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Climbing Longs Peak in Colorado

A long time ago, in a previous lifetime, I worked at a guest ranch ("dude ranch") in the mountains of Colorado. Near the end of my stay there another worker and I decided to climb (hike, more like it) to the top of Longs Peak.

August 1994

We had to start early in order to be off the mountain by the time the afternoon thunderstorms rolled in. This meant 4am at the trailhead and a nice sunrise on the way up.

Sunrise along the trailhead
Early views above the treeline
Piles of boulders along the way
Crossing the boulder field towards the key hole
A closer view of the key hole (right side)
Finally getting close enough to the key hole to see the stone hut
The view once through the key hole
More views
The first part of the ascent was mostly hiking. But once through the "key hole" it became more of a scramble and the terrain was much rougher and more interesting.
The Ledge - sheer walls, up and down
Traversing the Ledge
Looking back over the Ledge
The last scramble to the summit
Looking back down the scramble
All the way to the tippy-top
Happy climbers