Colorado Longs Peak Guided Climbs Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival and transport to Estes Park
Upon your morning arrival to Denver International Airport you will be driven up into the mountains of the front range to reach Estes Park, Colorado, nestled at the base of the Continental Divide. Get your first glimpse of the stunning Rocky Mountain National Park as we drop into the Estes Park Valley. The evening will be spent in the comfort of a mountain lodge to rest and prepare for the coming adventures.

Day 2:  Climb Mount Chapin (12,454 ft), Mount Chiquita (13,051 ft) and Ypsilon Mountain (13,445 ft)
Receive your first taste of the Colorado high county on the day’s objective, three peaks forming the iconic Ypsilon massif. The first stop is Mount Chapin, a worthy tick mark, before heading on to the twin giants of Chiquita and Ypsilon. Rolling alpine meadows will be the hiking terrain with the Rockies to the west and the chasm beneath the sheer east faces of Ypsilon and Chiquita to the east. After reaching the summit of Ypsilon, we have an optional two mile extension to West Desolation Peak (12,917). From Ypsilon or Desolation we will head back toward the cars on a slightly more direct descent route. With three or maybe four peaks in the bag on day 2 we will be off to a solid start!

Hiking Time: 7
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3:  Rest Day and Optional Rock Climbing 
After the previous big day and another challenging day coming up, your legs will appreciate some rest. Those who still crave more physical challenges can try outdoor rock climbing.  Literally steps away from your hotel room is a natural rock wall where locals love to train for the bigger rock faces in the park. Spend a couple of hours tackling this extreme sport with routes from very beginner to advanced. If climbing sounds a bit too much, perhaps a day relaxing by the river or exploring downtown Estes sounds more your speed. The choice is yours! Wildlife viewing, fly-fishing, horseback riding and many other day tours are also available in Estes Park (not included, but can be arranged). An early dinner will be scheduled in anticipation of climbing the notorious Longs Peak on Day 4.

Difficulty:  Easy

Day 4:  Climb Longs Peak (14,295 ft) via the Loft Route
A very early start will be in order to take on the giant of Rocky Mountain National Park: Longs Peak. We will make our way up from the trailhead through subalpine forests to mountain meadows and finally past Chasm Lake and the towering east face of Longs all by headlamp. The sun will begin rising as we make our way up to the Loft, a high saddle between Longs Peak and the equally impressive Mount Meeker. From the Loft we will enter class 3 terrain as we skirt narrow ledges on Long’s southwestern flank. Helmets and harnesses will be a requirement as your guide may choose to belay you with a rope on a couple particularly exposed sections. As you work up the final granite slabs to the summit you will begin to understand why Longs Peak has one of the highest failure rates of Colorado’s 14er’s. This is a tall, steep, and challenging mountain! From the football field sized summit plateau, you will be greeted with spectacular views in every direction. After enjoying a few minutes here, it will be time to descend the way we came. On the descent you will find the mountaineering adage “the summit is only halfway” to be painfully true. The descent of Longs can feel never-ending but when it is all said and done, you will find that this amazing mountain was well worth the effort.
If we find ourselves moving too slowly to make the summit of Longs, Mount Meeker offers a slightly easier, though worthy alternative. For very strong and fast groups it is possible to link Longs and Meeker in one of the most epic mountaineering linkups Colorado has to offer.

Hiking Time: 12
Difficulty: Difficult

Day 5: Downtown Denver or Airport Drop-off
On your final day in the Colorado Rockies, wake up a little later and enjoy breakfast before the trek back down out of the mountains and on to whatever adventure awaits you next!

Winspire Booking & Concierge Service:  

Winspire provides a team of seasoned travel professionals who will help you redeem your experience. All travel related details and reservations are handled for every part of your Winspire experience. Operating as a full-service travel agency, Winspire can assist with airfare, extra nights, and additional guests. This service also provides you with an established network of onsite contacts who can help you book additional experiences, activities and tours.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Travel must be completed within two years from the date of purchase. Airfare is not included. Certificates cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed.  Purchases through charity fundraisers are non-refundable and packages cannot be resold.  This is a private trip, winning bidders will have a choice of dates ranging from early spring to early fall. Cost does not include air fare, group dinners, bottled drinks, travel insurance, personal expenses and personal hiking gear.