I camped in Longs Peak boulder field on early spring while climbing the cable route on the north face and there were winds just tearing down off the mountain peak at night when things started cooling down that had to be close to 100 mph, they knocked me down when trying to pee and totally shredded a 4-pole Sierra Design tent ripping the rain fly in half & bending the poles. I have been through 4 hurricanes and never got knocked off my feet. Spent the rest of the night in a Mylar emergency blanket & trash sack. It was epic, fun to reminisce about now years later but not fun at all going through it back then.
I climbed All Mixed Up on Thatchtop with a friend, many years ago. It was early winter, so the lakes were frozen. Man, the wind was something else that day. There were some amazing photos of the Keyboard taken, that's for sure. The spin drift was blinding at times. On the last pitch of the climb we were sucking in, close as we could to the wall so as not to get blown off. It was pretty wild. I got blown from my feet 3 times crossing Mills Lake on the way out! We were supposed to be back by the time we finally got to my truck. I called home to a panicked wife who was about to call S&R after seeing reports of 90mph gusts in Estes! Ah, type II fun... I'm starting to pay for all of that fun at this point, sadly.
I saw a guy die there the summer of 2022. He got caught up there in a storm and the next day they found him dead on the mountain. This was a warm summer day too. Had to helicopter his body off the mountain.
Really excellent video of the Keyhole Route, I've watched a lot of these vids and yours is among the best. The way back down from the summit to the keyhole seems scarier than the way up.
Thank you! I’d say the Homestretch is harder on the way down, especially if it’s at all wet. The Narrows and Ledges are about the same in either direction. The hardest part is the Trough, lots of loose rocks. Always keep a close eye on the weather, notice how fast it changed, sunny on the Narrows, and by the time I was at the Boulder Field there was some light snow and even some thunder.
Thank you! That’s awesome! You should get up there and climb it again, so much fun. I climbed it last weekend and the conditions were great. Started at 2:30 in the afternoon so I had the mountain to myself after the Boulderfield. Just have to be careful about thunderstorms.
If I was younger I'd want to go do this, but since I can't I'd like to say thank you for taking me on your adventure! So awesome!Stay safe in all you do, mayGod bless you always.
Longs Peak is a fairly benign peak in dry weather. It becomes more treacherous in shoulder seasons when people underestimate the conditions and are unprepared when weather moves in.
I climbed this in the fog, everything was wet, it was freezing and starting to ice up, way back in 1979. When I got to the top, there was a glider pilot strafing the top of the mountain, in total fog conditions, swooping down out of the clouds and then disappearing again. It was astounding. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any of these incredible views because of the fog. Thanks for sharing!
If you are not from CO, I suggest this: Camp at the trailhead. Leave early. Camp at the boulder field. Summit. Descend. Allows acclimatization time and lets it be a fun summit, instead of a grueling push to get up and down before the Pm storms come.
Parking at the trailhead is limited. We camped at Longs Peak Campground near the trailhead (9400') and started our hike around 3am in order to get to the Boulder Field by sunrise (beautiful sight). An early start by flashlight is important unless you are a very fast hiker because you need to be back down below the tree line before the afternoon thunderstorms arrive (common). For me, the tree line is about three hours below the summit. So start early and have fun not worrying about the possible lightning strikes.
Great to see the entire route. My brother-in-law and I did this climb in 1978 and the video brings back many memories. Your comment is correct, the camera does not show the real steepness. My rule is to be off the summit by noon. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for your video. Brings back good memories. I climbed Long's back in Sept of 1980, as an 18 y/o. It was a challenge for sure. I'll be making another attempt with my youngest son in a month. We've both been training for the past year, so I'm hoping that I can do it again as a 62 y/o. Wish me luck!
I’ve lived in estes park for all my life outside of college, so 30 years or so. I’ve never been on longs before. Ever. This video truly inspired me, thank you for sharing!
Thanks, happy you enjoyed it! Longs is a fun one to climb! I love it up in Estes, so beautiful, must be nice living there! We have been in Longmont for 24 years.
Did this in Aug. 2010. Awesome hike. Despite the warnings of difficulty and danger, I saw lots of kids and families, most likely locals that think nothing of an ordinary afternoon jaunt in the mountains. Poking my head through the keyhole was like stepping through a portal into another world. The weather was sunny and calm on the approach side, then windy on the slope side. The most daunting part for me was looking up the Trough and seeing the tiny people at the top. That is a long-@ss scramble. The Homestretch weeded out a lot of reluctant hikers, but didn't bother me that much. Just go slow and be sure of your footing. Oddly, I don't remember feeling the altitude as I do on Whitney.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! Sounds like a great trip. That’s exactly how I felt the first time I first saw the Keyhole. It’s fun taking people hiking up there and seeing their expression the first time they look over the edge. It’s a worthwhile hike in itself.
Thanks for sharing and the brevity of each segment. This walkthrough is useful for the ones planning a trip there, but also for us , people that is just wondering how the terrain is like. A nice feature to have in this video would be an introductory map showing where the mountain/ range is located and a simple map showing the route.
@@AustinsADV You seem so skilled and calm at moving through a tough climb and some scary heights and ledges. But this was beautiful to see. I’m impressed as 14,000 feet has to leave you breathless (in more ways than one)! Beautiful camera work. I was worried about you getting down before storm moved in.
Thanks, I’ve been up this a bunch of times before so I’m kind of used to it now, even though iI don’t really like heights. People often ask me what it’s like or if it’s scary, so here’s a video I can point them to. I’m usually pretty good at reading the weather, but the storm that developed so quickly at the end kind of surprised me, hope people pay attention to that part. It’s no place to be when there is lightning.
Climbed and led Cheley Camps groups up this in 1978.. Bunch of teenagers with me on the summit, with us having the summit nearly to ourselves. We would up race the home stretch to race to the top back then.
Great video. Brought back fond memories of our ascent in the 1990's. Recommend camping overnight in the Boulder Field. Awesome stars at night. Hiked to get view of the East Face of Long's at sunrise and saw the brief "alpen glow". Incredible experience!
Hi. Very nicely done - best view of this climb I've seen. You did a great job of filming as well as narration. Thankful you were blessed with a safe time. At one time, II thought about this. At 71 now, I'll refer to good folks and videos like you. God Bless!
Hey, thanks so much for the kind words, happy you liked it. Sometimes when I’m out hiking, other hikers ask about Longs, so I just wanted to show what to expect. God Bless!
Great video, excellent views and description of the route from Keyhole. I thought Capitol Peak was the deadliest till I double checked and you're right. Thanks.
Thanks! I’d say Capital is more dangerous with the Knife Edge and exposure on both sides. Longs is more deadly because so many people attempt to climb it and many are not well prepared.
Thanks! Awesome that you climbed it! I think the exposure looks kind of scary as you get past the Keyhole but you kind of acclimate to it as you go. At least that’s my experience as someone that doesn’t really like heights.
AMAZING footage!! That’s so damn cool, fascinated with the 14ers!! I attempted Mt Yale twice but have yet to summit one successfully!! Thank you for sharing!
I climbed Long's years ago when I was 50 years old. Round trip took about 9 hours. The most difficult area for me was getting around and over the boulders at the top of the trough. Peak can be dangerous due to the large number of people on the hike, including lot's of people attempting the first fourteener, I saw a guy wearing sandals and another wearing Chuck Tayor All Stars. Takes all kinds.
Very cool! That big boulder at the top of the Trough can be challenging, not much to hold on to. Not many people on the day I made this video, much more crowded on a summer weekend. Thanks for watching!
Did this back in 2016 and had a permit to camp in the boulder field which was awesome. Incredibly windy which sometimes you don’t feel until you peak through the keyhole which was like walking into a wind tunnel the day we hiked it. Most challenging part was getting from the trough to the narrows as it snowed a few inches early that season (sept) and the rocks were incredibly slick from snowmelt. Had to find a less appealing and more dangerous route as we kept slipping where you normally wedge yourself through that part which would’ve been simple had it not been for the slick rocks. All in all, super fun hike and just need to be incredibly present and should be just fine. The narrows can be terrifying for those scared of heights but I found it easy to comfortably grab the rocks facing the other direction and the path is wider than it looks if you just check out pictures. However, that derailed my friend due to his fears and I had to finish the narrows and homestretch solo which was incredibly peaceful as I was the only one on the summit that day. Summit is about the size of a football field made out of boulders, ha. Then comes the realization that you have to go back down 😂
Great story, thanks so much for sharing! The narrows can be pretty intimidating for those afraid of heights. I’ve hiking this with friends before that have stopped there.
