Over 60 years ago I climbed Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park with my dad. We drove from Nebraska to Colorado and spent several days hiking and camping in the mountains to acclimate to the altitude. On the day of ascent we arose at 4 AM, had pancakes for breakfast, and then we started the 15-mile round trip to the 14,259-foot summit of the mountain. We were above timberline before sunrise and made it through the Boulder Field in the early light.
The real challenge began when we reached the Cable Route that started just below the Crux. At that time, a cable had been anchored to assist climbers up the rock wall near the edge of the vertical east face of the mountain known as the Diamond. It was a precarious route, and at times I needed my Dad’s help to get up the most difficult parts. A final scramble led to the broad, flat top of the peak where we signed the register and admired the views in all directions before starting back down.
We descended on the opposite side of the mountain, carefully edged our way across the Narrows, hiked cautiously down the Trough and across the Ledges. I remember marveling at how far down those cliffs plummeted, but always felt that there was adequate room to safely traverse them.
Finally, we passed through a slot in the ridge with an ominous-looking, partial, rocky roof known as the Keyhole. We had made it past the difficult challenges and had arrived back on the same side of the mountain that we had ascended.
The hike back through the Boulder Field to timberline and on down to camp in the early afternoon left us exhausted and exhilarated. It is a memory that I will cherish as long as I live; Longs Peak is one hill that I will never get over.
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Special thanks to Jon and Emily for helping me resurrect memories that time had tried to bury.
#longspeak #mountain #hike #overthehill
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