Longs Peak

Longs Peak is a summit in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, rising to 4,345 meters (14,259 feet) with steep rock walls and a flat summit plateau. The terrain alternates between smooth granite slabs, narrow rock ridges, and boulder fields that extend for several kilometers to the top.

Major Stephen Long led geographical surveys of the Colorado Territory in the 1820s and gave the mountain its name. The first documented ascent occurred in 1868 by a party led by John Wesley Powell.

The community of climbers often begins the ascent on the Keyhole Route well before midnight, using cairns and painted bullseyes to navigate in darkness. Many return year after year to reach the summit again, viewing the climb as a personal measure of fitness and endurance.

The ascent takes most hikers between 10 and 15 hours and requires sure footing on rock and willingness to navigate exposed sections. Weather shifts regularly occur in the afternoon, so plan to descend by midday.

The summit register sits in a metal box on the flat top and holds entries from thousands of visitors recording their impressions. On clear autumn days, the view from the top reaches across to the plains of Kansas, more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) away.