Climbed Longs Peak late July this year and conditions could not have been better. There was minimal snow on The Trough, but even after such a heavy snow year everything else was virtually snow-free.

If you are able to get reservations, it is highly recommended to try and camp at the Boulderfield or Battle Group campgrounds to shorten your climb and lessen what you need to bring up to the summit based on conditions. No matter how early you start there will be folks who will breeze right by your campsite at ungodly hours, so keep that in mind.

Another thing to pay attention to, especially if camping at Boulderfield, is that the elevation here hits you harder than most 14ers in Colorado. This is because camping at 12,700' is not exactly rejuvenating, and once past the Keyhole you are in for roughly 3 hours of strenuous hiking and scrambling that is always above 13,000'. This means that round-trip you can expect to be above 13,000' for over 6 hours. That compared to most 14ers where you can expect to be back down below 13,000' in around 2-3 hours, stay hydrated and know the signs of AMS, especially if anyone in your group does not live at elevation.

Be safe and keep an eye on the weather as you climb, another sneaky part of Longs Peak is that you don't really get a great view to the East after crossing the Keyhole until you hit the bottom of the Homestretch, which can be an unwelcome surprise if some dark clouds are waiting for you that were earlier obscured from the mountain itself. If everything goes well the views and experience are spectacular! Go enjoy those great outdoors!