fatigue, Vaile insisted she needed a short nap, but froze to death before her hiking partner could bring back help.
Today the memorial serves as a refuge for hikers in need.