Nice video post. It really gives a sense of the climb. I was a CSU student (from CT) back in June, 1973, 18 years old. A friend (who was much older, being 19) and I decided, after a Friday evening of drinking 3.2 beer, that we would climb Longs Peak on Saturday morning. Neither of us were climbers, had only a topo map showing the route, and did not start the hike until about 9:30 AM. Everyone we met along the hike, including a park ranger, warned us that if we were heading for the summit, we needed to have started no later than about 6:30 AM. "Naw, naw, we're just going for a hike." But after we passed everyone (except for an old guy in lederhosen) along the way up, we started gaining confidence. At the Boulder field, we were again admonished to turn around by people who had already summited and were coming down from the Keyhole But then we saw these little dots up on the North face on what turned out to be the cable route. We thought, well if they can do it, so can we. After crossing the Boulder Field, we climbed up a pretty steep snowfield and reached a steel cable covered in ice. It seemed like the way up. It was extremely scary, but we started up it. The whole slope seemed to lean towards the Diamond, so there was no messing up. Whole sections of the cable and rock were covered in ice. About half way up the cable, a storm blew over the top of the mountain and it started to lightning. The mountain had blocked our view of the approaching storm. Someone below us yelled to get down, then proceeded to run, then slide down the snowfield out-of-control and crash into rocks at the base. We decided that person knew even less about mountain climbing than we did. Scared to death, we weighed our options and decided that death by lightning hanging onto a steel cable was preferable to the terror of going back down that same icy cable and a certain fall to our deaths. So we kept going. At the top of the cable it became just a steep scramble and by the time we reached the summit the storm had passed, and we were left alone, everyone with any sense having already gotten off the top. The sun emerged and we had beautiful views of mountains in almost every direction and the plains to the east. We returned from the top via the Keyhole route, the one actually marked on the topo map. That was itself pretty scary. By the time we got back down to the Boulder Field, the clouds closed in again and a cold drizzle began. On the way down, we met some crazy person (like you folks) who was running up the trail in the rain. We started running down to overcome the cold and soaking and reached the trailhead as dusk was settling in. That crazy guy managed to run up and out of sight, probably to the Boulder Field, then turn around and catch up with us again just as we reached the trailhead. We found out later that the Park Service removed that cable about two weeks after our climb, apparently because so many stupid people were falling or getting struck by lightning. Youth allows you sometimes to survive some stupid decisions. That climb is still one of the most memorable. Although I never became much of a climber, I did become a pretty good hiker. At CSU I met a Colorado girl who had climbed about 1/2 of the 14rs with her family and the Grand Teton and thought 3 weeks of Outward Bound school was pretty easy. I married her, and later with a newborn on our backs, we wrote the first statewide hiking guide, The Hiker's Guide to Colorado, published in 1984. We wrote a second statewide hiking guide (Hiking Colorado II) published in 1999 and more recently two books on the history of skiing (The Lost Ski Areas of Colorado's Front Range and Northern Mountains, and one on the Central and Southern Mountains). Thanks for posting your video. It brought back some frightening (and enjoyable) memories. God bless.

"We decided to just go up some random route..." sounds like a lead-in on Accidents in N American Mountaineering.

be aware. This is not the way to go up Longs Peak unless you are very experienced with scrambling and hopefully with some technical rock climbing training or you shouldn't be here. This is the standard roped rappel descent route usually done after doing one of the very difficult technical climbs of the Diamond Face of Longs. . Rated 5.4. Easy for technical climbers but one slip and you are a goner. I am all for adventure but just taking a "random" route up an unknown route is only asking for trouble. In climbing school we used to teach the Number one rule of mountaineering, "the mountains don't care". Not trying to bash the video. These guys are super fit and impressive. Just putting a little caution out there to the unwary.

You guys are Fn crazy to do those steep & icy climbs with no rope/ safety gear!!! Whoa!

I did the cable route 30 years ago. Yep, ice. In July. No protection. Your video reminded me how stupid I was.

