{"id":7016,"date":"2022-09-02T22:59:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T14:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=7016"},"modified":"2025-03-21T02:02:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T18:02:45","slug":"20220902longs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902longs\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 6 of 2022 Colorado Trip, Longs Peak, Crest of Rocky Mountain National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sixth and probably the most exciting day of our 2022 Colorado trip. We would be climbing Longs Peak via Keyhole route, a stunning YDS class 3 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park for intrepid adventurers.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_060628.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_060628.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s almost like a yearly tradition that I climbed one YDS class 3 mountain per year for the last two years. Now I would extend that by one more year by climbing Longs Peak. At an elevation of 4346m\/14259ft, it&#8217;s the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n    var secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints 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cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider17 = new Splide( '#splide-major-17', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider17.sync( secondarySlider17 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A few notes on why I picked Longs Peak. It&#8217;s easily accessible from the Denver metropolitan area, has a paved parking lot, and from my previous experience, trails in a national park were always well maintained. (It turned out there were a few pit toilets along this trail.) The extensive amount of paint markings along the &#8220;Keyhole&#8221; route means there&#8217;s no route-finding. And its Diamond face is an iconic alpine wall, a splendor of its own.<\/div>\n<p>This being our first time climbing Longs Peak, we picked its standard &#8220;Keyhole&#8221; route. At 22km roundtrip with 1500m elevation gain, it would certainly live up to the name of &#8220;Longs&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>My friend and I reserved two days on our trip for climbing Longs Peak, Sept 2 and 3. Our plan was to make the climb on the day with better weather conditions. It turned out that by noon, Sept 1, the weather forecast indicated similar chances of precipitation for these two days, so we committed on Sept 2, on that it&#8217;s a Friday with potentially fewer crowds. <\/p>\n<p>But with the possibility of rain in the forecast, we wanted to get up and down the mountain early before potential storms hit in the afternoon. (Unfortunately, not too early as we would like to have natural light for the scrambling sections after Keyhole.) With that, we left our hotel before 2am, and reached the trailhead around 2:30am. The parking lot was only about half full by the time we arrived.<\/p>\n<p>After some warmup, we started the journey at 2:50am. Unwillingly, this was my first alpine start.<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=121892750&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=121892750&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The trail started out in the woods, which wasn&#8217;t remarkable. It took us about an hour to get above the tree line, after which the few distant headlights up and down the trail were some much needed reassurance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_035726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_035726.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_041343.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_041343.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_045748.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_045748.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_052010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_052010.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_053919.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_053919.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_035726.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_041343.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_045748.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_052010.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_053919.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the city lights on way to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_035726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_035726.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_041343.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_041343.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_045748.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_045748.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_052010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_052010.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_053919.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_053919.jpg\" alt=\"Distant City Lights\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant City Lights<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We passed Granite Pass at 5:25am, after which there were a few switchbacks before reaching Boulder Field. It&#8217;s the start of nautical twilight, when the faint but distinctive contour of Long&#8217;s iconic west face emerged behind Mount Lady Washington, a monumental presence greeting the day&#8217;s contenders. I still recalled the awe when I caught that sight, the stirring emotions like a sailor catching the vaguest sight of land after long time at sea.<\/p>\n<p>After the switchbacks as we got closer to Boulder Field, the trail disappeared into rocks that were ever growing in size. One could never get bored with the enchanting views of Long&#8217;s Diamond Face ahead as it gradually glowed under the day&#8217;s first sunlight.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_055342.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_055342.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_060622.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_060622.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_061324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_061324.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_061932.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_061932.jpg\" alt=\"Warning Sign at Boulder Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Warning Sign at Boulder Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_062233.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_062233.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_062322.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_062322.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole along Path to Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole along Path to Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_063336.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_063336.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064644.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064644.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_055342.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_060622.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_061324.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_061932.jpg\" alt=\"Warning Sign at Boulder Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_062233.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_062322.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole along Path to Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_063336.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_064644.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Longs Peak as seen from trail to Boulder Field.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_055342.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_055342.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_060622.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_060622.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_061324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_061324.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_061932.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_061932.jpg\" alt=\"Warning Sign at Boulder Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Warning Sign at Boulder Field<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_062233.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_062233.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_062322.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_062322.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole along Path to Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Keyhole along Path to Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_063336.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_063336.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064644.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064644.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We reached Boulder Field at 6:20am, 9 minutes before the official sunrise. That meant we timed our departure and pace pretty well <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(or maybe we could leave just a bit earlier)<\/span>, as we would have good lighting for the scrambling sections to come. We joined a few groups of overnight campers in putting down some stash for the scrambling ahead. There were two &#8220;developed&#8221; bathrooms at Boulder Field <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(the other location with such facilities being the junction of Longs Peak and Chasm Lake trails, 5.1km from trailhead)<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_060225.