We watched this the other day and forgot to comment! Greta hike Austin. Some of those rocky bits were a little sketchy ! Glad you made it mostly down before the storm
@@bobsonofstan4985 Thank you! If you like hiking and are visiting RMNP, it’s worth at least hiking to the Keyhole and checking it out. Well maintained trail most of the way.
I've passed by the trailhead 1000x over the years and seen the signs for Mills and the other lakes you've pointed out since I can remember. That is 100% not my kind of hike so I appreciate you pointing out the other lakes and shooting some great scenery. I always wondered what those lakes were like.
Thank you! If you are ever looking for a more moderate hike, Mills Lake is a good one, great views of Longs there. About 5 miles round trip and not too much elevation gain.
@@AustinsADV I think that I've hike virtually all of the easy to medium hikes in the park over the years. Probably the hardest one I did was Loch Vale. That's probably far too easy for you! haha
@@AustinsADV Of all of the places that you could have watched the eclipse from, why did you decide on Loch Vale? Just curious. It's been about 38 years since I did that hike with my mom. I remember being extremely nervous in a section where there was a significant drop off. Nothing like what you did on the keyhole hike, but it was enough that I never wanted to do the hike again.
Great video! I had the same issue with storms coming back down after the keyhole. I totally misjudged the amount of time it would take from the keyhole to the summit and back to that point. From that point there's only 1.5 miles to go and about 1200 ft of elevation to gain, how long could it take!? What I later found out is a good rule of thumb is it'll take 70% of the time it took you to get to the keyhole, as it will to get to the summit from the keyhole. I wanted to be well below treeline by 1:00 but I found myself just clearing the keyhole at 1:00 and storms rolled in....luckily they missed me, but I was surrounded by clouds and thunder off in the distance the entire way down.
@ I am a data nerd. After I climbed longs I dove into 200 strava segments ranging from super fast to really slow people and saw that 70% was a good rule of thumb that applied to everyone from slow to fast. Sure, that’s an average but it’s a good number to use for judging time. Some people I met at the keyhole told me that’s the halfway point, if you count 15-30 min on the summit for a break and pic taking, you’re probably not far off with the keyhole being the halfway point.
Good analysis. I was just looking at the timestamp on pics from my last Longs hike, and it was 3 hrs to the Keyhole, and 2 hours from the Keyhole to the summit. On the way down it took less than an hour from the summit back to the keyhole. Much faster going down.
@@AustinsADV Wish I could say the same going back down! I had a series of errors. I flew in the day before from Michigan and slept in Estes the night before. So zero acclimating which wasn't the smartest. I had stomach issues going up so I didn't feel like eating much so by the time I was back down thru the keyhole I was spent.....I felt like I had run a marathon by that point, then the storms rolled in just as I cleared the boulder field. Luckily they missed me but it was a bit concerning hearing thunder off in the distance every 5 minutes or so the entire way down next expecting to see a flash of lightening in front of me. I am not sure what I would have done had I known that 70% thing at the time cause I hit the keyhole at 6:30ish. The math would have told me turn around because storms were called for after 1 but it would have been so hard turning around at 6:30 AM.
@ That sounds rough being up there with stomach issues and no acclimating. At least you made it up to the Keyhole early. Storms up there are nothing to mess around with.
Go up Meeker. Sand Lake Trail 👣 then up ridge backside. Lady Washington gets you a great view of Longs face and Meeker. And it's higher than any mountain in Montana. Wyoming? Indian Peaks are the prettiest alpine area.
I need to go up Meeker sometime. Went up Lady Washington last weekend, great views of Longs and had the summit to myself. Love Indian Peaks Wilderness!
Been a few years since I have climbed a peak like that. Looks similar to those found in the Sierras. Some of the different sections scared me, especially those narrows. 😆
0:59. Ptarmigans, with the last of their winter plumage still holding on. The male's call sounds like a stick being dragged across a picket fence. I only just read that on Wikipedia, but I've heard the sound before. I wondered then WTH that was? Climbing at 13,000 feet and someone's dragging a stick across a picket fence.
Did this back in 2008. It was in August and we had a full moon. Lots of people on the trail that day and It took us 15 hrs. round trip. What a great accomplishment.
Really enjoyed this. I went to college in Colorado and climbed Long’s in June of 1983. The keyhole to the trough and the trough were still snow covered. The narrows ahhmazing. And that last 100 yards…the home stretch…yikes. Lift foot, kick into snow, set ice axe, repeat.
@@AustinsADV I laughed out loud when you said it wasn’t crowded. I saw one other person those two days. Hiked in the afternoon before and camped. Summited and descended the next day. How things have changed. Heck I did Sunshine and Redcloud in August of 1989 and saw only a handful of folks.
@stevefoster1511 That’s funny, I’ve done Longs before where there were so many people that it looked like I-25 traffic with all the headlamps. If you like low crowds, winter hiking is the way to go.
Really cool video! I’ve never seen this perspective, but I am blessed enough to look west every day and see this beautiful mountain in the distance living here in Longmont. I think I’ll skip this hike it’s pretty sketchy up at the top. My only 14er summit was Mount Bierstadt . Thanks for the content.
Thanks for the kind words, I’m in Longmont too, always looking up at the mountains looking forward to some fun on the weekend. I recommend giving Grays and Torreys a try sometime. Beautiful hike.
Just did this yesterday for the 3rd time, for me the last 4 miles on seemingly never ending trail when your exhausted from the elevatoon gain and lack of sleep is torture, but still worth the incredible experience scrambling the cliffs to the top
Got caught in a lightning storm once in the boulder field... scariest time of my life. Lightning literally striking the ground all around us and nowhere to hide.
Ahh The Trough, otherwise known as “Where knees go to die”. Also when I climbed, there was ice in the Homestretch, with non-confident climbers screaming they were going to die. Discovered a lovely class 3 scramble just to the left of the main route to go around them. It did not have any ice :)
I attempted this hike back in 2007. I had to turn around due to elevation sickness about halfway. Have not been back to RMNP since, overdue for a return.
@@AustinsADV elevations are tough for me I was born at sea level in keflavik Iceland and I live only 800 ft above sea level in Minneapolis also I just turned 60 but that's no excuse!
Ha. Funny how this popped up in my youtube feed. I must have passed you because I also hiked Longs on September 30, 2023! Got down below tree line right as that little unexpected t-cell moved in around 3pm.
Nice! That’s funny! It sure was a great day for the hike, not as crowded as usual. That t-cell sure developed fast, wasn’t expecting that when I was on the summit. Wonder how the experience was for those on still going up the trough as we were going down…
11:04 "...and it's all downhill from there." Actually, it's all downhill from everywhere 😉 Great vid, man. Earned a subscription and a like. Nice work.
@@AustinsADV I hear ya. Done about thirty 14ers in CO so far (I'm from a flat land, so I have to travel), but Longs is still on the to-do list. Perhaps next year.
Northern Colorado Longs Peak Veteran here. My best safety advice is: START the CLIMB EARLY, like 3am, so that you summit and return to Keyhole by noonish. This climb is 16 miles round trip, most of it slow paced. Those fluffy clouds you see forming about 8AM become horrendous ice ball blizzards if caught on upper stretches. pack three layers, including waterproof shells. P.S. In my years on that peak, I have pleaded with many young families (strong willed dad, nervous wife, kids --all in cotton sweat shirts and pants) where dad doesn't want to turn back, and later, rangers have to retrieve them to the stone hut at 10,000 feet and with others, try to keep their core temperature from dropping dangerously. You cannot extract yourself from the west slope quickly and the weather hit there first. Been there.
Man, I was planning to hike Longs this September 19th but after watching this Vid's footage post the keyhole, nah, I don't think so. I'm not from CO and not ready to die just yet...Looks scary.
I hike up above black lake just short of green lake. Looked up at longs from there. I dont think i have it in me to ever do it. Plenty of other hikes to do. Also have been to chasm lake. Someday i would like to see the keyhole and the boulder field. But if not, thats ok. I camp at hermit park every year in july, to escape the heat and humidity of Missouri.
Those lakes are great hikes. You should definitely hike to the Keyhole, it’s worth it even if you don’t go to the top. I used to live in Missouri and would do the same thing in the summer. I might do a Missouri trip this summer to bike the Katy Trail.
I just did chasm lake today it was gorgeous and awesome. Not ready to summit longs until my cardio is a bit better. Were you even winded!? lol 😂 however I’m in Midwest at sea level so I should take some time to acclimate too. Awesome vid though super simple to the point and helpful
Thanks! Chasm Lake is a great hike, how was the snowfield crossing? That can be kind of sketchy sometimes. The first time I climbed Longs I lived in the Midwest, saved it for the end of the trip so there was more time to acclimate.