YO, if you guys keep ascending routes like that you're gonna get rekt

8:06 I use to live in Estes Park, CO. from 1989 to 2005. I learned that shelter was build longtime ago, after some climbers got caught in a bag snow storm and died. It's intentions, an emergency shelter.

This video should be labeled “Longs Peak - What not to do”. Broke every rule in the book.

Yeah theres no way you'll catch me on the cable route lol

Great fun, love your adventures. I love Longs. First climbed it by the Key Hole Route back in the 1980s. Woke up one fine early October day and thought, why not go climb Longs? Hitchhiked from Boulder. Snow started at the keyhole (little stone building thing in the video), and ice axe and crampon climb from there. Hiked out in the dark, hitchhiked back to Boulder. Showered. Walked 3 miles to a party, danced until dawn, walked home. Ah the energy of youth! Long gone. Last time I was just short of 60. Went straight up the East Face, the vertical rock face called the Diamond for its shape. 1,400-1,500 ft of steep, in some places overhanging, granite technical climbing. This time though started very early and got out in time for a dinner in Estes Park while the sun was still out! If one does not want that much adventure the hike into Chasm Lake is stunning and pretty easy. About half the distance and climb of going to the top. Highly recommend it.

Great video! Loved it. Thanks so much for making it, guys.

I love your videos and enjoy the music also. Hope to hike that peak in the future.

Cant wait to try the route up! I would love to see how you guys plan these type of trips/gear prep etc as well as those post run feasts aha

Danny, since discovering your channel a few years ago, I've consumed your videos with a level of enthusiasm that's comparable to the feeling I get when my visit to Krispy Kreme coincides with the Hot-and-Now light. What a perfect ratio of adventure and humor. I've laughed a lot...but nothing was funnier than the time one of your mates (I believe it was Matt) was feeling bad on a traverse, and you commented that you weren't sure how his mom was going to get her minivan up there!! Keep it up. And get your crew to the southeast. The Smoky Mountains are top-notch, and I'd love to see your story telling there.

Good video. I've done Long's three time, first in 1970 up the cable route and the next two times through the Keyhole. Awesome peak!

Such great videos. Amazing views, great commentary and well edited! Loving every video!!

You guys are machines. New to your channel. Wow!

That dangerous mountain has taken lives

Fun video! I have been up Longs about six times. Usually the Keyhole route, but once with ropes up the ridge route. First ever time up was two days trek (including a rough night camping in Boulder field)...fastest time was 4:28 from car to summit and back

I love these comments. I'm stuck in the appalachians right now but a big life goal is to move out to 14er country next year. What I love about the comments is how serious the folks are about the sport. I've been doing whitewater in the southeast for 20 years and I know exactly what happens when people are prepared vs unprepared. I look forward to learning from the rocky mt climbing community and treating these mountains with the respect they deserve. I will say that this up and down in 24 hours thing isn't gonna be my cup of tea though. I gotta be out on those slopes for at least a few nights to get the full experience

I’ve slept in that hut, waiting on day light to guide the way to the top. Sweet to see that dicey route to the top

The Keyhole Hut was built many years ago as a rescue- survival station. Decades ago, a couple (man/wife) got caught near there with no shelter and died of overnight of exposure (we're talking a lady in an ankle length dress, who was a good climber, but bit it.) Today, the normal flatland crowd tries Long's Peak in cotton sweatpants, windbreakers, and some with a 6pak of beer (don't do it at that altitude) and often get caught in weather on the back side (Keyhole route). I have cajoled and helped many dad's who think their grade school kids and wives in light clothes are safe back there. you cannot run from sudden weather back there. SO, the Park Ranger's use the stone hut for rescue, for injury triage, and of course, it is a respite for people stuck on Old Beaver mountain. Weather can change to winter up there in 10 minutes. JiminCO

That was intense. There is no way I would have made it up the Cable route, I actually felt anxiety when you showed the ice. Great video, some beautiful shots of the mountain. Makes me want to go back.

Quickly becoming one of my favorite KZfaq channels - keep the adventures coming !

These guys are the best youtubers of this kind hands down. Imitators are out there but none as good, funny and adventurous. Cant get enough of their videos, they have inspired me to hit the trails. Love it!