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_060225.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/a><\/br>Twilight<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_063735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_063735.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064235.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064235.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064240.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064240.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield on way to Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulderfield on way to Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064646.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064646.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole Reflecting Rising Sun\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole Reflecting Rising Sun<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065441.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_060225.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_063735.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_064235.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_064240.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield on way to Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_064646.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole Reflecting Rising Sun\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_065441.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_060225.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_060225.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Twilight<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_063735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_063735.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064235.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064235.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064240.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064240.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield on way to Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulderfield on way to Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_064646.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_064646.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole Reflecting Rising Sun\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Keyhole Reflecting Rising Sun<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065441.jpg\" alt=\"Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rising Sun behind Mount Lady Washington<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Leaving Boulder Field, it&#8217;s a scramble to the &#8220;Keyhole&#8221;, a small opening in the rocks leading to the western side of Longs Peak. Despite its name, I would have a hard time associating the shape of rocks to an actual key hole, or it must be a weirdly shaped key at least. The field of talus leading up to the &#8220;Keyhole&#8221; was typical YDS class 2 terrain, yet heading up and taken carefully, I managed this section with minimum use of hands. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065049.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065049.jpg\" alt=\"Field of Boulders leading to Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Field of Boulders leading to Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065052.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065052.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065451.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065451.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southern Rocks of Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_070922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_070922.jpg\" width=\"53%\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southern Rocks of Keyhole<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The slab of rock wasn&#8217;t very thick from this angle. It would be nasty if it was to fall down.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071244.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Northern Rocks of Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122253.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122253.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122433.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122433.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122811.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_065049.jpg\" alt=\"Field of Boulders leading to Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_065052.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_065451.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_070922.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_071244.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_122253.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_122433.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_122811.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Keyhole along route to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065049.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065049.jpg\" alt=\"Field of Boulders leading to Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Field of Boulders leading to Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065052.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065052.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_065451.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_065451.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southern Rocks of Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_070922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_070922.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southern Rocks of Keyhole<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The slab of rock wasn&#8217;t very thick from this angle. It would be nasty if it was to fall down.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071244.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Rocks of Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Northern Rocks of Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122253.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122253.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122433.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122433.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122811.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After the &#8220;Keyhole&#8221;, mountains to the west popped into view. For the first time along the trip, one would enjoy the view of some comparable mountains. It&#8217;s also where the scrambling sections started, which were generally divided into 4 sections, &#8220;Ledges&#8221;, &#8220;Trough&#8221;, &#8220;Narrows&#8221;, &#8220;Homestretch&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>I used my helmet-mounted GoPro to record most of the scrambling sections after &#8220;Keyhole&#8221;, that compiled into the following video:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PNbk1NKeydk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nOr if one doesn&#8217;t like the ads on YouTube, below is the same video hosted on my server.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: x-small;\">1 hour, 31 minutes and 12 seconds, 1080p30fps, H265 only, compressed to 2Mbps for a total file size of 1.36GB.<br \/>\n0:47 The Ledges<br \/>\n18:53 The Trough<br \/>\n44:31 The Narrows<br \/>\n51:47 The Homestretch<br \/>\n1:02:24 Reaching Summit<br \/>\nDescent<br \/>\n1:03:15 The Homestretch<br \/>\n1:21:20 The Narrows\n<\/div>\n<p><video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/Initial.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/Longs_GoPro_1080p30_H265_2Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071252.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The rising sun just reached the top of these mountain ranges of Continental Divide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072227.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Arrowhead, McHenrys Peak, Taylor Peak, their textured rock faces in the rising sun.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071246.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071246.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zoom out view of the previous photo.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072221.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Chiefs Head Peak in the sun.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072234.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072234.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some rocky spires along the way.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113301.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during our descent around noon, where the interplay of light and shadows was softer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114826.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114826.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during our descent around noon, where the interplay of light and shadows was softer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_071252.