Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 1978
Ahhh...the days of youth and stupidity. Three buddies from Kansas, myself being one, climbed this (our first real mountain) with only two quarts of liquid, peanut butter and crackers, and yet stll came home safe and alive, with the climbing bug now firmly entrenched in our blood.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 1999
What a great mountain, but way too many people! I was in the best shape of my life when I climbed this one, car-to-car in 6.5 hours. This was the first time my hair ever stood on end. I'll never forget it. One day I would like to watch the sunrise over the front range from Longs.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 14, 2000
Started the day before and hiked up to the boulderfield to camp for the night. The next morning, we left around 6:30am and traversed the boulderfield to the keyhole, then the bullseye route the rest of the way. The only spot we bogged down was in the Trough, which took most of the time.
The route was awesome - the Narrows was cool and the Homestretch was a nice way to reach the summit. Even though this was a weekday, there was still about 20-30 people at the summit. From our campsite, we did the round trip in about 4.5 hours.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 16, 2004
Beautiful climb on a nice day. Being my first 14er, the route was surprisingly difficult, but it was all worth it. I was ready to do it again the next day. I didn't like the crowds, though.
Route Climbed: Glacier Gorge Loop Date Climbed: August 4th, 2004
Started from Glacier Gorge TH, then ascended the stadard Key Hole Route, with the exception that in the Trough I stayed on the slabs and cracks on climbers left which allowed much more solid and sustained Class 3, highly recommended. Then descended the Trough all the way to Glacier Gorge.
Route Climbed: Up the Loft, down the Keyhole Date Climbed: August 31, 2004
I was very happy to go up the Loft - no people and fun route. Keyhole on the way down was a zoo... Real nice to link up the routes. Started 4am, summited 8.30.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 9, 2004
2nd time i have summitted, and just like last time i told myself that i need not ever go again. LOL. I am seriously considering going back next week with my little brother (its only been 3 weeks since). It is that kind of experience. It makes an impression on your soul.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 1, 2003
Two different hikes one to the keyhole and one after the keyhole. First time hiking with exposure and my mind was a mess. Made it up and I was very proud of myself. Outstanding climb.
This was my goal mountain for the year (WOO HOO!). Unbelievable views of glacier gorge. Shared the mountain with WAY too many people. Great experience, though. I was trained properly and conditioned for the distance, so it was mostly just a walk in the park for me. :)
What a lucky day- first person on Longs summit via the Keyhole route for ten whole minutes. Fun route, great views. Hope to do Longs and Meeker via the loft sometime soon.
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 05AUGUST04
Knocked off the Keyhole with the Gnomeboy!
RyanS - Aug 9, 2004 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2004
Route Climbed: Part of Loft Route Date Climbed: August 7, 2004
After summitting Meeker via the Iron Gates, we climbed the portion of the Loft Route from the Loft beyond. We actually found Clark's Arrow, which was something of a surprise. It's wild to see all the people on the Keyhole Route above you as you climb next to the Palisades. We then traversed to Pagoda Mountain. If climbing Meeker, Longs, Pagoda, Storm, and Lady Washington in a day is the "Grand Slam," then I guess we did "The Two-Man Homerun"? A trip report is available here.
We also climbed the Keyhole Route on August 11, 2001. A friend of Erin's had climbed Longs the week before, so we set out to do the same. I don't imagine many people climb Longs as their 3rd 14er (many more probably do it as their 1st, eh?), so this was a rude awakening after climbing Grays and Torreys a month earlier. 5000' is a lot of elevation gain for the uninitiated, and we were wiped out for a couple of days afterward. We left the TH at 3:30 a.m., and we took 12 hours RT, I recall. A t-storm rolled in as we were leaving the Boulderfield during our descent.
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: July 18, 2004
Started a long day of hiking/climbing at 4:30AM. From the keyhole to the top of the trough was icy and wet presumably from the snow and rain one day earlier. The homestretch was also wet and slippery. We made it to the top just in time to get schetched out by approaching thunderstorms. We decended via the snow in the trough and proceded down the lengthening trail to our car.
RModelli - Feb 21, 2005 9:22 am
Route Climbed: Key Hole Date Climbed: June 2004It was a great climb, a lot of people there.
Some people "lost" on the mountain , probably expecting something a little easier than it actually is.
I did not take enough water with me and was left with no water for most of the way...not smart.
The route winds up the mountain, and it is really gentle.
ColoradoScott - Feb 2, 2005 12:16 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 1978Ahhh...the days of youth and stupidity. Three buddies from Kansas, myself being one, climbed this (our first real mountain) with only two quarts of liquid, peanut butter and crackers, and yet stll came home safe and alive, with the climbing bug now firmly entrenched in our blood.
Richrat - Jan 30, 2005 6:58 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole route Date Climbed: July 2002This was my first class 3. What a great hike. It made for a long day trip though.
DylanWann - Dec 12, 2004 4:48 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 2001Wow--what a blast. Great view from the summit.
bakcast - Nov 17, 2004 9:50 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 1999What a great mountain, but way too many people! I was in the best shape of my life when I climbed this one, car-to-car in 6.5 hours. This was the first time my hair ever stood on end. I'll never forget it. One day I would like to watch the sunrise over the front range from Longs.
