Longs Peak (4,345 m), Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado

PanShiBo

On Aug-27 2017 two of us climbed Longs Peak (4,345 m), the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

PHOTO: East face of Longs Peak, taken from Twin Sisters Mountain.

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The standard route on Longs is called the Keyhole route and it is usually done as a very long dayhike. Many, many inexperienced and out-of-shape climbers start out early in the morning and are turned back by altitude sickness, fatigue, steep rock, and bad weather. The route, while non-technical when no snow is present, is still very steep and demanding. It corkscrews around the mountain, finding the path of least resistance, but still clambers up steep rock gullies and rock-hops across endless talus.

PHOTO: Longs Peak as seen from the summit of Mount Lady Washington.

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The Keyhole route on Longs, albeit sustained, is graded YDS class 3,  so we decided to save on weight and left our emergency 30m twin climbing rope in the car. No more such a mistake. The route is so popular, and as such, like in Squamish, the rock is polished by many climbers gone by and naturally is very smooth. If it rains, it would be very difficult to downlimb. (There have been at least 60 fatalities on Longs, this year is no exception).

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Longs Peak was our 16th 14'er (peak higher than 14,000ft / 4,267m)

1        Mount Rainier        14,411        USA-WA
2        Mount Belford        14,197        USA-CO
3        Mount Elbert        14,433        USA-CO
4        Mount Massive        14,421        USA-CO
5        Mount Harvard        14,420        USA-CO
6        Mount Bierstadt        14,060        USA-CO
7        Mount of the Holy Cross        14,005        USA-CO
8        Mount Shasta        14,162        USA-CA
9        Mount Russell        14,088        USA-CA
10        Mount Russell-East Peak        14,042        USA-CA
11        Mount Whitney        14,495        USA-CA
12        Keeler Needle        14,239        USA-CA
13        Crooks Peak        14,173        USA-CA
14        Mount Muir        14,012        USA-CA
15        Mount Langley        14,026        USA-CA
16        Longs Peak        14,255        USA-CO

PHOTO: At the Keyhole, Longs Peak, CO

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TRIP'S STATISTICS

Style: 单攻
Grade: YDS class 3
Peaks climbed: Longs Peak (4,345m), Storm Peak (4,062m), Mount Lady Washington (4,048m)
Distance: 25km
Elevation Gain: 2,100m
Time: 12h30m

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Longs Peak became 15th National Park High Point that we climbed together. 8)

1. Mount Rainier (4392m) - Mount Rainier National Park, United States
2. Mount Whitney (4419m) - Sequoia National Park, United States
3. Mount Scott (2722m) - Crater Lake National Park, United States
4. Telescope Peak (3367m) - Death Valley National Park, United States
5. Guadalupe Peak (2667m) - Guadalupe Mountains National Park , United States
6. Quail Mountain (1772m) - Joshua Tree National Park, United States
7. Rainbow Point (2778m) - Bryce Canyon National Park, United States
8. Pilot Rock (1900m) - Petrified Forest National Park, United States
9. Elephant Butte (1723m) - Arches National Park, United States
10. Qixing Shan (1120m) - Yangminshan Guojia Gongyuan, Taiwan
11. Yushan (3952m) - Yushan Guojia Gongyuan, Taiwan
12. Syue Shan (3886m) - Shei-Pa National Park, Taiwan
13. Fuji-san (3776m) - Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan
14. Mount Blakiston (2932m) - Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada
15. Longs Peak (4345m) - Rocky Mountain National Park, United States

lulululu

科罗拉多州山友的分享 :D

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Trivia: More than 50% of those who attempt Longs don’t reach the summit.

Rocky Mountain National Park statistics report an average of 15,000 people attempting to ascend Longs per year (by all of its various routes). Recent records show about a 47% successful summit rate. Factors such as weather, late starts and underestimating the physical fitness needed for the hike all play into this number.

PHOTO: East face of Longs Peak. Impressive.


California Climbers' Salute at the summit of Longs Peak, CO


This section of The Keyhole route is called "Home Stretch" - a walk off when the rock is dry, and is very difficult when it is wet.

vera

The Keyhole


The "Home Run"


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