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_072227.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_071246.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_072221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_072234.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_113301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_114826.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the mountains.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071252.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The rising sun just reached the top of these mountain ranges of Continental Divide.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072227.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Arrowhead, McHenrys Peak, Taylor Peak, their textured rock faces in the rising sun.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071246.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071246.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072221.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Chiefs Head Peak in the sun.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072234.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072234.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some rocky spires along the way.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113301.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during our descent around noon, where the interplay of light and shadows was softer.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114826.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114826.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during our descent around noon, where the interplay of light and shadows was softer.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The first of the scrambling sections was &#8220;Ledges&#8221;, where the trail traversed the western face of Longs Peak for about 600m, with a good mix of uphill and downhill. I would say most of the &#8220;Ledges&#8221; were YDS class 2, but there were one or two YDS class 3 moves. Exposure was very moderate during the &#8220;Ledges&#8221;. All the route-finding after the &#8220;Keyhole&#8221; was during the &#8220;Ledges&#8221;, but with an extensive amount of paints marking the route, it shouldn&#8217;t be difficult. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071257.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071257.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114336.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114336.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114332.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_115739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_115739.jpg\" width=\"92%\" alt=\"Technical Move along The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>Technical Move along The Ledges<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Looking down at this technical move, about halfway into the Ledges. The rocks were slippery from constant use, but the cracks and slits around it still provided ample handholds, and it&#8217;s certainly not very steep.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072243.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072243.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Just after the previous technical move, the path took a hard-to-find left turn towards the east, climbing up these rocks. This took us a few moments to identify.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113256.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges. Taken around noon during descent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113258.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113258.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges. Taken around noon during descent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_073833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_073833.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_071257.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_114336.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_114332.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_115739.jpg\" alt=\"Technical Move along The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_072243.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_113256.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_113258.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_073833.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the &#8220;Ledges&#8221; on way to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_071257.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_071257.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114336.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114336.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_114332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_114332.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail conditions along the Ledges.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_115739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_115739.jpg\" alt=\"Technical Move along The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Technical Move along The Ledges<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Looking down at this technical move, about halfway into the Ledges. The rocks were slippery from constant use, but the cracks and slits around it still provided ample handholds, and it&#8217;s certainly not very steep.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_072243.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_072243.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Just after the previous technical move, the path took a hard-to-find left turn towards the east, climbing up these rocks. This took us a few moments to identify.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113256.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges. Taken around noon during descent.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_113258.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_113258.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges. Taken around noon during descent.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_073833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_073833.jpg\" alt=\"The Ledges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Ledges<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back from the end of the Ledges.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that it&#8217;s the &#8220;Trough&#8221;. It probably got this name for being a long and narrow stretch of hillside, only that it&#8217;s tilted at an angle. To summarize from my personal experience, it&#8217;s long and tedious. The &#8220;Trough&#8221; had a good mix of YDS class 2 and (easy) class 3 moves, but in comparison the 180m of elevation gain on a steep slope was a more formidable task with thin air at 4100m elevation. I would compare that to climbing stairs, except that the stairs were made of rocks of irregular shape and sometimes, one had to find an easier way around some larger boulders.<br \/>\nOn a good side, the view looking down the &#8220;Trough&#8221;, especially towards its top, was classic of the Keyhole route.<\/p>\n<p>During this section, I made two longer rests waiting for my friend to catch up. And since the &#8220;Trough&#8221; was on the southwestern face of Longs Peak, away from the sun, the rocks were cold and I could feel that when I put the gloves back on, having placed them on the rocks during my rests.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_075516.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_074229.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_074229.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075308.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075308.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the bottom of the Trough looking up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075715.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075715.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075720.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">About a third of the way into the Trough, with wide (left) and tele (right) lens.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_082418.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_082418.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking down from the top of The Trough.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_080437.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_080437.jpg\" width=\"45%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_081005.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_081005.jpg\" width=\"45%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_110559.jpg\" width=\"45%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110910.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_110910.jpg\" width=\"45%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">With early morning (top) and mid-day lighting (bottom).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_110908.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Rocks next to The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocks next to The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking impressive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_111356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_111356.