The National Park Service (NPS) also provides recent Longs Peak conditions information. Please visit the following page to view their information:8/14/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 8/14/2013, By: IkeB Info: Some snow and ice past the keyhole. Ice on the homestretch. A warm day or two and it should melt off. |
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8/10/2013 Route: North Face Posted On: 8/10/2013, By: esagas Info: We went up the North Face (Cables route) and down the Keyhole. Summer conditions all over the mountain. |
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7/22/2013 Route: Kieners Posted On: 7/22/2013, By: pbakwin Info: Lambs is very icy now. There was a thin strip of snow along the climber's right side, but it will rapidly disappear. It is possible to climb Glacier Rib and then go over the top of the snow/ice and back down to Broadway, this will add a couple hundred feet. The rest of the route is dry and good shape. North Face nearly dry - easy DC. |
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7/22/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/24/2013, By: jrs1965 Info: The Keyhole Route is completely free of snow and in great shape. There were just a couple of wet spots from drainage above on the Narrows. Don’t forget to rent/pickup a bear canister for your food if you plan on doing backcountry camping in RMNP. The park rangers at the TH will not issue a camping permit unless you have one... |
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7/16/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/18/2013, By: Rambler Info: Was up there Tuesday 7/16, route was completely snow free. Homestretch was a bit wet/icey but mostly avoidable. Water running pretty well near boulderfield campsites and accessable for getting filled up on the way up and down. |
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7/13/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/13/2013, By: JohnnyZ Info: Homestrech has some ice / snow on the left hand side that can easily be avoided. Was a little wet in places around 6AM but is also possible to avoid. Rest of trail is snowfree, some wet patches you can get around. |
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7/12/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/12/2013, By: capetrekker Info: The only small amount of snow is half way up the homestretch. It is easily avoidable. |
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7/10/2013 Route: Kiener's Posted On: 7/10/2013, By: alwetend Info: Kiener‘s is in great shape...Good snow for kicking on Lamb‘s Slide, avoidable snow on Broadway, a little wet going up the rock pitches. Have fun! |
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7/7/2013 Route: Loft Route Posted On: 7/9/2013, By: JonW Info: Snow is 100% avoidable up to the Loft. We kicked a few steps since it was easier, but did not carry any traction or an ice ax and never felt like it was necessary. Rock was wet in spots, but not bad. The Homestretch had running water but it was avoidable. |
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7/3/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/3/2013, By: Stevo68 Info: Went for a stroll up longs peak up through the keyhole route. Ledges, narrow, trough full snow avoidable. There was some ice in the trough but soon started melting. I summoned at 6:30 avoidable snow on the homestretch, but the rocks were cover with black ice going up and Down it. Used no traction, maybe microspike would be helpful for the homestretch |
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7/3/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 7/3/2013, By: Alan Arnette Info: Attempted NW Couloir from the Ledges today but bailed due to conditions. Full TR tomorrow. Retreated to Keyhole and as already reported, almost summer conditions. Snowfree: approach, boulderfield, Ledges, Narrows. A bit of snow and/or veriglass which was easily, very easily avoided on the Trough and Homestretch. I rap‘d the North Face and found the usual running water but virtually no veriglass. |
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6/19/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 6/26/2013, By: AWright Info: Clear and free of snow from trailhead up to the Keyhole. Some slight mud/water on the trail due to melting snow, mostly between turnoff for Chasm Lake and the boulderfield. After the Keyhole, fair sized patches of snow and ice along route. I hit the Keyhole at 7am, so everything was still frozen pretty solid from the night. Definitely made the first part, traversing to the trough, much slower than had it been dry. (Image 3) The trough was a mix of snow, rock, and ice, with the snow providing the best bet for climbing. (Image 4) Narrows were almost completely dry except for 1 patch of ice. Compared to other parts of the hike, definitely not the sketchiest part. Homestretch was mostly solid spring snow with some ice. Ice ax definitely needed after the Keyhole, and crampons would also help significantly. Image 1: Longs from Chasm Lake turnoff Image 2: Boulderfield from the Keyhole Image 3: Traversing to the Trough from the Keyhole Image 4: Looking back down the Trough from part way up |
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6/12/2013 Route: The Flying Dutchman Posted On: 6/14/2013, By: moose_535 Info: Good snow in TFD with short ice section (WI2/2+). Traverse rock and snow to Homestretch. Decent snow on Homestretch but softening. Keyhole descent substantially covered in snow/ice to Keyhole, especially along Narrows and Ledges. Soft snow in Trough. |
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6/9/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 6/10/2013, By: thebeave7 Info: Went up and down the Keyhole route on Sunday 6/9/13. Warm in the morning (50F), and pleasant on the summit (maybe high 40s-50?). It was very warm at the trailhead when we returned in the afternoon (70s). Very minimal crowds still up there, as the parking lot was half empty. Conditions were still as reported by Alan on 6/6/13. The trail is mostly clear all the way into the Boulderfield, with just a few small snow patches to cross. The trail is VERY wet above Chasm Jct and turns into a full on river by the afternoon. Prepare to get wet if you're heading up there, though this means the snow is melting fast. From the Keyhole to the summit is also complete snow, with a few sections of rock. At 9am before the sun hit the Keyhole Traverse/Trough it was hard snow, but took crampons really well. When we hit the Narrows and Homestretch around 10ish they were in full sun and softening, but the steps were still solid. Be careful if you are ascending/descending after this time. The Trough and Keyhole Traverse get sun starting around 10am, and were nice and soft by 11ish when we returned, good plunge stepping, but no postholing at that hour. Overall snow conditions were good, but would recommend full crampons/ice axe, though one person from another party did ascending in microspikes, crampons would be more secure. Photos; #1-Keyhole Traverse, #2-Trough, #3-Narrows, #4-Homestretch |
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6/6/2013 Route: Keyhole Route Posted On: 6/7/2013, By: Alan Arnette Info: Mostly dry below Boulder Field then full on winter snow and ice to the summit. Same for descending via Loft route all the way to Chasm Lake. I made a video of the entire climb at http://youtu.be/-V05lBjxC4c |