Great video guys. I tried solo the cable but weather was wet & some icey rock like you encountered. So went up keyhole otherwise known as egg route cuz of yellow marks. Found the ramp up to the summit very exciting. A great Colorado 14er!

i just subbed youre a baddass dude. the wrong way episode was nutty... keep up the good footage my man

I’m super excited about this KZfaq channel. It’s simply amazing 😎🍀

Amazing channel!

I think that's why so many people have died on Long's Peak. They take it for granted and take unnecessary risks. I know you guys are experts but be careful. 58 people have died on Long's Peak.

Grew up in the shadow of this peak in the town named for the peak. Both of my adult kids have climbed the peak.

Great video of our magic mountain.

I've climbed Longs about 10 times...I've done the keyhole route and the loft route but never the cable route. Dicey but good vid.

Haha “great view, watch the kids play on the boulder field.” Nice!!

Loving all your videos! Crazy on how you climb most of these 14ers in trail runners even in the snow, makes me want to return a pair of mountaineering boots i bought and get Trail runners.

These guys are lucky they did not get hurt.

Soloing the cables route, in trail runners, while its covered in ice sounds terrifying lol

You guys are nuts 😮

well done as usual

agreed, very nice; thanks for sharing.

So stoked for summer! Got an epic run planned for june already :) 8,000 ft and 28 miles. Hardest run/hike ill do yet. El Diente, Mount Wilson and Wilson peak in one day (Lizard Head Wilderness)

Y'all are crazy, but awsome. Just watching y'all climb made me nervous. Love your videos, my sons like watching them too.

Such a good time! Awesome edit!

I think the video itself was pretty rad. I wish it had a bit of a disclaimer at the beginning though. Many people have died while climbing Longs because they were not educated on their route, came unprepared without the right gear, and got off-trail. While these dudes are total pros at the trail running gig, people should know that if you want to climb this peak or any other 14er, you should do your research and not pick a route at the drop of a hat like that. Glad they made it up and down safely though. For more information on climbing 14ers safely, go to 14ers.com.

I may live far from real mountains but i know that type of ice too well. Turns the exposed granite on my hikes in the Canadian bush into a skating rink. Good on you, that's a tough haul.

No cables any more ,good slide when wet .

Your video is so good it would be nice to see two more minutes per.

Love my State, it's gorgeous! Have you ever tried the San Juan Mts? Ouray, Co is the place.

Also u guys make look all the climbing very easy, which am sure is not the case!

Live it guys! So inspiring!! Keep up the great work! Ever considered La Plata's Ellingwood Ridge?

I went up a random route one time and I'll never do it again, at least not as unprepared as we were. We were with someone who had absolutely no climbing experience and we almost got stuck because she started to panic and cry as we hit a technical climbing spot with a several hundred foot drop below us. That's obviously our fault. My buddy was leading and thought it looked like a reasonable way to go, needless to say it wasn't. He did another 14er a few weeks later and did the same thing, took some random route and almost got stuck with his girlfriend. Obviously he's not allowed to pick routes anymore.

Cool channel, just discovered it

Just a question, why didn’t you just store your bags at the hotel concierge? they will typically hold your bags until you need them, even after you’ve officially checked out of the hotel room.

Best to climb with selfie stick and no trail beta.

I met Don Sampson and two others (with music) early in the morning just below boulderfield before his jump, early 90's. That was a wild morning, they carried a loud boombox up lol

I hope people here appreciate how massively impressive it is that you guys summitted in about 3h10m. Insane!

Everyone: Never hike off trail. These dudes:

So much unnecessary hate in the comments on this one. A) This is Mediocre Amateur, I'm not trying to watch a bunch of dudes rope up for any other basic climb, there's plenty of footage of that out there. B) These guys are gangsters. C) Who hasn't accidentally "free solo-ed' something they shouldn't have? It's part of living and learning. D) The decisions of other people is NOT Mediocre's responsibility. It's ridiculous to think that, and sure is a sign of these whack times. "Dude dies climbing without ropes in Argentina... must be Danny's fault!" Keep it up! This channel is the best. Including the armchair quarterbacks in every comments section. Fave comment of all time is when people were shitting on Danny and Christof's ascent of Mount Hood and said something like "Wait til you get to Rainier, that sure ain't no day hike." And voila, Danny and Christof send it in a day, (which is a relatively normal thing for the most in shape climbers that don't get altitude sick, not sure why that comment was even made.) PS. Sorry if I spelled Christof's name wrong.