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken around noon during our descent when the lights were softer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_112904.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_112904.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken around noon during our descent when the lights were softer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_112907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_112907.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My friend descending from The Trough.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_075516.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_074229.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_075715.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_082418.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_110910.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_110908.jpg\" alt=\"Rocks next to The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_111356.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_112904.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_112907.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the &#8220;Trough&#8221; on way to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_075516.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Trough<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_074229.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_074229.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075308.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075308.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the bottom of the Trough looking up.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075715.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075715.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_075720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_075720.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">About a third of the way into the Trough, with wide (left) and tele (right) lens.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_082418.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_082418.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking down from the top of The Trough.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_080437.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_080437.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_081005.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_081005.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_110559.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110910.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_110910.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">With early morning (top) and mid-day lighting (bottom).<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_110908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_110908.jpg\" alt=\"Rocks next to The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocks next to The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking impressive.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_111356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_111356.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken around noon during our descent when the lights were softer.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_112904.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_112904.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken around noon during our descent when the lights were softer.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_112907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_112907.jpg\" alt=\"The Trough\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Trough<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My friend descending from The Trough.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At the top of the &#8220;Trough&#8221; was, in my opinion, the most technical move of the entire Keyhole Route, where one had to pull himself\/herself up and down a narrow and tilted slit (photo below). I would rate this on the harder side of YDS class 3 to class 4. The move didn&#8217;t come with any exposure so it&#8217;s largely manageable. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_104812C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_104812C9.jpg\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/a><\/br>Crux<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Crux of Keyhole Route. The recommended way should be using the narrow slit (green) up and down. Footholds were hard to find, especially on the way up, but with some scramble it is surmountable. Towards the left (yellow) there may (or may not) be another way around this crux. During my descent I decided to use the slanted ledge on the right (red), which turned out to be a lot harder.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_081632.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_081632.jpg\" width=\"70%\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/a><\/br>Crux<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A closer look at the slit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_104812C9.jpg\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_081632.jpg\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the crux of the trail.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_104812C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_104812C9.jpg\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Crux<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Crux of Keyhole Route. The recommended way should be using the narrow slit (green) up and down. Footholds were hard to find, especially on the way up, but with some scramble it is surmountable. Towards the left (yellow) there may (or may not) be another way around this crux. During my descent I decided to use the slanted ledge on the right (red), which turned out to be a lot harder.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_081632.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_081632.jpg\" alt=\"Crux\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Crux<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A closer look at the slit.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After the &#8220;Trough&#8221; it&#8217;s the &#8220;Narrows&#8221;, where the photos start to look sketchy. As its name suggested, it came with significant exposure. Yet from my experience, it&#8217;s always no narrower than 1 meter \/ 3 feet wherever there&#8217;s exposure, and that&#8217;s quite wide. By leaning towards the uphill side and watching where to set foot, the &#8220;Narrows&#8221; could be both safe and fun. In the end, it&#8217;s the shortest of the 4 named sections, at about 150m long and with no significant elevation change.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084420.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_084420.jpg\" width=\"95%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Narrows<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_104000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_104000.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103952.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Narrows<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near the start of the Narrows, some rocks one have to navigate around.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103206.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103209.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103209.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Narrows<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Overview (right) and zoom-in (left) view of some ascending climbers at The Narrows.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103945.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_103945.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Pagoda Mountain in the center, and the ridge leading to it was called Keyboard of the Winds for its many outstanding spires.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_084426.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">&#8220;Keyboard of the Winds&#8221; from a different angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_084420.jpg\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_104000.jpg\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_103209.jpg\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_103945.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_084426.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the &#8220;Narrows&#8221; on way to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084420.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_084420.jpg\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Narrows<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_104000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_104000.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103952.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Narrows<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near the start of the Narrows, some rocks one have to navigate around.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103206.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103209.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_103209.