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Picture
taken from the summit of Estes Cone
In
the summer of 2003 my Dad and I finally made it to the summit of
Longs Peak. When we first arrived in Estes Park we went
to the Longs Peak Ranger Station to see if the Keyhole Route was
rated Technical or Non Technical. The ranger said it was a
Technical climb because of the ice and snow but he said he talked to
some people who climbed it without any special gear. We
decided to try it two days before we had to go back to OKLAHOMA.
That way it would give us a little over a week to try to get
acclimated.
Tony
walking on the Ledges and avoiding the snow
Our
adventure started at 2:00 a.m. to the sound of the wonderful alarm
clock. My mom got up to make us some breakfast sandwiches.
How many moms would do that? We made it to the trailhead and
put our head lamps on, signed the register book, and headed up the
trail at 3:02 a.m.
When we
made it above treeline we saw a falling star. I know what I
wished for. NO STORMS! My wish came true because it
was the perfect day to climb Longs. I don't think it stormed all
day. We met a old man who had climbed about 30
fourteeners. He stayed behind us until Boulderfield and then
he was gone. He looked like a mountain goat climbing all
those boulders. It took us "flat landers" longer
but we made great times. We were in Boulderfield by 6:30
a.m. and the Keyhole by 7:15 a.m.
Looking
down from the top of the Trough. FINALLY!
The trail
past the Keyhole had parts that were covered in ice and snow so we
had to go around. Once we got about halfway up the trough I
asked myself, "What am I doing? I'm on vacation! Vacations are
supposed to be relaxing!" I was surprised I could even
hear myself think over the loud pounding in my head from my heart
beating so fast. The trail was covered with sheets of ice and
snow so we had to make our own trail. We had to pull ourselves
up on huge boulders most of the way up. We FINALLY made it to
the top of the trough. It was definitely as hard as the books
describe, maybe even worse.
Tony
looking out at the view from the Narrows
Now it was
time to cross the Narrows. It wasn't as bad as I thought it
would be. After the climb up the Trough everything from then
on didn't phase me much, mentally anyway. The Homestretch was
easier for me because I knew the summit was just at the top of the
ridge. It was a little steeper than the Trough and it was more
of a rock slab instead of loose rocks and boulders. And then
finally at 9:24 a.m. we were at the top of Longs Peak! Everyone
at the top started cheering and clapping for us, especially after we
told them we were from Oklahoma.
Looking
up at the Homestretch
I took some
pictures and looked around the summit. I was amazed at how big the
summit was. I didn't enjoy it too much at the time because the
whole time I kept thinking how only half the journey was over.
We still have to climb all the way back down. I think I'd be
more relaxed if we climbed it again. My Dad and I got our
picture taken on the official summit rock. I couldn't believe
we climbed a mountain that was 14,259 feet tall. Not bad for
people who live in a town with an elevation of about 1,000 feet.
Alicia
(Me) and Tony on the summit of Longs Peak
It was the perfect
day to climb Longs Peak because the sky was clear of clouds.
We had a little snack and called the rest of our family on my
Dad's cell phone. The house we stayed at in Estes had a
telescope that we would use to look at people on the top of Longs
Peak. So we called them and asked them if they could see us.
My mom said that she could barely see us.
My Dad and I
started getting a headache so we started to head back down.
I slid on my rear a few times on the way down the Homestretch and
the Trough. I still have the windsuit pants to prove it.
We made it to Granite Pass at 12:45 p.m. and ate a power bar.
It was starting to get hot so we headed for treeline. Once
we finally made it to treeline we were both starving. Trail
mix and Power Bars weren't going to do the trick only one thing
could.... a Quarter Pounder from McDonalds. After the thought
of real food we picked up the pace. I think the sign that
says, ".5 miles to Ranger Station" is deceiving. That
was the longest half mile I've ever walked. We made it to the
car at 2:45 p.m. and headed straight for McDonalds.
Going
down the Homestretch
I never thought that a Quarter
Pounder could taste like heaven. It didn't take us long to
wipe out the burgers and fries. Once we got back to the house
we told everyone about our adventure. At the time I was on
Longs Peak I told myself that I wouldn't step a foot on that
mountain again. But my attitude changed the next day when I
saw Longs Peak and realized what my dad and I had accomplished.
Not bad for two "flat landers." We climbed the 16
mile round trip hike in 11 hours and 45 minutes. |
