PREPARING FOR LONGS PEAK
Thousands of hikers each year reach
the summit of Longs Peak, at 14,255 the northernmost fourteener in the
Rocky Mountains. But the 15-mile round-trip hike requires you to make
plenty of preparations.
First, and most obviously, make
sure you're in good physical shape before you set foot on the trail.
You're not going to make it if you haven't hauled yourself out of the Lazy
Boy on a regular basis and challenged your legs, heart, and lungs.
Ideally, you should train by trekking up a few 12,000- and 13,000-foot
peaks first. On those trips, you'll become accustomed to the physical
demands of climbing from a valley floor to the exposed peaks and ridges
above timberline. If you're afraid of heights, Longs Peak might not be
your bag. The summit approach can be thrilling -- and unnerving.
Prepare for fast, uncomfortable
changes in the weather. Above timberline, a sunny day can turn into a
violent lightning storm in mere moments. Take an extra wool sweater or
warm fleece jacket, wind pants, warm gloves, a stocking hat, and good rain
gear that will stand up to hail and strong wind. Take extra food and
water. You'll need a lot of quick-energy food just to complete the hike,
and if you run into cold, wet weather, you'll need even more food to help
you stay warm.
If you're doing Longs on a day
hike, hit the trail early. Really early. Rocky Mountain National Park
officials say you should start walking no later than 3 a.m., and others
start as early as midnight. (Obviously, take a reliable flashlight or
headlamp and extra batteries.) This early start gives you the best chance
of reaching the summit before noon, when thunderheads begin to build
quickly. If lightning and thunder start before you reach the summit, turn
around. The mountain will be there for a long time, and you can always try
to reach the summit another day, when the weather isn't so dangerous.
Research your trip. The hike up
Longs Peak is described in many good guidebooks, and the National Park
Service publishes a brochure about the hike and how to prepare for it.
Read these resources before you go, and use them to plan your hike
carefully. Preparation is the key to climbing Longs Peak successfully.
-- Bob Kretschman
Posted June 22, 2000
