Peter Moore: How to climb Longs Peak
A supposedly fun hike I’ll never do again. And you probably shouldn’t, either.
admin
0
0
It was the fall of 2020, and I had survived COVID, so I went looking for the next most dangerous thing I could think of: Climb Longs Peak!
I had been haunted by that prospect from since I moved to Colorado and took my car to the emissions testing facility in Fort Collins. I pulled into the bay and there it was, perfectly framed in the doorway: Longs freaking Peak!
It took me a full three years to summon the nerve, the skills, the gear, and oh yeah, the nerve, to tackle Longs. I made it up, and back, so now I’m an expert.
Here’s my step-by-step guide to climbing the highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Or not.
Step 1: Google it
Step 2: Build enthusiasm for your quest
Step 3: Recruit hiking buddies as if your life depends on it. Because it does.
Step 4: Stand on your roof for four hours with your toes hanging over the edge. The mountain is much scarier, but hey, it’s a start.
Step 5: Select the right footwear.
Step 6: Check the weather forecast. Often this will prevent you from doing something foolish, such as climbing Longs Peak.
Step 7: Gather trail intel from park rangers.
