Longs Peak

As a teenager growing up in Longmont, I spent many years looking at Longs Peak and Mount Meeker and hoped to climb it someday. It only took me 30 years after graduating from LHS to get it done.... It was worth the effort for the views, the workout and the new way in which I now view the mountain from the plains.

Best advice I received and will pass along was find your pace and stay within yourself. It is a dangerous climb if you get careless, and a great adventure if you take the time to enjoy the views and listen to your body. Keep drinking water or sports drinks and recognize that after leaving Keyhole it is no longer a hike, it is a serious climb and you'll do fine. The weather was perfect the day I climbed, but thunderstorms are the way to get hurt in the high country and respect the weather reports while keeping your eyes on the western skies.

Great equipment: I bought a pair of collapsible trekking poles and they were wonderful! One guy offered me $200 for them in the Trough. It makes going down so much easier when you can plant your pole and lower yourself down rather than sliding over rocks and hoping you don't lose your footing. The pictures I took were great, but a panoramic throwaway camera would have been great for the view out of Keyhole as well as the top of the Trough and the summit. REI sells a water purifier for $40 that is a great investment for any outdoor adventure and enables you to fill up empty containers as well. A pair of bicycle type glove with open fingers makes great sense, too. Several people I saw had chewed up hands from the descent. The rest is up to you, just keep it light since that weight becomes a lot of lifting as you ascend.

Finally, thank you to all the individuals who offer advice on these web sites as well as in books and on the trail. There are some wonderful people you will meet along the way and there is a great sense of accomplishment when you reach the summit. Plus, the photo you take of yourself/group makes for a great wallpaper or screensaver! Notice that you don't see any trash on the trail and resist the urge to shortcut over the tundra to save 2 minutes of hiking, so that we all can enjoy it another day.