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Narrows\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Narrows<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Overview (right) and zoom-in (left) view of some ascending climbers at The Narrows.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_103945.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_103945.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Pagoda Mountain in the center, and the ridge leading to it was called Keyboard of the Winds for its many outstanding spires.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_084426.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">&#8220;Keyboard of the Winds&#8221; from a different angle.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After the &#8220;Narrows&#8221; it&#8217;s the &#8220;Homestretch&#8221;, the final 200m before the summit of Longs Peak, with about 100m elevation gain. Its constant slope and relatively smooth rock surfaces produced stunning or frightening photos (below), made more drastic with how my wide-angle lens captured a few overhanging clouds with the absence of climbers, as if it led to heaven.<br \/>\nDespite the looks, the &#8220;Homestretch&#8221; wasn&#8217;t unmanageably steep, and small cracks were plenty to serve as footholds and handholds, so it&#8217;s still rated as YDS class 3. However, the exposure shouldn&#8217;t be ignored as a slip here could mean a fatal tumble down the mountain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_085018.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085013.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085013.jpg\" width=\"47%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_101532.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_101532.jpg\" width=\"47%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Taken during my ascent (left) and descent (right). Ultra-wide angle lens were really great for The Homestretch.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_102450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_102450.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during my descent, at the bottom end of The Homestretch.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_100825.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100834.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_100834.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during my descent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_090159.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_090159.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_090204.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_090204.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_100831.jpg\" width=\"86%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Where I took a break during the descent, appreciating the scenery and waiting for my friend. The Homestretch didn&#8217;t look that bad from this angle.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_085018.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_085013.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_102450.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_100834.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_090159.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_090204.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_100831.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the &#8220;Homestretch&#8221; on way to Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_085018.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Homestretch<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085013.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085013.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_101532.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_101532.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Taken during my ascent (left) and descent (right). Ultra-wide angle lens were really great for The Homestretch.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_102450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_102450.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during my descent, at the bottom end of The Homestretch.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_100825.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100834.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_100834.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken during my descent.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_090159.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_090159.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the summit.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_090204.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_090204.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the summit.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_100831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_100831.jpg\" alt=\"The Homestretch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Homestretch<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Where I took a break during the descent, appreciating the scenery and waiting for my friend. The Homestretch didn&#8217;t look that bad from this angle.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s along the southeastern face of Longs Peak, so for the first time after leaving &#8220;Keyhole&#8221;, I felt the invigorating warmth of the sun, as if the summit was hailing my endeavor. So I went on a dash towards the summit. There were moments when I ran out of breath from the thin air, and moments when I appreciated the wonders of the human body as I quickly picked myself up and carried on.  <\/p>\n<p>And finally, with a pumping heart and short of breath, I made it to the summit of Longs Peak at 9am.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike conventional peaks, the summit of Longs Peak was actually very flat, more like a butte or mesa. A good fit for its status as Colorado&#8217;s most popular class 3 14er as climbers can spread out. It also meant one had to walk around a bit to appreciate the views.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_091922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_091922.jpg\" alt=\"Summit of Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Summit of Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Longs Peak&#8217;s summit was actually very flat, like a football field of evenly distributed rocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095425.jpg\" alt=\"Chasm Lake and Peacock Pool\" \/><\/a><\/br>Chasm Lake and Peacock Pool<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the east, where we came from.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_091817.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_091817.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Town of Estes Peak and mountains beyond it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092248.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092248.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The core of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092324.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The core of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092328.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092807.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092334.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only major mountain to the southeast of Longs Peak. The Homestretch in the foreground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095412.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095412.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From a different angle, showing the northern face of Mount Meeker.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085001.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085006.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085006.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084435.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_084435.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085004.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085004.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Meeker (top) and Mountains to the Southwest (bottom)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Similar sights, as captured from the Homestretch.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_091922.jpg\" alt=\"Summit of Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_095425.jpg\" alt=\"Chasm Lake and Peacock Pool\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_091817.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092248.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092324.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092328.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092807.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092334.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_095412.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_085001.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the summit of Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_091922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_091922.jpg\" alt=\"Summit of Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Summit of Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Longs Peak&#8217;s summit was actually very flat, like a football field of evenly distributed rocks.