17 replies to this topic

[invisiblewindow]

Hello.

I have been lurking on here for a while and finally got registered in order to start some discussion.

My wife and I are going back to RMNP for the third summer in a row this August!!!
We would love to live in Colorado, as I am sure most here would who do not already reside there.

We have fallen in love with the park, and hiking in the mountains.

We have reached Estes Cone, Green Lake/Frozen Lake, and Chasm Lake as our biggest hikes. We have done a handful of others, but none as significant.

We are really wishing we would give Long's a shot, but it seems to continue to intimidate us. I am not so worried about the level of work involved (we will be training from now until mid-August), as the risks for falls, and falling rocks, or things of that nature.

Also, I would hate to get my wife out there and have her get hurt, although she really wants to summit it.

So, my question to all of you.... Would Long's be something you would recommend, or are there other summits that would be a nice challenge, yet be slightly less risky than Long's?

We really want to outdo our last summer's efforts of Chasm and Green Lake/Frozen Lake. We have our hearts set on Long's, but our minds are being a bit cautious.

I am sure this has been covered before, but any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!!

[Aaron]

Welcome to the forums I'm also seriously thinking about doing Longs this year. I'd say if you're aware of the "work", dangers, and feel comfortable with your fitness then I'd say go for it! Otherwise I'd also recommend Hallet Peak. I'm sure you'll get more recommendations for non-Longs summits. But I say go ahead if you've informed yourself about all the details about it.

--Aaron

[junkie]

Mt Ida might be another good summit hike to consider. I am not quite adventurous enough (not with kids in tow anyway) for longs, but Mt Ida looks challenging but doable, and quite rewarding.

Chris

[misssilly]

You know soemthing? I've been wondering about the peaks over on the west side. I've never made it up the Red Mtn. Trail or any of those higher areas in the Never Summers. anyone been there? That might be nice to try too. :)

Jen

[invisiblewindow]

I think no matter what, we will hike to the Keyhole. That seems like an awesome payoff and we would get to view Glacier Gorge from above. We really loved the hike to Green/Frozen, so the Keyhole may be a logical next step.
I just know that if we stopped at the Keyhole, I would regret it about 20 seconds from turning around, unless I was really exhausted.

I guess we could judge the rest of the way up based on how we feel there.

Ida is surely one to think over. I need to read up on that one.

As for the west side mountains, I love to look at them, but for some reason, I have not yet felt compelled to hike over there. I am currently very much stuck on the areas that surround Long's Peak. Thus far, it has produced my most memorable times inside the park.

I appreciate all the responses so far, and anyone else out there with ideas, let em fly!

[DeeCeeM]

I've had a secret ambition to hike Mt. Ida for a long, long time. I'm halfway tempted to see how far I can get in that direction in August. It will all depend on where the Rendezvous group hike is and/or making shuttle arrangements so I can start at the Alpine Visitors Center & finish at Milner Pass.

(Of course, by the time August gets here, I will probably have given thought to hiking just about everywhere in the park - can't wait to see where I actually end up!)

[Okie Day-Hiker]

I haven't attempted Longs so I can't comment on it.
But, I would agree with some of the others about Hallet Peak and Mt. Ida. I did both last summer and thoroughly enjoyed both hikes. Both have good trails and are very scenic. Another very good summit hike is Mt. Audabon in the Indian Peaks Wilderness just south of Longs Peak.
This summer I am going to attempt the trio of Chapin, Chaquita, and Ypsilon. From trip reports I've seen, this hike shouldn't be anymore difficult than Hallet and Ida. I'm also going to do Pawnee Peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

FYI - I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who is planning hikes this far in advance.

[greencub]

Hi all,

I would definitely recommend Flattop and Hallet. I love that so much of the hike is above treeline on the tundra - you get great views.

Also another pretty good hike once out of the trees is Twin Sisters.

We did Chaquita and Chapin, but ran out of time to get to Yipsilon. We will try to do that this year.

Out of it all, I would do Longs again in a minute.
I did Longs 2 years ago and that was the toughest 14 hours I have ever spent. It took me 3 hours to get from the keyhole to the summit, but I would do it again - in fact I am thinking about it again for this year.

If you guys are in decent shape, and you really want to, then you should try it. My husband wouldnt do it - he doesnt believe in starting a hike in the middle of the night and he is just not mentally into it.

It is an awsome hike and if you know the work involved you will love it.


Beth

[slowpoke]

I would like to do Longs as well, but I've already decided that my next trip to the park will be with my wife and some friends. I wouldn't want to introduce them to the mountains that way, nor do I think it would be wise.

Just curious, when did you leave the TH for Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon? I'm understanding that to Ypsilon it's about 3.5, maybe 4 miles? Trying to fit in Chapin, Chiquita, Ypsilon (and maybe Fairchild) on one day, camp, and then get to Hagues and Mummy and then out on Fern Lake the next day. Just need some help planning.

Hi all,

I would definitely recommend Flattop and Hallet. I love that so much of the hike is above treeline on the tundra - you get great views.

Also another pretty good hike once out of the trees is Twin Sisters.

We did Chaquita and Chapin, but ran out of time to get to Yipsilon. We will try to do that this year.

Out of it all, I would do Longs again in a minute.
I did Longs 2 years ago and that was the toughest 14 hours I have ever spent. It took me 3 hours to get from the keyhole to the summit, but I would do it again - in fact I am thinking about it again for this year.

If you guys are in decent shape, and you really want to, then you should try it. My husband wouldnt do it - he doesnt believe in starting a hike in the middle of the night and he is just not mentally into it.

It is an awsome hike and if you know the work involved you will love it.


Beth 

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[Veik]

I think Hallett is an excellent summit. You should do that first even if you decide to do Longs. Do Hallett and know that Longs will be tougher and more dangerous.

There definitely are some areas beyond the keyhole where you have to be careful, but if you pay attention to what you are doing, I don't think the risk of falling is too great. A lot of people hike longs and you just don't hear about many falls.

Lots of loose rock in the Trough just waiting to be sent tumbling, so be careful there about rocks coming down to you kicked out by people above and also be careful not so dislodge some yourself and send them down to the people below you.

By all means, go at least as far as the keyhole and take a look at it.

[Veik]

Take a look at this, and be sure to watch the videos!

Longs Peak Trip Report And Journal

[lovethemtns]

Those were great Tom. I don't think I could summit Long's. Those drop offs were a bit much for me. Did you notice that one guy was wearing red?? Maybe he is one of the hikers in your photos.

[weatherbe]

Awesome Tom!!! Great report and photos!!! Thanks for sharing.

Weather

Take a look at this, and be sure to watch the videos!

Longs Peak Trip Report And Journal

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[greencub]

Just curious, when did you leave the TH for Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon? I'm understanding that to Ypsilon it's about 3.5, maybe 4 miles? Trying to fit in Chapin, Chiquita, Ypsilon (and maybe Fairchild) on one day, camp, and then get to Hagues and Mummy and then out on Fern Lake the next day. Just need some help planning.

Honestly, I left really late 9am around. Wrong time for a variety of reason.
As we all know you dont want to be up on top at noon in the summer and ended up about that time with a thunderstorm coming in. We did two of the summits and decided to do Yipsilon next year. Especially for that hike, I would get there early as the parking is really tight.

I am not that familar with Hague and Mummy, so I would let someone else advise on that.

You hike sounds great.

Beth

[greencub]

Tom,

Thanks so much for the pictures, havent looked at the video yet.
They are absolutely great...makes me really want to do Longs again.


Beth :)