Thanks! I would recommend being at the Boulder Field (6 miles) at around sunrise so depending on how fast you hike that’s probably a 3am departure from the trailhead. It’s all about avoiding the afternoon thunderstorms especially on the ledges past the Keyhole. Good luck with the climb, it’s so much fun!
I started at 4am, and emerged from treeline (10,500 ft) just in time to catch the orange rays of sunrise against the mountain top. I finished the hike around 6:30 or 7 pm. , while taking breaks for lunch, rest, and time on top.
THANK YOU for this video. It possibly saved a life! Well over 30 years ago my brother and I attempted to take the route you showed in this video. We had NO idea what we were doing, in retrospect! Made it to the boulder field campground the first day since we started later in the day than we should have. Our backpacks, tent and supplies in general were what you'd expect for novices! It's too embarrassing to detail here. The toilet at the boulder field was operational and memorable. I was happy you showed it in the video! A storm moved in that night, complete with thunder and lightening. We prayed to make it through. The morning brought a complete white-out! After watching your video, it was God's providence we had such a storm and decided to turn back! I still remember hearing the wind before it hit us. Everyone bent over and braced for the wind, then started hiking when it let up until we were finally below the tree line. Such a remarkable trip. I had tinkered with the idea of finishing that hike sometime in the next couple years. But, I'm 70 now and thanks to your enlightenment, I think I'll just be satisfied with the memories of our first trip! LOL!
Wow, what an interesting story! Thanks so much for sharing! Weather can change everything, I had pretty optimal conditions in this video. Imagine being on the Narrows when a storm moves in.
@@AustinsADV That would be life-threatening for sure! I showed your video to my wife. She asked if we knew what we were climbing! Of course we didn’t. This was pre-Internet days. I took a mini tape recorder along. The two tapes I recorded are priceless now. Hilarious memories.
@NoBite2 That’s awesome that you were able to document it, it’s fun looking back at that stuff. I have a lot of fun memories of Longs, taking friends up it over the years, sometimes successful other times not. It’s usually the entry to the Narrows that scares them, turned back due to weather before too half way up the Trough. Wish I had videos back then, at least I have some pictures.
Thank you! That’s so cool, sounds like fun. I’ve always wanted to climb that route. I think the cables were removed in the 1970’s because of the Wilderness Act or something like that.
This was great, but I don't think you captured how painful the trough is. 😅 Been hiking Longs, most Summers, for a couple of decades, but skipped this year because life got in the way. It's pretty much my favorite 14er.
I was attempting it but I didn't acclimate myself properly before getting there and was sadly getting a bit of altitude sickness.. (I came from 338 asl in Texas direct to Denver and got my drive on - stupid).. I've done Elbert and a few other 14'rs, but Longs is by far more sketchy than anything I have climbed up on... Recognize a good bit of this in your video.. However, I do appreciate your commentary and seeing some things I definitely didn't see in person, and I don't recall on other videos I watched prior to my attempt.. (Still feel stupid to have not acclimated virtually at all - "That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!"). Going to sub out of respect and appreciation!
That’s too bad about the altitude sickness. Good decision turning back, maybe you can attempt it another time. I had altitude sickness before and I live here, it’s not fun. Thanks for watching and sharing your story!
Thanks! My go to app/website for weather forecasts is Windy. Originally found it for aviation planning. It’s free, has multiple weather models, and many layers. I typically use the ECMWF (Euro) model. The clouds and rain/snow that I saw on the hike were almost spot on with the models from the night before, other than the storm development starting about an hour later than forecast. I highly recommend checking it out.
I did Long back in the late eighty's with my father and both flat lander's. It looks just like it did when we did it. Nice video, what camera did you use. Cristal clear.
Longs Peak is dangerous and many people have died climbing the mountain. I don't keep track of how many, but its around 60-70. Most of its a hike until you pass the keyhole, then its considered a class 3 climb. The last half mile is not to be taken lightly. There are parts of it that if you fall, you will die. When I climbed it, I was decending homestretch. An inexperienced climber was behind me. I knew he lacked skill. I would have let him pass me but, there was nowhere I could. Parts of homestretch was icy so you had to pick your hand holds more carefully. I passed a part that was really sketchy, mainely because of the ice. I was very concerned about the 2 guys behind me and every alarm bell was ringing in me. I braced myself as the individual behind me got to that area. I pushed my leg into a crack that was wide enough to wedge part if it into it and found a spt to brace my foot on. I found a handhold for one of my hands and grabbed it tightly. There was no handhold the other hand. I secured myself the best I could. Sure enough, my instincts paid off. The guy behind me fell. He slid about 5 feet and grabbed a hold of me which inturn stopped his fall. I let him use my body for support until he was able to find an area that he could grab a hold off. Once he was secure, he let go of me. He asked me if I was ok and apologized. I in turn gave him a five word sentence, "Please do not kill me." But for the fact I had myself securely braced, he and I would have died that day. Those who say this mountain is not dangerous are fools. Thinking that way can cause your death, worse yet, someone elses. Conditions up there can change in a heartbeat. The best places to grab a hold of may be iced over. A storm can come in anytime. It can get windy where it was calm. Or, you can have someone behind you that has never travesed a mountain fall on you. The probability is low for death if you climb Longs Peak. Nevertheless, its still dangerous
Wow, that’s a crazy story, happy you were paying attention! I’ve been on the Homestretch when there is some ice, it’s scary. Another reason to avoid storms, maybe it will just be some rain, that still makes everything much more slippery, but even in the middle of summer there is the possibility of snow or hail accumulation. Just did Grays and Torreys this morning and there was fresh snow/hail accumulation at the trailhead.
I think I'd be good with just pokin my head up over the narrows. That would be high enough for me, I'm not surefooted enough to feel comfortable doing the narrows.
Thanks! I tried to present it in the most realistic way that I could. Route finding isn’t too hard because they have yellow and red markings painted on the rocks with the suggested route. Also, there are usually enough people that you can see where to go. Good luck if you decide to climb it!
Great vid Austin! The views are incredible and the trail looks a bit sketchy in places. Also, what kind of rock is it up there? Would approach shoes be advisable?
Thanks! Most of that rock is granite, it’s generally pretty grippy with the exception of a few places. I just wear a low top hiker, Merrell Moab 3 for this hike. I also have some Hoka Speed Goat 5’s that I really like. No need for an actual climbing shoe for the Keyhole route.
Most casual hikers stop at the Keyhole, which is like a popular hangout. The challenging part of the hike begins on the other side of the Keyhole. It is like 2 different worlds.
I did this hike to the top four times. The first time taught me that my body doesn't handle altitude very well. I got acute altitude sickness (vomited 4 times) starting at the top. Getting down was the only way to get better. After that experience, my doctor prescribed DIAMOX. It drains the brain of accumulated fluid due to not processing oxygen efficiently. It speeds up the altitude acclimation process. The last time I hiked to the top of Longs Peak, a blood vessel in my right eye burst while descending the home stretch. It was like looking through inky black fingers in front of my face. It cleared up within a half hour. My wife made it to the top 2 times. None of our four children have attempted Longs Peak because of the danger.
Definitely an unforgettable experience, happy you made it down safely! I climbed it again a week ago and tripped and fell on the ledges and sliced my thumb on a rock pretty bad, happy I had a first aid kit. First fall I’ve ever had on a hike.
I have always liked Merrell and Columbia hiking boots. My only criticism is hiking Long's Peak in a pair of NEW BOOTS! I always broke mine in over the space of a few weeks, wearing around the house for a few hours, then longer, finally on increasingly long easier hikes. Blister can turn a climb or a trek into a much less enjoyable experience. Otherwise a good film!
Thanks! Hiking in new boots isn’t something I’d normally do. I’ve actually been a big fan of the Hoka Speed Goats lately but the ones I had at the time were pretty worm, so I grabbed the new Merrells that I had. Been using Moab’s as long as I can remember but for some reason this pair just feels different.
I hope to summit Longs this season. This video is super informative, thanks for posting! Didn’t realize how technical this peak is. Would you recommend this as a first class 3 or is there a better one to start with? Or maybe a good non 14er hike that I can practice some class 3 hiking?