Did Cable route in July. Rock was wet, very freakin exhausting. Lots of exposure between bolts and the summit.

wow..... i just stumbled on your you tube site and have watched a lot of videos. and i subscribed. you guys are terrific at hiking and climbing. there is no rules to nature. just respect based on your agility. you are more agile than i am. i am 60 and can't do what you do. enjoy your young manhood and live the moment. i missed out on my life not getting into hiking and climbing mountains. thanks for your videos you make me dream!!!!

So, the guy in colored socks saw a group of trail runners and told them to take the class 3/4 route. Probably a local trying to be cool for the cameras. I'm glad you boys were able to handle some bad beta. But please please please at least bring a helmet next time. Love the channel!

Y'all cray.

Never been in that parking lot with many cars. Usually at the trail head at 3 am.

A friend turned me on to your channel, and I've enjoyed it immensely. Mediocre Amateurs? You are neither! Thanks for another great vid.

Great example of what not to do.

This is my favorite new KZfaq channel!

How do you not have more subs

I almost had to turn this off when they were climbing. 😬 Glad you all made it safely - thanks for sharing.

I did the Keyhole/Tourist route to the summit in 1977 when I was 19 years old; there was no "hut" back then.

I did the Keyhole route, up and back, 43 years ago by myself. No running, 60 lb pack. Damn near killed me! HaHaHaHaHa Wonderful experience!

So at 6:00 minutes that's called verglas (from the french for glass ice) it's super thin on the rocks and super dangerous because you can't get feet to grip and tools will cause it to shatter and of course it won't take pro. Nice videos, I am going to be checking out your channel as I am starting to get into this as a way to stay in shape (historically I am more of a mountaineer, ice climber, rock climber) I love your fast and light style.

You must be familiar with the mountain and have alot of experience.

Where's the cable? lol I guess 3rd/4th class is ok in running shoes until there's ice...

The shelters you find a top mountain peaks are shelters from storms/Lightning

Impressive recording! I know how hard it is to record and hike at the same time👍🏼

Really impressed by these videos! But I don’t believe you hadn’t researched the Cables route (which I think is rated something like 5.5) before asking strangers about it!

WHOA!!!

Leaving downtown Boulder at 5:00 a.m.?? Glad it worked out for ya...

These crazy peeps are entertaining

Sausage Mcmuffin with Dasani water., love it.

Gloves?

No eye protection from UV at 14k+?! Why?!???

You guys should do the Blanca, Ellingwood, Little Bear Traverse. Hit 3 14ers in a single day with over 8k feet of elevation and some awesome ridges.

Helmets y’all

So what the most scared you have been on a climb/hike?

You guys are McDonald's for breakfast and got to the peak at 900am! Damn!

emhh! .. sketchy with that ice

My palms are sweating now...................

One fractured ankle away from spending the night on the trail. It's great that you carry enough to survive 24 hours laying on the ground in the open at twelve thousand feet.

Great channel man keep it up and always find new ways to improve it in all aspects, i feel like you can become another casey neistat. :)

Too spicy

Whoa. great adventure.

They just recovered a body off the ledges on longs the other day

This is great! Congrats! Why the thumbs down?? Jealous trolls

Insane but awesome!!!

Hi. I admittedly did not enjoy this one as much as the others due to the difficulty/danger you encountered on the more difficult route you took to the summit. I say this because I really enjoy your videos and do not want you and your hiking partners to be injured. To me, it looks too risky to go this way, especially unaided. Regardless, keep up the great work on your video series. Prayers for safety too...

What was the rush?

He asked for Dasani water 🤣

Why the uber if you were coming down the same route?

Is Matt a professor at a university in Utah? He looks way familiar.