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 9:06 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 14, 2000Started the day before and hiked up to the boulderfield to camp for the night. The next morning, we left around 6:30am and traversed the boulderfield to the keyhole, then the bullseye route the rest of the way. The only spot we bogged down was in the Trough, which took most of the time.
The route was awesome - the Narrows was cool and the Homestretch was a nice way to reach the summit. Even though this was a weekday, there was still about 20-30 people at the summit. From our campsite, we did the round trip in about 4.5 hours.
ultra_leslie - Sep 24, 2004 4:28 pm
Route Climbed: Keiners Date Climbed: Sept 18, 2004It was a great day to climb Keiners!
Jonboy71 - Sep 22, 2004 10:07 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: Sept. 18, 2004This was my first 14er, and my climbing buddy as well, It was definitly harder than anticipated, but very rewarding , a truely epic experience!!
Trevor Simmons - Sep 19, 2004 12:48 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 16, 2004Beautiful climb on a nice day. Being my first 14er, the route was surprisingly difficult, but it was all worth it. I was ready to do it again the next day. I didn't like the crowds, though.
thebeave7 - Sep 10, 2004 3:33 am
Route Climbed: Glacier Gorge Loop Date Climbed: August 4th, 2004Started from Glacier Gorge TH, then ascended the stadard Key Hole Route, with the exception that in the Trough I stayed on the slabs and cracks on climbers left which allowed much more solid and sustained Class 3, highly recommended. Then descended the Trough all the way to Glacier Gorge.
Eric J Lee
kovarpa - Sep 8, 2004 12:53 am
Route Climbed: Up the Loft, down the Keyhole Date Climbed: August 31, 2004I was very happy to go up the Loft - no people and fun route. Keyhole on the way down was a zoo... Real nice to link up the routes. Started 4am, summited 8.30.
dunking_deutschman - Aug 30, 2004 1:29 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 9, 20042nd time i have summitted, and just like last time i told myself that i need not ever go again. LOL. I am seriously considering going back next week with my little brother (its only been 3 weeks since). It is that kind of experience. It makes an impression on your soul.
F Bomb - Aug 23, 2004 12:38 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: September 1, 2003Two different hikes one to the keyhole and one after the keyhole. First time hiking with exposure and my mind was a mess. Made it up and I was very proud of myself. Outstanding climb.
mountainjunkie - Aug 20, 2004 7:32 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: August 13, 2002Still one of my favorite mountains, except for the crowds.
cagedalpinist - Aug 18, 2004 1:08 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 19 July 2004What a day. Middle of july and climbing in crampons. Sleet on the descent, wet rock all around. Still my favorite mountain.
shannarae2k - Aug 16, 2004 9:58 am
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: 08/17/2004This was my goal mountain for the year (WOO HOO!). Unbelievable views of glacier gorge. Shared the mountain with WAY too many people. Great experience, though. I was trained properly and conditioned for the distance, so it was mostly just a walk in the park for me. :)
colint - Aug 10, 2004 3:08 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Date Climbed: July 2003What a lucky day- first person on Longs summit via the Keyhole route for ten whole minutes. Fun route, great views. Hope to do Longs and Meeker via the loft sometime soon.
cjrobinson - Aug 10, 2004 12:30 pm
Route Climbed: Keyhole Route Date Climbed: 05AUGUST04Knocked off the Keyhole with the Gnomeboy!
RyanS - Aug 9, 2004 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2004
Route Climbed: Part of Loft Route Date Climbed: August 7, 2004After summitting Meeker via the Iron Gates, we climbed the portion of the Loft Route from the Loft beyond. We actually found Clark's Arrow, which was something of a surprise. It's wild to see all the people on the Keyhole Route above you as you climb next to the Palisades. We then traversed to Pagoda Mountain. If climbing Meeker, Longs, Pagoda, Storm, and Lady Washington in a day is the "Grand Slam," then I guess we did "The Two-Man Homerun"? A trip report is available here.
We also climbed the Keyhole Route on August 11, 2001. A friend of Erin's had climbed Longs the week before, so we set out to do the same. I don't imagine many people climb Longs as their 3rd 14er (many more probably do it as their 1st, eh?), so this was a rude awakening after climbing Grays and Torreys a month earlier. 5000' is a lot of elevation gain for the uninitiated, and we were wiped out for a couple of days afterward. We left the TH at 3:30 a.m., and we took 12 hours RT, I recall. A t-storm rolled in as we were leaving the Boulderfield during our descent.
derbilly - Jul 21, 2004 9:20 pm
Route Climbed: The Keyhole Date Climbed: July 18, 2004Started a long day of hiking/climbing at 4:30AM. From the keyhole to the top of the trough was icy and wet presumably from the snow and rain one day earlier. The homestretch was also wet and slippery. We made it to the top just in time to get schetched out by approaching thunderstorms. We decended via the snow in the trough and proceded down the lengthening trail to our car.