Thanks for the compliments on the video! The most technical part of the Keyhole route would be the big boulder at the top of the Trough and there’s no fall risk there. The ledges and the narrows have areas where you wouldn’t want to fall, but there is stuff to hold on to and they really aren’t that difficult. Some people just walk up the homestretch, others use their hands. Coming down is harder, some scoot down on their butts but I wouldn’t say it’s necessary if you have good balance. If you are coming from low altitude then allow time to acclimate. Some good hikes before Longs might be Bear Peak in Boulder, South Arapaho Peak near Nederland, Hallett Peak in RMNP. When you get to the Keyhole you’ll have a good idea of how you are feeling, and it’s a good place to assess the weather. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions.
@@AustinsADV appreciate the response! I live in Denver and I’ve done Bear Peak and Mt. Morrison a handful of times so if the scramble isn’t any worse than that I should be fine. All my 14er experience is class 1/2 so just want to make sure I’m prepared.
@jonathanf3604 I think you should be in good shape then, Longs is harder than those due the distance and there is more scrambling but none of it is super technical. Just keep an eye on the weather and try to go during the week when it’s not so busy. Good luck!
I went up around Christmas 87 and all I remember is it was an exceptional clear cold day. Started at the trail head in the very dark and returned close to sunset.
If Long's Peak is the most deadly, it is only because far, far more people climb it than climb much more difficult 14ers (I've climbed them all). Longs gets much more traffic just because of its proximity to the front range. On a dry summer day, with no remaining ice or snow, climbing the keyhole route on Longs is very straightforward. You will just be following the clearly marked route along with all the other climbers doing the same thing. The rock is all solid. There are no difficult moves. Many deaths on Longs occur during less than optimal conditions and also involve climbers climbing far riskier routes on Longs than the keyhole route (there are numerous other routes up Longs). I'm not saying there isn't a risk involved on the keyhole route - but the risk, in my humble opinion, is much lower than the risk on the standard routes of many other 14ers - like Mt. Wilson, Little Bear, Maroon Peak, Pyramid, Capitol, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, etc.
Hey, thanks! The glasses are Oakley Radar EV Path with the Road lenses. Love them, use them for hiking, cycling , riding the motorcycle, they offer great protection and that lens color works well in changing light conditions.
The only reason it’s the ‘most dangerous’ it’s because Longs in located in RMNP which attracts large amounts of tourists who don’t understand what they’re getting in to and/or severely overestimate their ability.
Most areas have enough room for passing but there are some small sections where you need to be single file, but they have enough room where you can wait for traffic to clear. There is one section that I can think of like this on the ledges shown at around 2:40 in the video, there's a metal rod for a foot hold and another for your hand. It's probably one of the more scary parts of the climb if you don't like heights. The other part would be the beginning of the Narrows, no room for passing there, but it gets wider as you continue. Let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck if you decide to climb it, I think even going to the Keyhole is worth it, amazing views!
Not sure but it’s very popular since it’s in RMNP and isn’t far from Boulder and Denver. It’s best climbed during the week or after the tourist season.
I think it took around 4 hours from Keyhole to the summit and back. That first part of the Narrows is the most dangerous looking, then it gets a bit wider. I have taken friends up there and that is where some stop. You can always give it another try, it’s actually quite crowded mid summer.
I have hiked some really scary hikes, like angels landing, but there is no way I would hike this longs peak esp after watching the video. One kid died last week on it. One slip and your a gonnet
I know this is stupid but I got wrapped around the axle when I heard he is hiking a brand new pair of hikers on a hike like Long's Peak. Dude. Gotta break those puppies in and NOT on one of the most dangerous hikes in CO! 😂
It’s a miracle that I survived 😂 Seriously though, I’ve had many pairs of Moab’s over the years and have had no issues right out of the box. This is the first time I’ve had a problem.
I camped in Longs Peak boulder field on early spring while climbing the cable route on the north face and there were winds just tearing down off the mountain peak at night when things started cooling down that had to be close to 100 mph, they knocked me down when trying to pee and totally shredded a 4-pole Sierra Design tent ripping the rain fly in half & bending the poles. I have been through 4 hurricanes and never got knocked off my feet. Spent the rest of the night in a Mylar emergency blanket & trash sack. It was epic, fun to reminisce about now years later but not fun at all going through it back then.
Wow, great story! It’s crazy how the weather can be up there and how fast it changes.
I climbed All Mixed Up on Thatchtop with a friend, many years ago. It was early winter, so the lakes were frozen. Man, the wind was something else that day. There were some amazing photos of the Keyboard taken, that's for sure. The spin drift was blinding at times. On the last pitch of the climb we were sucking in, close as we could to the wall so as not to get blown off. It was pretty wild. I got blown from my feet 3 times crossing Mills Lake on the way out!
We were supposed to be back by the time we finally got to my truck. I called home to a panicked wife who was about to call S&R after seeing reports of 90mph gusts in Estes!
Ah, type II fun...
I'm starting to pay for all of that fun at this point, sadly.
Wow, great story, sounds like a real adventure!
I saw a guy die there the summer of 2022. He got caught up there in a storm and the next day they found him dead on the mountain. This was a warm summer day too. Had to helicopter his body off the mountain.
@@Lovememore231 He died
Really excellent video of the Keyhole Route, I've watched a lot of these vids and yours is among the best. The way back down from the summit to the keyhole seems scarier than the way up.
Thank you! I’d say the Homestretch is harder on the way down, especially if it’s at all wet. The Narrows and Ledges are about the same in either direction. The hardest part is the Trough, lots of loose rocks. Always keep a close eye on the weather, notice how fast it changed, sunny on the Narrows, and by the time I was at the Boulder Field there was some light snow and even some thunder.
Very well done video! No annoying background music, just pure content. I have done Long's three times, and hope to do it again in the future.
Thank you! That’s awesome! You should get up there and climb it again, so much fun. I climbed it last weekend and the conditions were great. Started at 2:30 in the afternoon so I had the mountain to myself after the Boulderfield. Just have to be careful about thunderstorms.
If I was younger I'd want to go do this, but since I can't I'd like to say thank you for taking me on your adventure! So awesome!Stay safe in all you do,
mayGod bless you always.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, happy to take you along on the adventure!
That was an excellent recap... probably the best I've seen about what to expect. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! Hope it inspires you to climb it if you haven't already been up there!
@@AustinsADV most definitely!!
Simply unmatched scenery bud, stunning work here!
Thanks Ervin! Have a great week!
Longs Peak is a fairly benign peak in dry weather. It becomes more treacherous in shoulder seasons when people underestimate the conditions and are unprepared when weather moves in.
The scariest part of the hike for me was going back down the home stretch. Definitely an adrenaline rush!! great mountain and video!!
Thanks! I completely agree, I went down the home stretch once when there was ice. Probably why I took 10 years off from Longs 😂
I hiked to the keyhole about 30 years ago. Weather turned us around. I've flown a glider (from Boulder) over the summit a few times. Nice views!
That sounds awesome! So cool to see this stuff from the air. Went for a flight with a friend over South Arapahoe Peak which got me into flying.
I climbed this in the fog, everything was wet, it was freezing and starting to ice up, way back in 1979. When I got to the top, there was a glider pilot strafing the top of the mountain, in total fog conditions, swooping down out of the clouds and then disappearing again. It was astounding. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any of these incredible views because of the fog. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, that sounds like an experience with the fog, ice, and a glider. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous video, love the views! And 3360 ft over 6 miles is quite a climb, especially at over 10,000ft-- thanks for posting!
Thanks! It’s a fun climb, has a bit of everything.
Did this hike back in 87. 5am to 5pm. Great to remember what I used to do
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching!
If you are not from CO, I suggest this: Camp at the trailhead. Leave early. Camp at the boulder field. Summit. Descend. Allows acclimatization time and lets it be a fun summit, instead of a grueling push to get up and down before the Pm storms come.
Good plan, that would be a fun way to experience it.
Camping in the boulder field is no joke. Not recommended for those without plenty of prior high elevation camping experience.
I got a ticket for camping right at the trail head. We had to go down the road a bit to find spot.
Parking at the trailhead is limited. We camped at Longs Peak Campground near the trailhead (9400') and started our hike around 3am in order to get to the Boulder Field by sunrise (beautiful sight). An early start by flashlight is important unless you are a very fast hiker because you need to be back down below the tree line before the afternoon thunderstorms arrive (common). For me, the tree line is about three hours below the summit. So start early and have fun not worrying about the possible lightning strikes.
I camped at Jim’s Grove in 1983, camping at the boulder field was not allowed IIRC. Now it appears to be the other way around.
Great to see the entire route. My brother-in-law and I did this climb in 1978 and the video brings back many memories. Your comment is correct, the camera does not show the real steepness. My rule is to be off the summit by noon. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching and sharing your story! Being off the summit by noon is a good rule.
