33 replies to this topic

[foxfire]

Way to go Jim! Don't know as I will ever make it but hope to go thru the keyhole and see Glasier Gorge anyways! As someone else said good call as you saw it! Perhaps someday!

Fox

COOL!

[druwdowns]

I love the Keyhole picture. Great prospective!! The bar on the ledges picture is one you don't see much either.

Jim, I respect your courage!

~Druw~

[Igloo Ed]

a shiny bar right by the "fried egg"

Ah, now I remember it. I always wondered why they put that there, someone could trip over it.
I hope you have many more fulfilling trips out here.

[SandyP]

Ohmygoodness, JD, what a fantastic report! Long's Peak is the most ominous, foreboding hike in the park -- and certainly the one that garnishes the most fear and respect. Thank you for being so transparent and sharing what it is really like. Your accomplishments leave me totally in awe! And that photo of the keyhole!!!!!! Jeeeeeeez. . .for me. . .that alone would be worth the frightening trip.

For a person with a fear of heights, you did an amazng thing, and I will not be at all surprised if one day, you are posting a thread sharing the experience of your summit -- to a thousand congratulatory posts envying your ultimate victory. But even if you are done with Long's Peak forever. . .this alone is worthy of the highest honor!! WAY TO GO JD!!!

[SandyM]

It's taken me a couple hours to decide what I wanted to write, and I still am not there. But, this is as good as it will probably get.

Jim, knowing how fearful you are of heights and then still attempting to do Longs shows bravery, strength of character and heart. You psyched yourself up and and gave it your best shot and made it farther than most of the people living on this planet. To me that all says a stellar committment to overcome your fears and live life to the fullest.

I do believe it's the journeys we take in life that make it special and not necessarily the destinations.

I am in awe of your courage.

SandyM

[Bill 007]

Congrats Jim. Like Sandy, I had read this earlier today and was moved by the telling of your adventure. It just stuck with me all day. I'm proud of how you faced your fear head on. You did everything possible to give yourself the opportunity to make it. Whether you made the summit or not, in my book, you succeeded. I admire what you did and the grace with which you've accepted the final outcome. You da man!!

Bill

[Jim K]

The way you came to terms with your fear and faced it head on is inspiring!

The fact that you are willing to share your fears openly and honestly with others is even more courageous and takes a lot more courage and strength than most people have. You have my utmost respect. Thanks for sharing your story. It has most likely helped countless people deal with their own fears.

Jim
(Awesome pic too)

[hector]

Great report, Jim. Thanks for being honest, and great job on making it up as far as you did, and as fast as you did!

[DeeCeeM]

Your report reminds me of one of my favorite sayings. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is being afraid and trying anyway. In my opinion, you have shown courage of the highest order!

[Jenny]

It's taken me a couple hours to decide what I wanted to write, and I still am not there. But, this is as good as it will probably get.

Jim, knowing how fearful you are of heights and then still attempting to do Longs shows bravery, strength of character and heart. You psyched yourself up and and gave it your best shot and made it farther than most of the people living on this planet. To me that all says a stellar committment to overcome your fears and live life to the fullest.

I do believe it's the journeys we take in life that make it special and not necessarily the destinations.

I am in awe of your courage.

SandyM

I echo these sentiments and I couldn't possibly say it any better than Sandy already has. Great report JD! You should be proud!!!



--Jenny

[waterrat]

Jim, you did great.

For myself, the problem isn't the climb up, it's the descent that freaks me out. If I let myself dwell on it, I can't make myself go up because I'm too scared of the descent. This happens to me everytime I go up something with more than a 10 foot or so drop to it; I've a touch of vertigo that I can ignore easily while going up, but when I'm coming down and have to look down...

*shudders*

[Paula Frazee]

I'd like to try to get to the keyhole someday - but I got queasy just looking at the picture of the shiny bar! And I have to cover my eyes on some places driving up trail ridge! It is really hard loving the mountains and being scared of heights! Thank goodness there are plenty of other great places in Rocky that don't scare me to death. Thanks for the report - you included a lot of information that I didn't know.

[Dianne]

Well, I'm glad I'm in good company....I REALLY want to do Meeker, but would take a guide and have no qualms about stopping if I felt that gut telling me to. In fact, I would like the chance to stop, let the others continue and have a spot all to myself to sit and enjoy.

[JDgreen]

Well, I'm glad I'm in good company....I REALLY want to do Meeker, but would take a guide and have no qualms about stopping if I felt that gut telling me to. In fact, I would like the chance to stop, let the others continue and have a spot all to myself to sit and enjoy.

CMS guides will encourage you and try and help you continue but ultimately you pull the plug. A guide on Meeker for me would not be a bad thing . Without ever being on them myself a Ranger told me there was a pretty good ramp system however a party last year basically cliffed out with a rock giving way and one fatality.

[Igloo Ed]

Without ever being on them myself a Ranger told me there was a pretty good ramp system however a party last year basically cliffed out with a rock giving way and one fatality.

That climber was a bit off route. The route is traveled enough that it can be seen with experience. Loose gravel and no lichen on the small rocks. An inexperienced climber could get in trouble easily enough.