Longs Peak . . . the hardest climb of my life

On Saturday morning, Jay and I spontaneously decided to drive to CO and climb Longs Peak with our friend Adam.

We left our pups (Chango) behind, loaded up the car and drove the 7 hours to Denver. We stayed with Adam and his wife Jes in their new house.

Sunday morning, after 3 and a half hours of sleep, we woke up at 1am to drive to the mountain. The first 3 hours of the climb were in darkness (except for the light of the moon), and by the time the sun rose we were over half way there.

(Sunrise from the mountain side)

(Pic above: the flash was a bit blinding)

(Hiking at Sunrise)

(Longs Peak from halfway up the mountain)

(the "Privys", aka mountain side outhouses)

We climbed and climbed, and huffed and puffed in the thin air. Seven hours later, we had finally reached the summit. It was only then that we realized that we had to do the whole thing in reverse. This climb was the most grueling thing I have ever put my body through.

(The Boulder Field)

(Climbing through the Boulder field)

(How we felt after climbing through the Boulder field)

(Kissing at the Keyhole)

(Traversing the Narrows)

(Signing the Register at the Summit)(At the Summit)

It took us 13 hours start to finish, but we made it!

I may never climb Longs again, but at least I can say that I did it.