Hiked this a few times, full moon hikes. I'd put it up there in the top must-do hikes.
Nice! This is an awesome hike during the full moon!
Super cool. I did that route a few times about 30 years ago. Your video made it feel like yesterday. I remember every move. Cheers
Awesome! It’s a fun one, definitely a mountain with some character! Thanks for watching!
This is a Fantastic resource for someone planning to do this hike, thank you for making this!
Thank you! Happy it was helpful.
Thanks for your video. Brings back good memories. I climbed Long's back in Sept of 1980, as an 18 y/o. It was a challenge for sure. I'll be making another attempt with my youngest son in a month. We've both been training for the past year, so I'm hoping that I can do it again as a 62 y/o. Wish me luck!
Thanks for watching! It should be fun returning to Longs, this time with your son. Hope you both have a great time, good luck!
6:00 that's crazy, no wonder it is the most deadly mountain in Colorado. There's certainly no shortage of scenic hikes in the Rockies!
Yeah, the problem with this one is that so many people go up there unprepared. This one can be done safely if you are careful and use good judgment.
I’ve lived in estes park for all my life outside of college, so 30 years or so. I’ve never been on longs before. Ever. This video truly inspired me, thank you for sharing!
Thanks, happy you enjoyed it! Longs is a fun one to climb! I love it up in Estes, so beautiful, must be nice living there! We have been in Longmont for 24 years.
Excellent commentary pointing out lakes and names of trail segments!
Thank you! Those lakes in Glacier Gorge are also excellent hikes, beautiful back there.
Did this in Aug. 2010. Awesome hike. Despite the warnings of difficulty and danger, I saw lots of kids and families, most likely locals that think nothing of an ordinary afternoon jaunt in the mountains. Poking my head through the keyhole was like stepping through a portal into another world. The weather was sunny and calm on the approach side, then windy on the slope side. The most daunting part for me was looking up the Trough and seeing the tiny people at the top. That is a long-@ss scramble. The Homestretch weeded out a lot of reluctant hikers, but didn't bother me that much. Just go slow and be sure of your footing. Oddly, I don't remember feeling the altitude as I do on Whitney.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! Sounds like a great trip. That’s exactly how I felt the first time I first saw the Keyhole. It’s fun taking people hiking up there and seeing their expression the first time they look over the edge. It’s a worthwhile hike in itself.
Thanks for sharing and the brevity of each segment. This walkthrough is useful for the ones planning a trip there, but also for us , people that is just wondering how the terrain is like. A nice feature to have in this video would be an introductory map showing where the mountain/ range is located and a simple map showing the route.
Thanks! Glad it was helpful! I keep thinking about getting a Garmin watch that can record the GPS track, and then do a Google Earth fly through.
I see the keyhole route from my house and did it 3 times. Beautiful mountain 😊
That’s awesome, such a fun hike!
Are you from FOCO?
wanted to go here for the longest time. time passed so fast and now it's too late. thanks for taking me up there.
Thanks for watching! Happy I got to take you along on the virtual hike!
Thanks for the video!!
You’re welcome, thanks for watching!
I live in Colorado but have never seen this part of the park. Beautiful, austere, scary. Thanks for showing this. Awesome climb!
Thanks for watching! Happy you got to see another part of the park!
@@AustinsADV You seem so skilled and calm at moving through a tough climb and some scary heights and ledges. But this was beautiful to see. I’m impressed as 14,000 feet has to leave you breathless (in more ways than one)! Beautiful camera work. I was worried about you getting down before storm moved in.
Thanks, I’ve been up this a bunch of times before so I’m kind of used to it now, even though iI don’t really like heights. People often ask me what it’s like or if it’s scary, so here’s a video I can point them to. I’m usually pretty good at reading the weather, but the storm that developed so quickly at the end kind of surprised me, hope people pay attention to that part. It’s no place to be when there is lightning.
Climbed and led Cheley Camps groups up this in 1978.. Bunch of teenagers with me on the summit, with us having the summit nearly to ourselves. We would up race the home stretch to race to the top back then.
So cool! Sounds like an awesome experience!
Great video. Brought back fond memories of our ascent in the 1990's. Recommend camping overnight in the Boulder Field. Awesome stars at night. Hiked to get view of the East Face of Long's at sunrise and saw the brief "alpen glow". Incredible experience!
Thanks! Great story, thanks for sharing, it’s so beautiful up there!
Awesome job. Thank you for posting!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video. I have always wondered what climbing Longs would be like. Thanks so much for all the information and views.
Thanks for watching, happy you enjoyed it! Definitely lots of great views climbing Longs.
Hi.
Very nicely done - best view of this climb I've seen.
You did a great job of filming as well as narration.
Thankful you were blessed with a safe time.
At one time, II thought about this. At 71 now, I'll refer to good folks and videos like you.
God Bless!
Hey, thanks so much for the kind words, happy you liked it. Sometimes when I’m out hiking, other hikers ask about Longs, so I just wanted to show what to expect. God Bless!
Great video, excellent views and description of the route from Keyhole. I thought Capitol Peak was the deadliest till I double checked and you're right. Thanks.
Thanks! I’d say Capital is more dangerous with the Knife Edge and exposure on both sides. Longs is more deadly because so many people attempt to climb it and many are not well prepared.
Great video. Scarier watching you do the hike than when I did it myself. Glad I did it and don't have to do it again!
Thanks! Awesome that you climbed it! I think the exposure looks kind of scary as you get past the Keyhole but you kind of acclimate to it as you go. At least that’s my experience as someone that doesn’t really like heights.
AMAZING footage!! That’s so damn cool, fascinated with the 14ers!! I attempted Mt Yale twice but have yet to summit one successfully!! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! Give Grays and Torreys a try sometime, beautiful hike and not too hard as far as 14ers go.
Excellent video! Thanks for sharing. I got dizzy a few times. 😁
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!
I climbed Long's years ago when I was 50 years old. Round trip took about 9 hours. The most difficult area for me was getting around and over the boulders at the top of the trough. Peak can be dangerous due to the large number of people on the hike, including lot's of people attempting the first fourteener, I saw a guy wearing sandals and another wearing Chuck Tayor All Stars. Takes all kinds.
Very cool! That big boulder at the top of the Trough can be challenging, not much to hold on to. Not many people on the day I made this video, much more crowded on a summer weekend. Thanks for watching!
Did this back in 2016 and had a permit to camp in the boulder field which was awesome. Incredibly windy which sometimes you don’t feel until you peak through the keyhole which was like walking into a wind tunnel the day we hiked it. Most challenging part was getting from the trough to the narrows as it snowed a few inches early that season (sept) and the rocks were incredibly slick from snowmelt. Had to find a less appealing and more dangerous route as we kept slipping where you normally wedge yourself through that part which would’ve been simple had it not been for the slick rocks. All in all, super fun hike and just need to be incredibly present and should be just fine. The narrows can be terrifying for those scared of heights but I found it easy to comfortably grab the rocks facing the other direction and the path is wider than it looks if you just check out pictures. However, that derailed my friend due to his fears and I had to finish the narrows and homestretch solo which was incredibly peaceful as I was the only one on the summit that day. Summit is about the size of a football field made out of boulders, ha. Then comes the realization that you have to go back down 😂
Great story, thanks so much for sharing! The narrows can be pretty intimidating for those afraid of heights. I’ve hiking this with friends before that have stopped there.
We watched this the other day and forgot to comment! Greta hike Austin. Some of those rocky bits were a little sketchy ! Glad you made it mostly down before the storm
Thanks Mike & Chelsea! Those ledges can be sketchy if you get caught in a storm.
Great video. Well shot, informative and fun. Love Longs Peak! Never climbed and after watching this may never try :)
@@bobsonofstan4985 Thank you! If you like hiking and are visiting RMNP, it’s worth at least hiking to the Keyhole and checking it out. Well maintained trail most of the way.
@@AustinsADV Sounds like a great idea. Would really like to check it out. Thanks
@@bobsonofstan4985Another option in the area is Mt Lady Washington, hiked it last weekend, and it has great views of Longs.
I've passed by the trailhead 1000x over the years and seen the signs for Mills and the other lakes you've pointed out since I can remember. That is 100% not my kind of hike so I appreciate you pointing out the other lakes and shooting some great scenery. I always wondered what those lakes were like.
Thank you! If you are ever looking for a more moderate hike, Mills Lake is a good one, great views of Longs there. About 5 miles round trip and not too much elevation gain.
