Longs Peak

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2011.08.01 @ Rocky Mountain NP, CO

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Longs Peak

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Summit: 14,259 feet

Round hike: 16 miles

Elevation gain: 5,100 feet

Difficulty: Class 3, scrambling with increased exposure. Highest level of non-technical climbing, a rope can be carried but is usually not required.

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In summer,  the frequent afternoon thunderstorms bring a risk of lightning strikes.

In order to reach the summit and return below the tree line early, we began the hike at 3:15 am, and back to the trailhead at 3:15 pm.

It was a great 12-hour hike.

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sunrise, 5:20 am, already hiked 2 hours and above the treeline

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East face of Longs Peak, the “Diamond”

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Boulder Field, approaching Keyhole

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Keyhole

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climbing over Keyhole

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ascent

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ascent

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rest in clouds

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endless ascent

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above the clouds

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“The Narrow”

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“The Narrow”

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last part, very steep and exposed

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summit!

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view of Chasm Lake from the summit

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descending

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snow patch

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clouds over the mountains

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solar powered restroom

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wild flowers

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Longs Peak is the only mountain with summit over 14,000 ft in Rocky Mountain National Park,

and also is one of the most difficult Class 3 fourteener scrambles in Colorado.

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Capitol Peak — Mountain of the year 2012

Longs Peak — Mountain of the year 2011

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