Climbing Longs Peak in Colorado
August 1994

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.

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 trail head and a nice sunrise on the way up.

Sunrise along the trail head

Early views above the tree line

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

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