@@AustinsADV I think that I've hike virtually all of the easy to medium hikes in the park over the years. Probably the hardest one I did was Loch Vale. That's probably far too easy for you! haha
The Loch is a great hike, went up there to watch the eclipse with my kid a few months ago
@@AustinsADV Of all of the places that you could have watched the eclipse from, why did you decide on Loch Vale? Just curious. It's been about 38 years since I did that hike with my mom. I remember being extremely nervous in a section where there was a significant drop off. Nothing like what you did on the keyhole hike, but it was enough that I never wanted to do the hike again.
@etainafuzz really no reason other than it’s beautiful there
Great video! I had the same issue with storms coming back down after the keyhole. I totally misjudged the amount of time it would take from the keyhole to the summit and back to that point. From that point there's only 1.5 miles to go and about 1200 ft of elevation to gain, how long could it take!? What I later found out is a good rule of thumb is it'll take 70% of the time it took you to get to the keyhole, as it will to get to the summit from the keyhole. I wanted to be well below treeline by 1:00 but I found myself just clearing the keyhole at 1:00 and storms rolled in....luckily they missed me, but I was surrounded by clouds and thunder off in the distance the entire way down.
Thanks! 70% sounds pretty accurate, it can be slow going after the Keyhole. Scary when the storms start rolling in.
@ I am a data nerd. After I climbed longs I dove into 200 strava segments ranging from super fast to really slow people and saw that 70% was a good rule of thumb that applied to everyone from slow to fast. Sure, that’s an average but it’s a good number to use for judging time. Some people I met at the keyhole told me that’s the halfway point, if you count 15-30 min on the summit for a break and pic taking, you’re probably not far off with the keyhole being the halfway point.
Good analysis. I was just looking at the timestamp on pics from my last Longs hike, and it was 3 hrs to the Keyhole, and 2 hours from the Keyhole to the summit. On the way down it took less than an hour from the summit back to the keyhole. Much faster going down.
@@AustinsADV Wish I could say the same going back down! I had a series of errors. I flew in the day before from Michigan and slept in Estes the night before. So zero acclimating which wasn't the smartest. I had stomach issues going up so I didn't feel like eating much so by the time I was back down thru the keyhole I was spent.....I felt like I had run a marathon by that point, then the storms rolled in just as I cleared the boulder field. Luckily they missed me but it was a bit concerning hearing thunder off in the distance every 5 minutes or so the entire way down next expecting to see a flash of lightening in front of me. I am not sure what I would have done had I known that 70% thing at the time cause I hit the keyhole at 6:30ish. The math would have told me turn around because storms were called for after 1 but it would have been so hard turning around at 6:30 AM.
@ That sounds rough being up there with stomach issues and no acclimating. At least you made it up to the Keyhole early. Storms up there are nothing to mess around with.
Go up Meeker. Sand Lake Trail 👣 then up ridge backside.
Lady Washington gets you a great view of Longs face and Meeker. And it's higher than any mountain in Montana. Wyoming?
Indian Peaks are the prettiest alpine area.
I need to go up Meeker sometime. Went up Lady Washington last weekend, great views of Longs and had the summit to myself. Love Indian Peaks Wilderness!
I don't think I'm ready for this yet lol, I need to do some more scrambling before. That's really gnarly up there
You could try something like South Arapaho Peak first to get some practice. Most of the scrambling isn’t that hard.
Great hike
Thanks!
Been a few years since I have climbed a peak like that. Looks similar to those found in the Sierras. Some of the different sections scared me, especially those narrows. 😆
Some of the sections can definitely be a bit scary if you don’t like heights.
0:59. Ptarmigans, with the last of their winter plumage still holding on. The male's call sounds like a stick being dragged across a picket fence. I only just read that on Wikipedia, but I've heard the sound before. I wondered then WTH that was? Climbing at 13,000 feet and someone's dragging a stick across a picket fence.
Interesting, thanks for sharing
Did this back in 2008. It was in August and we had a full moon. Lots of people on the trail that day and It took us 15 hrs. round trip. What a great accomplishment.
That’s awesome! It’s a long day but so worth it!
Really enjoyed this. I went to college in Colorado and climbed Long’s in June of 1983. The keyhole to the trough and the trough were still snow covered. The narrows ahhmazing. And that last 100 yards…the home stretch…yikes. Lift foot, kick into snow, set ice axe, repeat.
Thanks, happy you enjoyed it! Sounds like much more challenging conditions when you climbed it. I was lucky that it was dry and not crowded.
@@AustinsADV I laughed out loud when you said it wasn’t crowded. I saw one other person those two days. Hiked in the afternoon before and camped. Summited and descended the next day. How things have changed. Heck I did Sunshine and Redcloud in August of 1989 and saw only a handful of folks.
@stevefoster1511 That’s funny, I’ve done Longs before where there were so many people that it looked like I-25 traffic with all the headlamps. If you like low crowds, winter hiking is the way to go.
Really cool video! I’ve never seen this perspective, but I am blessed enough to look west every day and see this beautiful mountain in the distance living here in Longmont. I think I’ll skip this hike it’s pretty sketchy up at the top. My only 14er summit was Mount Bierstadt . Thanks for the content.
Thanks for the kind words, I’m in Longmont too, always looking up at the mountains looking forward to some fun on the weekend. I recommend giving Grays and Torreys a try sometime. Beautiful hike.
Just did this yesterday for the 3rd time, for me the last 4 miles on seemingly never ending trail when your exhausted from the elevatoon gain and lack of sleep is torture, but still worth the incredible experience scrambling the cliffs to the top
Very cool, nice job! The hike back can be exhausting!
Got caught in a lightning storm once in the boulder field... scariest time of my life. Lightning literally striking the ground all around us and nowhere to hide.
That’s scary stuff!
Ahh The Trough, otherwise known as “Where knees go to die”. Also when I climbed, there was ice in the Homestretch, with non-confident climbers screaming they were going to die. Discovered a lovely class 3 scramble just to the left of the main route to go around them. It did not have any ice :)
I’ll have to look for that next time there is ice
I attempted this hike back in 2007. I had to turn around due to elevation sickness about halfway. Have not been back to RMNP since, overdue for a return.
Sorry it didn’t work out that time, you should give it another try!
@@AustinsADV elevations are tough for me I was born at sea level in keflavik Iceland and I live only 800 ft above sea level in Minneapolis also I just turned 60 but that's no excuse!
@esherm63 definitely tougher coming from near sea level unless you have time to acclimate
Beautiful hike!!! How come I don't remember ANY of those 'bullseye' markers when I climbed Longs Peak in the early 1980's!!??
Thanks! Interesting, I wonder when they added those. I know they were around in the late 1990’s the first time I climbed it.
Ha. Funny how this popped up in my youtube feed. I must have passed you because I also hiked Longs on September 30, 2023! Got down below tree line right as that little unexpected t-cell moved in around 3pm.
Ha! I see myself on the summit! Right after you said "Twin Sisters" Too funny.
Nice! That’s funny! It sure was a great day for the hike, not as crowded as usual. That t-cell sure developed fast, wasn’t expecting that when I was on the summit. Wonder how the experience was for those on still going up the trough as we were going down…
That’s awesome!
11:04 "...and it's all downhill from there." Actually, it's all downhill from everywhere 😉 Great vid, man. Earned a subscription and a like. Nice work.
Thanks! Should say easier downhill from there, lol. It’s always such a relief getting to back to the Keyhole especially when the weather is turning.
@@AustinsADV I hear ya. Done about thirty 14ers in CO so far (I'm from a flat land, so I have to travel), but Longs is still on the to-do list. Perhaps next year.
@@blueeyeddevil1 Awesome! You should absolutely do Longs, it’s a fun one, lots of character.
Northern Colorado Longs Peak Veteran here.
My best safety advice is: START the CLIMB EARLY, like 3am, so that you summit and return to Keyhole by noonish. This climb is 16 miles round trip, most of it slow paced. Those fluffy clouds you see forming about 8AM become horrendous ice ball blizzards if caught on upper stretches. pack three layers, including waterproof shells.
P.S. In my years on that peak, I have pleaded with many young families (strong willed dad, nervous wife, kids --all in cotton sweat shirts and pants) where dad doesn't want to turn back, and later, rangers have to retrieve them to the stone hut at 10,000 feet and with others, try to keep their core temperature from dropping dangerously. You cannot extract yourself from the west slope quickly and the weather hit there first. Been there.
Great advice! I’ve seen the same things, there’s no shame in turning back when things aren’t going well.
Man, I was planning to hike Longs this September 19th but after watching this Vid's footage post the keyhole, nah, I don't think so. I'm not from CO and not ready to die just yet...Looks scary.
Hiked it in 1983. We took our time and camped at tree line so we could hike up to the lake the first day
then summit the next.
