MEJ_1732

Geoff Isaak and I started the Longs Peak Trailhead 10:00 AM Friday morning and reached Chasm Lake at 4:00 PM having to use micro spikes about 90% of the way.  The trailhead begins at 9,405' with 2,398' elevation gain ending at Chasm Lake (11,803').  Longs Peak's iconic northeast-facing "Diamond" rises 2,456' above this placid alpine lake.  Chasm Lake is at the base of Mt. Meeker (13,911'), Longs Peak (14,259') and Mount Lady Washington (13,281').  We camped Friday night with a massive blowing wind all night.  I got up Saturday morning and scrambled up .2 miles from our campsite with a headlamp and micro spikes in the dark to enjoy another beautiful sunrise on Longs Peak.  It was awesome being able to hike across the frozen lake and get a different view from the summer time.  I'm a firm believer in North Face equipment.  The -20 Inferno goose down sleeping bag keeps me warm and the Mountain 25 Tent withstood the incredible winds we faced.  When we were taking the North Face Mountain 25 tent down Saturday morning we even got to use it as a kite as it broke away from our grip and before we knew it was flying high in the sky over Mount Lady Washington and who knows how many other mountains--we lost sight of it.