Rocky Mountain High!
What a majestic place -- I can see why John Denver felt he was 'born again' here in this incredible place created by God. In the background you can see Long's Peak, the highest non-technical climb at 14, 256 feet. The boys and I woke up at 12:30 AM Wednesday morning and signed 
the register at the trail head at 2:00 AM to climb that summit. Hiking in the dark was an incredible new experience -- watching the moon come up, the piercing light of the stars and distant city lights were worth the price of admission. Having grown up hiking in the Adirondack's I couldn't appreciate why this was so different - I didn't dismiss the altitude issues, but I definitely didn't give them enough attention. At 10:30 AM less then 3/4 of a mile from the summit (15 mile round trip) I had to make the call to say we would have to try again some other time. At our pace, we would not have time to ascend the summit and be headed down by 12:00 before the storms rolled in. At that same time Sarah was with her family on a distant peak (Estes Cone), praying for our decisions - hence the picture of her holding her watch with Long's in the background. 
It was a tough call - sheer determination begged us to push on, but the right call was made and as we later descended in the rain and hail, we were glad to not be traversing the "Trough" on a sheer face and heading back to the 'keyhole'. At the higher altitudes we experienced pounding head aches, naseu, lead legs and of course - shortness of breath. We overcame many obstacles that day and the boys took a leap toward 'manhood' - I was very proud of how thy would keep choosing to press on, until I had to make the painful decision that we should head back. We will be much wiser on our return - when we will again shoot for the summit of Long's Peak!!
Photo Journal of Long's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594217757632/
Colorado Albums:
through Sarah's Lens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594212179622/
through Craig's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594203095525/
the register at the trail head at 2:00 AM to climb that summit. Hiking in the dark was an incredible new experience -- watching the moon come up, the piercing light of the stars and distant city lights were worth the price of admission. Having grown up hiking in the Adirondack's I couldn't appreciate why this was so different - I didn't dismiss the altitude issues, but I definitely didn't give them enough attention. At 10:30 AM less then 3/4 of a mile from the summit (15 mile round trip) I had to make the call to say we would have to try again some other time. At our pace, we would not have time to ascend the summit and be headed down by 12:00 before the storms rolled in. At that same time Sarah was with her family on a distant peak (Estes Cone), praying for our decisions - hence the picture of her holding her watch with Long's in the background. It was a tough call - sheer determination begged us to push on, but the right call was made and as we later descended in the rain and hail, we were glad to not be traversing the "Trough" on a sheer face and heading back to the 'keyhole'. At the higher altitudes we experienced pounding head aches, naseu, lead legs and of course - shortness of breath. We overcame many obstacles that day and the boys took a leap toward 'manhood' - I was very proud of how thy would keep choosing to press on, until I had to make the painful decision that we should head back. We will be much wiser on our return - when we will again shoot for the summit of Long's Peak!!Photo Journal of Long's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594217757632/
Colorado Albums:
through Sarah's Lens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594212179622/
through Craig's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked/sets/72157594203095525/
posted by craigdcrook at 6:13 PM
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