Great thread and pictures thanks! You hit on a couple of things that were definitely how I felt in some of the trips you have done:
I climbed Longs in 1980 (when I was 18) and the lack of acclimating hit me hard (I had just come from MA). I remember the guys in their 60’s blowing past me in the boulder field like I was standing still. (well some times I was!) Ha!
I was about 1/2 way up through the Homestretch I just did not feel I could make it any further. A guy coming down stopped for a second and I told him I was done. He told me “Don’t you even THINK about giving up. I don’t care what you have to do…just get to the top. You will never forgive yourself.” I didn’t and I would love to thank him for it to this day. The views have remained in my mind long after the pain left my legs and lungs.
I have an almost identical picture looking from near the keyhole back to the boulder field. There was a red tent in the boulder field the day I climbed and its cool to point it out as a speck to people when I show them the pics.
Rabbit Ears is a cool climb for sure. I spent one fall just over Stormy Peaks from your route. Great part of CO.
I love the old ghost towns. Alta was one of my favorites. I marvel at the beauty around them during the summer but cringe at the thought of the guys working there in the winter. Yikes! Or in those high peak thunderstorms!
I think you were very wise to back off your first attempt on (was it?) Elbert when you heard the snow cracking. I think too many times people think of the time and effort they have invested and ignore safety letting that decision drive them further into dangerous situations that end badly. Smart move from my perspective. You can always come back (and you did right? I may have read through that part too quickly) and do it another time.
Great post thanks for taking the time to write it up and share all the adventures with us.
I climbed Longs in 1980 (when I was 18) and the lack of acclimating hit me hard (I had just come from MA). I remember the guys in their 60’s blowing past me in the boulder field like I was standing still. (well some times I was!) Ha!
I was about 1/2 way up through the Homestretch I just did not feel I could make it any further. A guy coming down stopped for a second and I told him I was done. He told me “Don’t you even THINK about giving up. I don’t care what you have to do…just get to the top. You will never forgive yourself.” I didn’t and I would love to thank him for it to this day. The views have remained in my mind long after the pain left my legs and lungs.
I have an almost identical picture looking from near the keyhole back to the boulder field. There was a red tent in the boulder field the day I climbed and its cool to point it out as a speck to people when I show them the pics.
Rabbit Ears is a cool climb for sure. I spent one fall just over Stormy Peaks from your route. Great part of CO.
I love the old ghost towns. Alta was one of my favorites. I marvel at the beauty around them during the summer but cringe at the thought of the guys working there in the winter. Yikes! Or in those high peak thunderstorms!
I think you were very wise to back off your first attempt on (was it?) Elbert when you heard the snow cracking. I think too many times people think of the time and effort they have invested and ignore safety letting that decision drive them further into dangerous situations that end badly. Smart move from my perspective. You can always come back (and you did right? I may have read through that part too quickly) and do it another time.
Great post thanks for taking the time to write it up and share all the adventures with us.