Awesome! Sounds like a fun way to climb it.
you gotta try the trough route to longs peak. Wayy less traffic ;)
Yeah I bet, just scramble all the way up from Glacier Gorge.
Completed summit twice, 1971 with my dad at 16 yo then with my son when he was 15 yo, left ranger station at 230 am
That’s awesome, so cool you got to climb with it with your dad and son! I’m trying to talk my 12 year old into climbing it with me.
@@AustinsADV 1971 had the old cable route on the North face, you skipped the keyhole route until descending
That sounds like a fun way to do it!
I hike up above black lake just short of green lake. Looked up at longs from there. I dont think i have it in me to ever do it. Plenty of other hikes to do. Also have been to chasm lake. Someday i would like to see the keyhole and the boulder field. But if not, thats ok. I camp at hermit park every year in july, to escape the heat and humidity of Missouri.
Those lakes are great hikes. You should definitely hike to the Keyhole, it’s worth it even if you don’t go to the top. I used to live in Missouri and would do the same thing in the summer. I might do a Missouri trip this summer to bike the Katy Trail.
I just did chasm lake today it was gorgeous and awesome. Not ready to summit longs until my cardio is a bit better. Were you even winded!? lol 😂 however I’m in Midwest at sea level so I should take some time to acclimate too. Awesome vid though super simple to the point and helpful
Thanks! Chasm Lake is a great hike, how was the snowfield crossing? That can be kind of sketchy sometimes. The first time I climbed Longs I lived in the Midwest, saved it for the end of the trip so there was more time to acclimate.
Great video! Going to attempt this early August '24. What time do you recommend starting at the trailhead?
Thanks! I would recommend being at the Boulder Field (6 miles) at around sunrise so depending on how fast you hike that’s probably a 3am departure from the trailhead. It’s all about avoiding the afternoon thunderstorms especially on the ledges past the Keyhole. Good luck with the climb, it’s so much fun!
@@AustinsADV awesome, thanks! Appreciate your help 💪
I started at 4am, and emerged from treeline (10,500 ft) just in time to catch the orange rays of sunrise against the mountain top. I finished the hike around 6:30 or 7 pm. , while taking breaks for lunch, rest, and time on top.
THANK YOU for this video. It possibly saved a life! Well over 30 years ago my brother and I attempted to take the route you showed in this video. We had NO idea what we were doing, in retrospect! Made it to the boulder field campground the first day since we started later in the day than we should have. Our backpacks, tent and supplies in general were what you'd expect for novices! It's too embarrassing to detail here. The toilet at the boulder field was operational and memorable. I was happy you showed it in the video! A storm moved in that night, complete with thunder and lightening. We prayed to make it through. The morning brought a complete white-out! After watching your video, it was God's providence we had such a storm and decided to turn back! I still remember hearing the wind before it hit us. Everyone bent over and braced for the wind, then started hiking when it let up until we were finally below the tree line. Such a remarkable trip. I had tinkered with the idea of finishing that hike sometime in the next couple years. But, I'm 70 now and thanks to your enlightenment, I think I'll just be satisfied with the memories of our first trip! LOL!
Wow, what an interesting story! Thanks so much for sharing! Weather can change everything, I had pretty optimal conditions in this video. Imagine being on the Narrows when a storm moves in.
@@AustinsADV That would be life-threatening for sure! I showed your video to my wife. She asked if we knew what we were climbing! Of course we didn’t. This was pre-Internet days. I took a mini tape recorder along. The two tapes I recorded are priceless now. Hilarious memories.
@NoBite2 That’s awesome that you were able to document it, it’s fun looking back at that stuff. I have a lot of fun memories of Longs, taking friends up it over the years, sometimes successful other times not. It’s usually the entry to the Narrows that scares them, turned back due to weather before too half way up the Trough. Wish I had videos back then, at least I have some pictures.
Excellent video; great editing. I climbed it twice back in the ‘60s, when the Park Service had the cables. When and why were the cables removed?
Thank you! That’s so cool, sounds like fun. I’ve always wanted to climb that route. I think the cables were removed in the 1970’s because of the Wilderness Act or something like that.
I climbed Longs Peak on August 20, 1985. 32 yo.
That’s awesome! How did you like it?
This was great, but I don't think you captured how painful the trough is. 😅
Been hiking Longs, most Summers, for a couple of decades, but skipped this year because life got in the way. It's pretty much my favorite 14er.
Yep, the Trough is where most of the suffering happens 😂
I was attempting it but I didn't acclimate myself properly before getting there and was sadly getting a bit of altitude sickness.. (I came from 338 asl in Texas direct to Denver and got my drive on - stupid).. I've done Elbert and a few other 14'rs, but Longs is by far more sketchy than anything I have climbed up on... Recognize a good bit of this in your video.. However, I do appreciate your commentary and seeing some things I definitely didn't see in person, and I don't recall on other videos I watched prior to my attempt.. (Still feel stupid to have not acclimated virtually at all - "That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!"). Going to sub out of respect and appreciation!
That’s too bad about the altitude sickness. Good decision turning back, maybe you can attempt it another time. I had altitude sickness before and I live here, it’s not fun. Thanks for watching and sharing your story!
What weather forecasting tools do you rely on? Great vid thanks. Stay safe.
Thanks! My go to app/website for weather forecasts is Windy. Originally found it for aviation planning. It’s free, has multiple weather models, and many layers. I typically use the ECMWF (Euro) model. The clouds and rain/snow that I saw on the hike were almost spot on with the models from the night before, other than the storm development starting about an hour later than forecast. I highly recommend checking it out.
I did Long back in the late eighty's with my father and both flat lander's. It looks just like it did when we did it. Nice video, what camera did you use. Cristal clear.
Thanks! Very cool! I was a flat lander the first time I climbed it too. Used a GoPro Hero 8 in 4k mode.
Longs Peak is dangerous and many people have died climbing the mountain. I don't keep track of how many, but its around 60-70. Most of its a hike until you pass the keyhole, then its considered a class 3 climb. The last half mile is not to be taken lightly. There are parts of it that if you fall, you will die. When I climbed it, I was decending homestretch. An inexperienced climber was behind me. I knew he lacked skill. I would have let him pass me but, there was nowhere I could. Parts of homestretch was icy so you had to pick your hand holds more carefully. I passed a part that was really sketchy, mainely because of the ice. I was very concerned about the 2 guys behind me and every alarm bell was ringing in me. I braced myself as the individual behind me got to that area. I pushed my leg into a crack that was wide enough to wedge part if it into it and found a spt to brace my foot on. I found a handhold for one of my hands and grabbed it tightly. There was no handhold the other hand. I secured myself the best I could. Sure enough, my instincts paid off. The guy behind me fell. He slid about 5 feet and grabbed a hold of me which inturn stopped his fall. I let him use my body for support until he was able to find an area that he could grab a hold off. Once he was secure, he let go of me. He asked me if I was ok and apologized. I in turn gave him a five word sentence, "Please do not kill me." But for the fact I had myself securely braced, he and I would have died that day. Those who say this mountain is not dangerous are fools. Thinking that way can cause your death, worse yet, someone elses. Conditions up there can change in a heartbeat. The best places to grab a hold of may be iced over. A storm can come in anytime. It can get windy where it was calm. Or, you can have someone behind you that has never travesed a mountain fall on you. The probability is low for death if you climb Longs Peak. Nevertheless, its still dangerous
Wow, that’s a crazy story, happy you were paying attention! I’ve been on the Homestretch when there is some ice, it’s scary. Another reason to avoid storms, maybe it will just be some rain, that still makes everything much more slippery, but even in the middle of summer there is the possibility of snow or hail accumulation. Just did Grays and Torreys this morning and there was fresh snow/hail accumulation at the trailhead.
I think I'd be good with just pokin my head up over the narrows. That would be high enough for me, I'm not surefooted enough to feel comfortable doing the narrows.
@@shalakabooyaka1480 I’d say that even a hike to the Keyhole is worth it, amazing views!
Great realistic video without making it seem more terrifying that it is. How easy or what do you suggest for route finding? Thanks
Thanks! I tried to present it in the most realistic way that I could. Route finding isn’t too hard because they have yellow and red markings painted on the rocks with the suggested route. Also, there are usually enough people that you can see where to go. Good luck if you decide to climb it!
@@AustinsADV : Thank you so much! Keep these videos coming :-)
Thanks, I really need to make some more videos.
Good Lord that is some scary stuff!
Can’t beat the view though!
So once you get to the "Homestretch" you can just teleport up and down? That's good.. because that part seems really dangerous.
