When you look out over the mountain peaks that make Colorado one of the most beautiful places to live in the country, you may see certain summits that tower over the others, snowcapped even late into the summer. Many of these are known as 14ers, and their height reaches over 14,000 feet above sea level. There are 58 of these massive peaks in Colorado, the most of any state in the country, and conquering them is a rite of passage for any outdoor enthusiast. But don’t think you can just hop on a trail and summit a 14er—these monsters take more preparation than you might think. Here’s a handy... Read More

Boulder Flatirons and Green Mountain  Longs Peak – 14,259 feet  Read More

Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, towers above all other summits in Rocky Mountain National Park. Almost anywhere in the park, you can see the flat-topped monarch. Different perspectives reveal the great mountain’s distinct profiles. Longs Peak’s moods are reflected in the changing weather. Thousands of people climb Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route during the summer, when conditions permit. The Keyhole Route is not a hiking trail. It’s a scramble across enormous sheer vertical rock faces, often with falling rocks, where an unroped fall would almost certainly be fatal. The path is characterized... Read More

This morning’s photo was taken from the 18th hole at Indian Peaks Golf Course. Longs Peak can be seen in the background with no snow on it. This is a Hale Irwin Signature design course that offers six sets of tees suitable for any golfer. Hale has deep roots in Boulder. At the age of 14, Irwin moved to Boulder and attended Boulder High School, where he excelled in baseball, football, and golf. He later attended the University of Colorado. He was an all-Big 8 defensive back twice and won the NCAA Golf Championship in 1967. Hale Irwin turned pro in 1968 after winning the NCAA golf championship.... Read More

Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park and the only fourteener. Major Stephen Long is said to have been the first to spot the great mountains on behalf of the United States Government on June 30, 1820. photo credit: Mike Anderson      Read More

Morning photo taken from 75th and Arapahoe. Photo includes Boulder and Longs Peak. Longs Peak may be seen from most of the northern Front Range Urban Corridor, as well as from Longmont, Colorado. It is one of Colorado’s most conspicuous mountains, towering 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) over the Great Plains’ western boundary. The summit is named for Major Stephen Harriman Long, who is credited with being the first to observe the Front Range on June 30, 1820, while on a government-sponsored expedition. Mount Meeker, which is close by and has an elevation of 13,911 feet, is frequently referred... Read More

This photo was taken this afternoon in Boulder from Douglass Elementary School. Longs Peak may be seen from most of the northern Front Range Urban Corridor, as well as from Longmont, Colorado. It is one of Colorado’s most conspicuous mountains, towering 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) over the Great Plains’ western boundary. The summit is named for Major Stephen Harriman Long, who is credited with being the first to observe the Front Range on June 30, 1820, while on a government-sponsored expedition. Mount Meeker, which is close by and has an elevation of 13,911 feet, is frequently referred... Read More