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095425.jpg\" alt=\"Chasm Lake and Peacock Pool\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Chasm Lake and Peacock Pool<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the east, where we came from.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_091817.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_091817.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Town of Estes Peak and mountains beyond it.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092248.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092248.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The core of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092324.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The core of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092328.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092807.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092334.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only major mountain to the southeast of Longs Peak. The Homestretch in the foreground.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095412.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095412.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From a different angle, showing the northern face of Mount Meeker.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085001.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085006.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085006.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_084435.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_084435.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_085004.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_085004.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Meeker (top) and Mountains to the Southwest (bottom)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Similar sights, as captured from the Homestretch.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092816.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092816.jpg\" width=\"97%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Indian Peak Wilderness<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020740.jpg\" alt=\"Apache Peak and North Arapaho Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Apache Peak and North Arapaho Peak<\/br><\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Two prominent peaks in the distant Indian peak Wilderness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092811.jpg\" width=\"92%\" alt=\"Southeastern face of Mount Pagoda\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southeastern face of Mount Pagoda<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A crescent shape cliff, a constant backdrop of the homestretch, with clearly visible different layers of rocks.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020738.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020738.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and Apache National Forest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020737.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020737.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\"><\/br>To the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and Never Summer Wilderness. Mt Richthofen in the background center.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020735.jpg\" alt=\"Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain<\/br><\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The side of Mummy Mountain to the right looked rather interesting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020739.jpg\" alt=\"Ypsilon Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ypsilon Mountain<\/br><\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Next to the previous set of mountains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095421.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095421.jpg\" width=\"97%\" alt=\"Northern Face of Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Northern Face of Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Just like Mount Pagoda, a series of attractive crescent-shaped cliffs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_102608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_102608.jpg\" width=\"92%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park, mountains of Continental Divide. Isolation Peak in the center of this photo.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092816.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020740.jpg\" alt=\"Apache Peak and North Arapaho Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_092811.jpg\" alt=\"Southeastern face of Mount Pagoda\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020738.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020737.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020735.jpg\" alt=\"Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020739.jpg\" alt=\"Ypsilon Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_095421.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Face of Mount Meeker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_102608.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092816.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092816.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Indian Peak Wilderness<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020740.jpg\" alt=\"Apache Peak and North Arapaho Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Apache Peak and North Arapaho Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Two prominent peaks in the distant Indian peak Wilderness.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092811.jpg\" alt=\"Southeastern face of Mount Pagoda\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southeastern face of Mount Pagoda<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A crescent shape cliff, a constant backdrop of the homestretch, with clearly visible different layers of rocks.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020738.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020738.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and Apache National Forest.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020737.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020737.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">To the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and Never Summer Wilderness. Mt Richthofen in the background center.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020735.jpg\" alt=\"Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The side of Mummy Mountain to the right looked rather interesting.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020739.jpg\" alt=\"Ypsilon Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ypsilon Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Next to the previous set of mountains.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_095421.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_095421.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Face of Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Northern Face of Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Just like Mount Pagoda, a series of attractive crescent-shaped cliffs.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_102608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_102608.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park, mountains of Continental Divide. Isolation Peak in the center of this photo.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_091751_091810.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_091751_091810.jpg\" alt=\"View from Longs Peak to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_092356_092420.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_092356_092420.jpg\" alt=\"View from Longs Peak towards the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>View from Longs Peak towards the Northeast (top) and Southwest (bottom)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>My friend and I took some snacks, views, and a good rest on the summit of Longs Peak, before we started heading down at 10am.<br \/>\nWith the steep sections at the &#8220;Trough&#8221; and &#8220;Homestretch&#8221; <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(and my friend&#8217;s issue with altitude)<\/span>, our descent was actually slower than ascent. In the end, we only made it to the Keyhole at 12:10pm.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122109.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_122109.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Agnes Vaille Shelter\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122249.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-m\/20220902_122249.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Agnes Vaille Shelter\" \/><\/a><\/br>Agnes Vaille Shelter<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A shelter at Keyhole for those caught in the storm. We checked it out during our descent.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After a short rest, we left the Keyhole at 12:25pm. As we headed back, the Diamond Face of Longs looked more gloomy against the afternoon sun. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122819.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The northern face of Longs Peak, a very steep incline with these textured rocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_123343.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_123343.