OUTDOOR AWARENESS

Given the failed attempt of Longs Peak in 2016, we gave it another attempt. The acclimatization is the tricky part. Last year, we attempted to camp, and slowly ascend the mountain. However, you need to carry a lot of gear to make that happen; and that exhausts you on the attempt. In addition, we went in June last year, and snow and ice were still present on the final sections. This year, we decided to try something different. We'd basecamp in a nice comfortable lodge in Estes Park, and day hike Twin Sisters and then Longs Peak.

We arrived in Denver on Friday, picked up our rental vehicle, and checked into our lodge in Estes Park. With a good night's sleep, we awoke 4'ish and arrived at the Twin Sisters Trailhead at 6am. The acclimatization challenge was pretty evident as we were breathing deeply throughout. However, we made very consistent progress, and ascended the east summit at 10:15am. It was a beautiful time on the summit. Blue sky, calm winds, and favorable temperature. We spent a half hour on the summit, and then headed down. We received a short but heavy afternoon rainstorm slightly before reaching the car.

Nearly everyone suggested we arrive at the Longs Peak Trailhead at 3am. Well, we arrived at 4am. At that time, the parking lot was already full, and vehicles were parked on the road leading down. The acclimatization of Twin Sisters, was a great help. With an unexpected endurance, we arrived at Boulderfield in less than four hours. Once through the Keyhole and across the Ledges, I felt that we would finally summit Longs Peak. However, the Trough was still to be crossed. Many, many people stumbling up (and down) the Trough, remaining snow, and persistent loose rock slowed us down tremendously. After at least an hour, we got through. Once out on the Narrows, we were surprised. This was VERY exposed. Slowly and deliberately, we moved across the Narrows, which was difficult, because people were coming from the other direction too. At 10:45 am, we were 3/4 through the Narrows, and could see the final section, Homestretch. However, looking upward, we saw the unmistakable signs of an impending thunderstorm. While a little early at 10:45 am, the storms come when they do, and we started to head downward with everyone else. Prior to the junction to Chasm Lake, we encountered another thunderstorm. On the exposed plain, there was little we could do, and continued to head down. At 4:45 pm, we finally returned safely to the trailhead.