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Rocky Mountain NP Longs Peak

Monday, July 29, 2024 - Monday, August 5, 2024 -- $1700 ★★★★, ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT

SUMMIT LONG'S PEAK!


Everybody has heard of the incredible beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park but few have experienced the wonders of the magnificent mountains up close. On this trip, summit 14,259' Long's Peak -- an iconic destination that everyone should do once in their lives. Longs Peak is amazing and rewarding but it is difficult and not for everyone. Please watch this video if you're considering the trip:


But that doesn't mean you won't summit some high peaks. You'll hike to the top of Flattop Mountain at 12324' and scramble up to the summit of Hallett Peak, 12,713 before returning back down to complete the loop over a week.


The park is host to a wide variety of plants and animals including black bear, elk, coyote, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, marmot, white tailed ptarmigan, blue grouse, and beaver as well as Colorado Blue Spruce, Quaking Aspen, Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, and endless fields of redolent wildflowers.


Our trek begins at tourist-choked Glacier Basin Campground near Sprague lake but we take 3 days to approach Long's Peak, acclimating to the altitude along the way (staying hydraded will help) and hiking scenic backcountry trails which provide breathtaking vistas that car bound tourists just can't access.


We'll hike clockwise and after summiting, return via Glacier Gorge, beautiful in its own right.


The short Summer season is prime time to visit the Rockies, so why not join us?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Summer is the ideal time to hike in the Rockies. Expect daytime hiking temperatures into the 70s and 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of daytime temperatures into the high 80s and nights below freezing at elevation (possibly accompanied by a lot of wind). There are also ubiquitous afternoon thunderstorms (often with hailstorms) at high elevations that are to be avoided for safety and comfort reasons. Here are the historical weather averages Be prepared with sun protection and water containers that add up to 4 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty

The trails through the Rockies often have good footing but elevation changes can be drastic. This implies more difficulty but also higher, unimpeded views. Furthermore, those arriving from lower elevations may have difficulty with the altitude. Our first day in Glacier Basin Campground should help as will staying super hydrated, but it will still take a few days to fully acclimate. Distances will be kept below 9 miles per day (our longest day).



Cost

$1700 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the post-hike hotel night. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Denver International Airport (DEN), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 1 frontcountry campground night, park entrance fees (but bring a park pass if you have one), 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation to/from the park, National Park permits and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes

The itinerary you see here is our proposed itinerary and may be changed by the park. The park begins awarding backcountry permits on March 1, 2024 so we may end up altering the itinerary, possibly significantly.


There may be snow at higher elevations. Please be prepared for walking through an occasional snowfield or snow squall.


Rocky Mountain National Park requires us to carry Bear Canisters which can be cumbersome. However they are effective at protecting food plus you can sit on them. The park also requires wag bags (such as the Restop2) to pack out human waste at Granite Creek campsite. Fortunately, that is our final campsite of the trip.


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Itinerary
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Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Monday, July 29, 2024

Fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) or drive into Denver. The best time to arrive is between 9AM-1PM. However, if you have been on our trips before and can be ready to go quickly, later will work as well, however we must leave no later than 5PM to get to the park.

Take free airport shuttle to airport hotel to meet up and gather

We will assemble at: Hyatt Place Denver Airport, 16250 East 40th Avenue Aurora, Colorado, 80011/303 371 0700.

Mini equipment shakedown, checking that you brought everything you covered during the pre-trip virtual shakedown

Make your own trail mix bar

Go to Denver Flagship REI Store, 1416 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 756-3100 for forgotten and last minute equipment purchase

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Glacier Basin Campground, Highway 36 West, Estes Park, CO 80517. Site(s): D122 Elevation: 8500'

Shuttling will take about 2 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Glacier Basin Campground, Highway 36 West, Estes Park, CO 80517. Site(s): D122 Elevation: 8500'

Note: In order to get to the campsite, we will take a shuttle bus from Beaver Meadows (after 15 minutes of picking up our permit) into the park

If you have a National Park Pass, please bring it


Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Begin hiking 0.7 miles at Glacier Basin Campground, elevation 8600'

Cross Bear Lake Road and hike 1.1 miles back to Bear Lake Road, elevation 8830'

Hike 0.6 miles to Glacier Creek Trail, elevation 8870'

Hike 2.1 miles to the Wind River Creek Trail, elevation 8540'

Hike 1.6 miles on the Wind River Trail to Upper Wind River Campsite, elevation 8940'

Camp at Upper Wind River Campsite (037), elevation 8940' privy available. Little to no water in dry years.

Miles today: 6.1. Total miles: 6.1

Possible bailout: Bear Lake Road


Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Hike 0.4 miles on the Wind River Trail to the Storm Pass Trail, elevation 9030'

Hike 2.8 uphill miles on the Storm Pass Trail to Storm Pass, elevation 10240'

Drop packs and day-hike 1.2 round trip miles to the summit of Estes Cone, elevation 11007'

Hike 0.9 downhill miles to Moore Park, elevation 9760'

Camp at Moore Park Campsite, (041) elevation 9760', privy available.

Miles today: 5.3. Total miles: 11.4

Possible bailout: Babcock Rd.


Thursday, August 1, 2024

Hike 1.3 miles on the Eugenia Mine Trail to the Longs Peak Trail, elevation 3040'

Hike 5.1 all-day uphill miles on the Longs Peak Trail to Boulderfield Campsite, elevation 12760'

Camp at Boulderfield Campsite (044), elevation 12760'

Miles today: 6.4. Total miles: 17.8

Possible bailout: Longs Peak Trailhead


Friday, August 2, 2024

Awaken and leave camp early in anticipation of summiting Longs Peak before any afternoon thunderstorms roll in

Leave camp set-up

Scramble 2.1 rocky and steep round-trip miles to the summit of Longs Peak, elevation 14259'

Congratulations! You have summitted a 14er!

Camp at Boulderfield Campsite (044), elevation 12760'

Miles today: 2.1. Total miles: 19.9

Possible bailout: One day away


Saturday, August 3, 2024

Hike 6.8 steep downhill miles on the Longs Peak and North Longs Peak trails to the Glacier Gorge Trail, elevation 9770'

Hike 1.8 uphill miles on the Glacier Gorge Trail to Glacier Gorge Campsite, elevation 10000'

Camp at Glacier Gorge Campsite (039), elevation 10000'. Wag bags required.

Miles today: 8.6. Total miles: 28.5

Possible bailout: Bear Lake


Sunday, August 4, 2024

Hike 2.6 miles back to the Lower Bear Lake Trailhead, elevation 9175'

End of hiking portion of trip

Miles today: 2.6. Total miles: Hiking 31.1

Shuttle back to hotel near Denver Airport

Shuttle back to local hotel: Hyatt Place Denver Airport, 16250 East 40th Avenue Aurora, Colorado, 80011/303 371 0700.

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Monday, August 5, 2024

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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