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_125244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_125244.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_125605.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_125605.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130410.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130803.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole from Boulder Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Keyhole from Boulder Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130800.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131104.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131104.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131806.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_122819.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_123343.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_125244.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_125605.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_130410.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_130803.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole from Boulder Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_130800.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_131104.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_131806.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Longs Peak.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_122819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_122819.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The northern face of Longs Peak, a very steep incline with these textured rocks.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_123343.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_123343.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_125244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_125244.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_125605.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_125605.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130410.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130803.jpg\" alt=\"Keyhole from Boulder Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Keyhole from Boulder Field<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_130800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_130800.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131104.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131104.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131806.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Since it&#8217;s dark during our ascent, on our way down we took a few moments to appreciate the wilderness scenes of alpine tundra along the trail. Autumn colors made an early arrival at this altitude, the brownish grass were putting on their last colors of the year before being buried by snow.<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s when I had the feeling that the few switchbacks before the Boulderfield weren&#8217;t really that necessary as the trail didn&#8217;t feel that steep. Many people seemed to agree with me, cutting a few trails into the tundra. Nonetheless, being warned by the posts, we stayed on the trail.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_121059.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_121059.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield and Mount Lady Washington from Keyhole\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulderfield and Mount Lady Washington from Keyhole<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Agnes Vaille Shelter in the lower-right.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131436.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131436.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some gloomy clouds to the north.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_133344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_133344.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The pile of rocks were at Granite Pass, intersection of a trail to Bear Lake.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_134146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_134146.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Alpine tundra transitioning into fields of talus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131957.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131957.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical conditions above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_132324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_132324.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical conditions above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_134149.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_134149.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical conditions above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_135206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_135206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The clouds were looking rather tumultuous at this moment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_121059.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield and Mount Lady Washington from Keyhole\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_131436.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_133344.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_134146.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_131957.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_132324.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_134149.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_135206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_121059.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_121059.jpg\" alt=\"Boulderfield and Mount Lady Washington from Keyhole\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulderfield and Mount Lady Washington from Keyhole<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131436.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131436.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some gloomy clouds to the north.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_133344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_133344.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The pile of rocks were at Granite Pass, intersection of a trail to Bear Lake.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_134146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_134146.jpg\" alt=\"Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Alpine tundra transitioning into fields of talus.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_131957.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_131957.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_132324.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_132324.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_134149.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_134149.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical conditions above the tree line.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_135206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_135206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The clouds were looking rather tumultuous at this moment.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After passing Granite Pass, the skies started to turn gloomy, and we heard a few distant thunders behind us. Judging by wind direction on the ground, we thought the storm was getting away from us and thus not very worried. It turned out that somehow the wind direction was different in the sky, and the storm was coming towards us. In the end, the storm hit us so suddenly that I didn&#8217;t even have time to put on a rain cover. For the next 5 minutes, we found ourselves battered by hail, and deafened by a few lightning strikes near us.<br \/>\nLuckily, we escaped the storm intact, which passed us just as we reached the intersection of Chasm Lake trail, where Longs Peak&#8217;s rocky contour looked rather enchanting behind a thin veil of vapor. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_140720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_140720.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking mystically enchanting with the remnants of the storm still in the air.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_140726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_140726.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking mystically enchanting with the remnants of the storm still in the air.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020742.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020746.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020745.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020745.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak and Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Longs Peak and Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_140720.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_140726.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020742.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020746.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/P1020745.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak and Mount Meeker\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_140720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_140720.