Anticipate a 1:30am – 2am pick up from your hotel in Estes Park. An early morning start and being fully rested is essential for a summit attempt on Longs Peak. A twenty minute shuttle brings us to the trailhead, where your guide will distribute backpacks, hiking poles, and trail snacks. You will quickly warm up as the trail consistently gains elevation for three miles. As the trees vanish, the alpine tundra emerges and the hiking terrain lessens to an easier grade.

A reward for our early departure is reaching Battle Mountain in time to watch the sunrise crest upon the notorious Diamond of Longs Peak, a 1,800 foot cliff face sculpting Longs Peak’s east side. Here forward the terrain turns to boulders and cliff edges. Use of hands, secure footing, and a respect for our surroundings is essential for safety. Passing through the Keyhole (a notch-like pass that allows us access to the summit), we gaze upon a new side of the mountain. We traverse a narrow edge until reaching the Trough, a steep gulley of boulders and scree rock, marking the most physically challenging part our ascent.

As the summit view emerges, so does the most exposed section of the hike. A steep, but walkable, slope leads the way to the top. After congratulations and photos we will descend the same path we hiked up. Stopping for lunch on the way down allows us an opportunity to stare back up at Longs Peak summit and appreciate what we accomplished. Past the difficult section we descend back to the shuttle vehicle, ideally arriving to the trailhead by 3pm.