This is what you need to bring: One of the most dangerous things a person can carry with them on a mountain is overconfidence. Related content: The 9 Best Hikes near Leadville, Colorado. Standard Route: East Slopes. A crowded mountain alongside weather continually increasing is a dangerous situation. Longs Peak is a true icon of Colorado. It varies greatly and is extremely unreliable. Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. This stubbornness is cause for consequence, and all of it comes to a head when the mountain is overpopulated and the route gets bottlenecked. If I'm not training for my next 100 mile trail race then you can probably find me exploring a new trail with my family. Pikes Peak. Don’t climb a mountain unless you are ready. Ratings are subjective and influenced by rapidly changing conditions that should be anticipated in the high alpine terrain of Longs Peak. Kaiti Kinshella is a Spanish teacher and freelance writer who lives, works, and plays in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Many of the deaths are the result of falling, lightning, hypothermia, and exhaustion. Longs Peak is the northernmost fourteener in the Rocky Mountains and the highest point in Boulder County and Rocky Mountain National Park. Be just as focused and alert, or even more so, on the way down! Your email address will not be published. It is the 14th highest mountain in Colorado at 14,259' and one of the most popular 14ers. The first time someone steps into a harness and is tied to a rope that is meant to support their life, their heart rate will most likely rise because they are experiencing the fear of falling. Longs Peak. If you have a bad feeling in your stomach that you can’t shake, turn around. The Keyhole rock formation, six miles from the Longs Peak Trailhead, is an ideal spot to stop and assess how you and other members of your group are feeling. What to Bring: Sent with trip confirmation. And yet, they are totally preventable. The Narrows section is an exposed ledge that occurs around 6.5 miles into the hike. By the end of the day together, we would have easily adopted Tamara into our family. Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. A lot of food and snacks (energy bars, sweets, jerky, granola, a sandwich, etc). What are the symptoms of high altitude sickness? It is a good idea to do some easier fourteeners (like Grays and Torreys) before trying Longs. I know I should carry common sense, what else should I carry in my pack? Length 14.8 miElevation gain 5039 ftRoute type Out & back The symptoms of altitude sickness include: a dull to throbbing headache, loss of appetite, sick to your stomach or nausea, vomiting, and feeling weak or dizzy. Of course, thunderstorms have been known to appear early in the day as well! The nearest city is Estes Park and major airport is Denver International. For a shorter trip that's also not too exposed, check out the Crags route. How have people been injured or killed on the Keyhole Route? These are the real risks of the mountain. An under prepared or overconfident person doesn’t look at the weather report the night before and the morning of. Like, almost impossible. (970) 586-1206 Always, always, always get up early to hike Longs. Rather, it is human error that is the greatest risk one faces on Longs: overpopulation, under-preparedness, and overconfidence are the real problems that one needs to look out for when climbing the mountain, in both themselves and other people. It is important to watch for these symptoms in yourself as well as others in your group. The actual Keyhole Route begins after the Boulder Field. Perhaps the most prominent risk is human error. In Conclusion – Longs Peak is a Colorado classic. Upon reading this, it can be easy to blame the deaths on perceived risk: heights (of course), weather, and length of the route. Check out the Keyhole Route brochure which describes the different sections of the Keyhole Route starting at the Boulder Field and ending at the summit with brief text and photos. Remember to enjoy the experience along the way. Her guilty pleasure is food writing, because for her there is nothing more enjoyable than a delectable meal. Too much focus on the summit can lead to poor decisions! I am sure that when the artist decided to depict Longs on the quarter, they were imagining that Longs represents the beauty of our Centennial State and the adventurous spirit of its residents. Look for patterns in the current weather and changes in the weather predictions. No one plans to get hurt or killed on Longs Peak. There are so many factors that go into preparing oneself for a mountain like Longs. Longs is, well, long. Increased risk factors include: weather, eventual darkness, and a decline in the ability to see others on the route or to successfully navigate in the late afternoon light. It looks imposing from every side, but the “Keyhole” notch allows passage to the summit. Longs Peak is a high and prominent mountain in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. On Longs, there are many exposed and steep sections that people obsess over because they are afraid of heights and think that they will fall off of the mountain. Once you are on the narrows, you will be completely exposed on the south side with a drop below you that could make anyone feel light headed. This is not a “walk in the park.” This is much more than a hike. DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5 . How Much Water Should I Carry Backpacking? However, the difficulty of this route is often underestimated. If symptoms develop, don’t wait to turn around. Distance: 26 miles. Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. Longs Peak has more routes than any other mountain in the country – over 120, from exposed scrambles to cutting-edge difficulty, and pure rock to ice and mixed climbs. Learn more about me here. People are falling off Longs Peak. It is common to see hundreds of people along the route and on the summit. Our professional guides will safely lead you on this extremely difficult hike. There are many spectacular ways to summit Long's Peak, and this description highlights the "standard" Keyhole Route. Safety is your responsibility and our concern. Check the weather daily, up to a week before you climb and the morning of. For the first six miles, there is a clear, dirt trail that leads you directly to the boulder field just before the Keyhole. In fact, as of January 2018, 67 deaths have been recorded on Longs Peak, according to data collected by Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the Keyhole route there are numerous areas where an un-roped fall can be fatal. Lots of water - take and drink plenty of fluids such as water or sports drinks, a minimum of 3 to 4 quarts. Summit fever is dangerous. Let me be clear here - Longs Peak is probably not a good mountain for the novice hiker or climber. The actual loft area that gives this route its name is the wide-open flat plateau that separates Mt. It's close proximity to Denver and its pure majesty make it the most popular climbing mountain in the state. If you’re considering the trek to the top, you certainly have some careful planning ahead. Longs Peak is the only (“14er”) peak above 14,000 feet located with Rocky Mountain National Park. The last 1.5 miles is by far the most difficult, exposed and hazardous portion of the route. In spite of the fact that many people end up worrying about problems on Longs that most likely won’t lead to their death, there have been many deaths on Longs. This one is easy. Although you may encounter other people along the route, this in no way substitutes for travelling with others who can share in the assessment and decision making responsibilities. Note: While this is a Class 1 climb, it's quite long at 26 miles. If, for any reason, something indicates that you should turn around, you need to do so. Our goal is to provide the best available information that will assist in determining if, when and how you may choose to climb this mountain. Pack the appropriate gear in order to avoid hypothermia, exhaustion, and injury. How physically fit you are plays no role in whether you get altitude sickness. When is the best time of year to try to climb the Keyhole Route? A slip, trip or fall could be fatal. There is no “trail” to the summit of Longs Peak. However, in spite of the Narrows’ reputation, it is actually a straightforward traverse across a ledge that is at least 5 feet wide, with plenty of hand holds and some rock protection on the exposed side. 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