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking mystically enchanting with the remnants of the storm still in the air.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_140726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_140726.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking mystically enchanting with the remnants of the storm still in the air.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020742.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020746.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/P1020745.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/P1020745.jpg\" alt=\"Longs Peak and Mount Meeker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Longs Peak and Mount Meeker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further down the trail, the magnificent diamond face of Longs Peak was visible above the tree line.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that, we continued our way down. The transient storm didn&#8217;t bring much precipitation, which quickly dried up in the afternoon sun, so the trails largely stayed dry. Below were the typical trail conditions above the tree line.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142049.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142049.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142058.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142058.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142503.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142503.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_143938.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_143938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_142049.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_142058.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_142503.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_143938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142049.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142049.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142058.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142058.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_142503.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_142503.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_143938.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_143938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We got back to the tree line at around 2:45pm, after which it should be a comfortable stroll back to the trailhead, amid the soothing colors of a pine forest, and the relaxing sound of a creek running down the hill. But at the same time, I started to feel the physical and emotional toll of a long trek today, and expected the trailhead to be just around the corner ahead. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_144734.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_144734.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145425.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145510.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145510.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145843.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145943.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145943.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150059.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150059.jpg\" width=\"97%\" alt=\"Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Creek<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Alpine Brook. The trail mostly followed it below the tree line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150417.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150417.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150608.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150812.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151530.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151811.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151949.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151949.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_152056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_152056.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_144734.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_145425.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_145510.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_145843.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_145943.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_150059.jpg\" alt=\"Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_150417.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_150608.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/20220902_150812.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20220902_151530.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20220902_151811.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20220902_151949.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20220902_152056.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-17, #splide-thumb-17 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_144734.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_144734.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145425.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145510.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145510.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145843.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_145943.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_145943.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150059.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150059.jpg\" alt=\"Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Creek<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Alpine Brook. The trail mostly followed it below the tree line.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150417.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150417.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150608.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/20220902_150812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/20220902_150812.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151530.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151811.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_151949.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_151949.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/IMG_20220902_152056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2022\/09\/02\/thumbnails\/IMG_20220902_152056.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Those expectations lasted for a not-so-enjoyable hour, and we finally got back to the trailhead at 3:45pm, bringing this epic 13-hour hike to an end <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(although I did slow down many times to wait for my friend)<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>For a conclusion, I felt Longs Peak was unique among the alpine peaks in Colorado. It&#8217;s made of a few simple geometric facets, not as seasoned compared to the jagged contours of other peaks with similar ratings. It&#8217;s this simplicity that yielded the wall of its Diamond Face, one of the most iconic alpine walls in the country. In addition there were the spaciously flat summit, and the smooth &#8220;Homestretch&#8221; before it. It&#8217;s the highest peak in the vicinity, but I felt it had a personality of not necessarily being prominent, but more straightforward.<br \/>\nI wasn&#8217;t a big fan of alpine start, but either due to limited parking spaces or the weather, we had to start from the trailhead a few hours before sunrise. I didn&#8217;t think parking spaces would end up as an issue. Judging by the amount of hikers we went into during our descent, we could have left a few hours later and still have parking spaces, at least on a Friday. The parking lot did fill up later that day as a few cars were parked along the access road, they were more likely people taking shorter hikes such as Chasm Lake.<br \/>\nIn comparison, the weather was a big variable. Weather forecast indicated about 20% probability of rain for this and the next day. We ended up in a thunderstorm on our descent, but for our next day around Bear Lake, it never rained. Overall, I felt the mountains in Colorado were more prone to thunderstorms, compared with the ones further west, that somewhat took away their magnificence in my mind.<br \/>\nFinally, I prepared for this trip as if there would be no cellular service along the trail. In the end, I had service for pretty much the entire trip with Google Fi. Except on the summit, the speed was very limited to support text chats (but nothing more). From a safety standpoint that&#8217;s really great news.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sixth and probably the most exciting day of our 2022 Colorado trip. We would be climbing Longs Peak via Keyhole route, a stunning YDS class 3 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park for intrepid adventurers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,593,2],"tags":[595],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7016"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7016"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9535,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7016\/revisions\/9535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}