LOL, that would be nice. When it’s dry it’s not as bad as it looks, if it’s icy, watch out!
Excellent video.
Thank you very much!
Great vid Austin! The views are incredible and the trail looks a bit sketchy in places. Also, what kind of rock is it up there? Would approach shoes be advisable?
Thanks! Most of that rock is granite, it’s generally pretty grippy with the exception of a few places. I just wear a low top hiker, Merrell Moab 3 for this hike. I also have some Hoka Speed Goat 5’s that I really like. No need for an actual climbing shoe for the Keyhole route.
I’ve climbed it six times. Great video. The camera never captures the sheer cliffs. There is a lot of exposure on the keyhole route.
Awesome and thanks! It is hard to capture with a camera. I was just up there last weekend, great conditions and snow free if you want to go for #7.
@@AustinsADV gotta do something to beat the heat :-)
That’s for sure, it’s been so hot
Gosh. I can't believe there were so few people there.
It was nice! It can be so crowded on a weekend in the summer.
Most casual hikers stop at the Keyhole, which is like a popular hangout. The challenging part of the hike begins on the other side of the Keyhole. It is like 2 different worlds.
Yep, the Keyhole is where the fun starts!
What was the name of the missing hiker? Was it Chad Pallansch?
Yeah, that’s who it was. Sadly they searched for weeks and still no signs of what happened to him.
I did this hike to the top four times. The first time taught me that my body doesn't handle altitude very well. I got acute altitude sickness (vomited 4 times) starting at the top. Getting down was the only way to get better. After that experience, my doctor prescribed DIAMOX. It drains the brain of accumulated fluid due to not processing oxygen efficiently. It speeds up the altitude acclimation process. The last time I hiked to the top of Longs Peak, a blood vessel in my right eye burst while descending the home stretch. It was like looking through inky black fingers in front of my face. It cleared up within a half hour. My wife made it to the top 2 times. None of our four children have attempted Longs Peak because of the danger.
Wow that sounds terrible!
@@AustinsADV It was only temporarily annoying. The overall experiences are priceless.
Definitely an unforgettable experience, happy you made it down safely! I climbed it again a week ago and tripped and fell on the ledges and sliced my thumb on a rock pretty bad, happy I had a first aid kit. First fall I’ve ever had on a hike.
I have always liked Merrell and Columbia hiking boots. My only criticism is hiking Long's Peak in a pair of NEW BOOTS! I always broke mine in over the space of a few weeks, wearing around the house for a few hours, then longer, finally on increasingly long easier hikes. Blister can turn a climb or a trek into a much less enjoyable experience. Otherwise a good film!
Thanks! Hiking in new boots isn’t something I’d normally do. I’ve actually been a big fan of the Hoka Speed Goats lately but the ones I had at the time were pretty worm, so I grabbed the new Merrells that I had. Been using Moab’s as long as I can remember but for some reason this pair just feels different.
I hope to summit Longs this season. This video is super informative, thanks for posting! Didn’t realize how technical this peak is. Would you recommend this as a first class 3 or is there a better one to start with? Or maybe a good non 14er hike that I can practice some class 3 hiking?
Thanks for the compliments on the video! The most technical part of the Keyhole route would be the big boulder at the top of the Trough and there’s no fall risk there. The ledges and the narrows have areas where you wouldn’t want to fall, but there is stuff to hold on to and they really aren’t that difficult. Some people just walk up the homestretch, others use their hands. Coming down is harder, some scoot down on their butts but I wouldn’t say it’s necessary if you have good balance. If you are coming from low altitude then allow time to acclimate. Some good hikes before Longs might be Bear Peak in Boulder, South Arapaho Peak near Nederland, Hallett Peak in RMNP. When you get to the Keyhole you’ll have a good idea of how you are feeling, and it’s a good place to assess the weather. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions.
@@AustinsADV appreciate the response! I live in Denver and I’ve done Bear Peak and Mt. Morrison a handful of times so if the scramble isn’t any worse than that I should be fine. All my 14er experience is class 1/2 so just want to make sure I’m prepared.
@jonathanf3604 I think you should be in good shape then, Longs is harder than those due the distance and there is more scrambling but none of it is super technical. Just keep an eye on the weather and try to go during the week when it’s not so busy. Good luck!
@@AustinsADV thanks so much!
I went up around Christmas 87 and all I remember is it was an exceptional clear cold day. Started at the trail head in the very dark and returned close to sunset.
Awsome! It can be a long hike
If Long's Peak is the most deadly, it is only because far, far more people climb it than climb much more difficult 14ers (I've climbed them all). Longs gets much more traffic just because of its proximity to the front range. On a dry summer day, with no remaining ice or snow, climbing the keyhole route on Longs is very straightforward. You will just be following the clearly marked route along with all the other climbers doing the same thing. The rock is all solid. There are no difficult moves. Many deaths on Longs occur during less than optimal conditions and also involve climbers climbing far riskier routes on Longs than the keyhole route (there are numerous other routes up Longs). I'm not saying there isn't a risk involved on the keyhole route - but the risk, in my humble opinion, is much lower than the risk on the standard routes of many other 14ers - like Mt. Wilson, Little Bear, Maroon Peak, Pyramid, Capitol, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, etc.
Absolutely true, lots of people go up there unprepared.
I used to guide groups of Outward Bound students up it.
That’s so awesome! Bet that was an amazing experience!
@@AustinsADV It really was. I did a few years in the San Juans and then moved to the Park. Amazing experiences with some great kids.
Can't believe I made this climb 5 times during my early years in Colorado. Watching this 40 years later it's clear I have "outgrown" the adventure...
That’s cool that you climbed it! About 11 years ago I said never again after dealing with an icy home stretch, then it called me back last fall.
Exposure presents its own technical difficulties to the acrophobic!
Yes, the thing about Longs is the exposure is only on one side. I don’t like heights, but for some reason Longs doesn’t bother me too much.
My hands were sweating, and I was leaning way back in my chair watching.😮
Thanks for watching!
Nice job! Hey what kind of sunglasses are you wearing?
Hey, thanks! The glasses are Oakley Radar EV Path with the Road lenses. Love them, use them for hiking, cycling , riding the motorcycle, they offer great protection and that lens color works well in changing light conditions.
The only reason it’s the ‘most dangerous’ it’s because Longs in located in RMNP which attracts large amounts of tourists who don’t understand what they’re getting in to and/or severely overestimate their ability.
Yes, very true!
On the other side of the keyhole, how much room is there to let other hikers pass? I am a slow, fat hiker
Most areas have enough room for passing but there are some small sections where you need to be single file, but they have enough room where you can wait for traffic to clear. There is one section that I can think of like this on the ledges shown at around 2:40 in the video, there's a metal rod for a foot hold and another for your hand. It's probably one of the more scary parts of the climb if you don't like heights. The other part would be the beginning of the Narrows, no room for passing there, but it gets wider as you continue. Let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck if you decide to climb it, I think even going to the Keyhole is worth it, amazing views!
How many thousands do this every year , there a large number that run it multiple times a year .
Not sure but it’s very popular since it’s in RMNP and isn’t far from Boulder and Denver. It’s best climbed during the week or after the tourist season.
How long did it take from Keyhole- Keyhole? I stopped at NArrows was looking dangerous, esp being alone last on the mountain
I think it took around 4 hours from Keyhole to the summit and back. That first part of the Narrows is the most dangerous looking, then it gets a bit wider. I have taken friends up there and that is where some stop. You can always give it another try, it’s actually quite crowded mid summer.
thank you!@@AustinsADV I'll try next year in August, hopefully
That will be a good time of year for it, good luck!
There are so many loose rocks I can see it being dubbed dangerous.
Generally the places where a fall would be dangerous have pretty solid rock. The Tough has lots of loose rock though.
I have hiked some really scary hikes, like angels landing, but there is no way I would hike this longs peak esp after watching the video. One kid died last week on it. One slip and your a gonnet
Nice! Angles landing looks scary to me with the drops on both sides.
I know this is stupid but I got wrapped around the axle when I heard he is hiking a brand new pair of hikers on a hike like Long's Peak. Dude. Gotta break those puppies in and NOT on one of the most dangerous hikes in CO! 😂
It’s a miracle that I survived 😂 Seriously though, I’ve had many pairs of Moab’s over the years and have had no issues right out of the box. This is the first time I’ve had a problem.
@AustinsADV I'm glad you survived and looking forward to your next video.
Would this be safe to do solo in May?
Probably too much snow, I think this one is best in late summer unless you want a more technical climb.
that is what I thought. A young man was found two weeks ago after coming down from the summit.