Longs via Keyhole Clarks Arrow Meeker Loft Car

Posted by travelmannn on Jun 26, 2006
Page Views: 378

Date: On Jul 1, 2006
Location: Colorado, United States
City or Place: East Longs Peak Trail
Skill Level: Intermediate
Categories: Hiking
Partner Status: Don't want Partners

We are a party of 3 very fit hikers/rock climbers considering this trip: Keyhole Route - Summit Of Longs - Clarks
Arrow - Summit of Meeker - Descend Loft.

We are looking for feedback, any suggestions that might provide beta for making a decision to go that route or the more
common loft meeker longs keyhole. Also, conditions if someone has been there lately. Crampons, ice axe, etc.

I have read many accounts titled something similar to Longs Via Loft Route. I have read few if any that say the opposite.
So, we are wondering if there is a reason why people do not go the direction we are considering.

Couple of Questions:

From what I have read Clarks Arrow is more visible coming from the Keyhole route than coming from the Loft toward the
Homestretch. Is this true?

I've also read several people making mention of how as they go up the Loft they are glad they will not be hiking back down
it. Is this true?

Logic for Traveling Longs First then Meeker:
(1)
We know the Keyhole route is obvious and one in our party has traveled it before.
We know we will travel faster than the average group.
Starting a little early we'll be ahead of most to the summit of Longs and probably be comfortably back down the Homestretch

(where we'd then head toward the Loft), before the crazy crowds of people begin clogging up the route.
At that point we'd be done with any potential crowds for the remainder of the day.

If we go up the loft first then to Longs, we'll likely experience the crowds heading up and down Longs for the day, and

stuck in the lines on the Keyhole route.

(2)
If there is weather showing itself when we've summated as we summit Longs, and we can just head back down the Keyhole Route

having bagged one peak for the day.

--

If the route is safe and reasonable to find going from Longs over to Meeker, then we feel we'll have a less crowded day,
more enjoyable, and possible a little shorter day.

However, if we get feedback that makes us think this is an undesirable route, then we'll go the more documented
Loft-Meeker-Longs-Keyhole route.

Another Question:

We are looking for a .gpx file of the route that would include waypoints from Longs peak over to the Loft, and down the

ledges to trail.

although we can do the route finding, and have in the past. This time we will be paying for childcare for the time we are

out hiking, and would rather not spend unnecessary time doing route finding if we can find a GPS track that will keep us

near the correct route and help us save valuable time.

Of course this is not a race to finish, we are expecting and hoping for an awesome day of hiking, but we enjoy going quickly

as well, and this time we don't need an epic, just a great day out.

Thanks,