Here's a view of the Rocky Mountains this week. People usually assume clouds are lying over the mountains. However, this is actually blowing snow. Did you know that Colorado has more than 50 mountains higher than 14,000 feet? However, Longs Peak is the only 14,000+ mountain within the Rocky Mountain National Park. Did you know that it was first climbed by John Wesley Powell in 1868? Since then, 58 people have died climbing or hiking Longs Peak.
Longs Peak is distinguishable by its peak which is called the "Key Hole." If you hike to the top, you will climb over the rocks in what is called the "Boulder Field." You can see this in the foreground. These boulders are the size of cars. For perspective, if you look carefully, you can see a stone structure just to the left of the Key Hole. This structure is 10 feet tall and is the Agnes Vaille Memorial. If you decide to climb Longs Peak, you want to get an early start. This is due to the fact that afternoon storms are common and bring deadly lightning. Most hikers begin before dawn. It is about 7 miles to the summit. The hardest part of the hike begins with the Boulder Field which is about 6.5 miles into the hike.
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